Native to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) is a hardwood. Which is fairly common in the Willamette Valley, can frequently be found in wetlands, floodplains and edges of slow-moving streams. Despite being neither as large or well-known as…
Walk into almost any furniture store today and you’ll probably see parawood — even if the label doesn’t say so. It might be called “rubberwood.” Sometimes it’s marketed as “Malaysian oak.” Occasionally it’s just labeled “solid hardwood.” Behind those names…
A pignut hickory is something you walk by and never notice. Unlike Shagbark Hickory, it does not have rough, peeling bark. It does not appear very spectacular or anything. It just sits there silently, year after year, growing. Yet, this modest-looking tree one of…
Myrtlewood Wood Properties (Quick Overview) Property Details Common Name Myrtlewood / Oregon Myrtle Scientific Name Umbellularia californica Wood Type Hardwood Natural Range Southern Oregon coast, California coast Average Weight ~40 lbs per cubic foot Janka Hardness 1,270 lbf Grain Pattern…
African Blackwood is not just a hardwood. It is among the toughest, densest and most valuable woods in the world. For hundreds of years, artisans and musicians have relied on it because it is very durable and precise. Its scientific name is Dalbergia…
If you examine a board closely, you might see some round or oval, dark spots in the grain. These are called wood knots. They are not random flaws. Each knot narrates a small tale of how the tree grew, where its branches…
If you have ever sanded furniture, you probably know this feeling. One moment everything looks fine. The next moment, you see a light-colored patch. The veneer is gone, and the rough wood underneath is showing. Your heart sinks because you…
White caulk is one of those little home improvement wonders that makes a big difference, but it does so quietly. When it’s done properly, you hardly notice it. When it fails, it’s impossible to ignore. Gaps around tubs, sinks, windows, baseboards,…
While walking through a newly built neighborhood last year, when I saw something that caught my eye. Some houses had vinyl siding that was designed to look just like actual cedar wood. The texture, the grain, even the shadows felt natural.…
Brick siding offers a durable, classic appearance for your home that will never go out of style. From old family houses that were built decades back to uprooted new homes today, brick is a material that has been shown time…
