Garapa Decking: Pros, Cons and Outdoor Durability
Sam Wood Worker
Quick answer: Garapa is a Brazilian hardwood that shows up a lot in decking talk because it gives you that ipe-level durability, 25 to 30+ years according to most suppliers,…
Deck Materials
Bamboo Decking: Pros, Cons and Outdoor Durability
Quick answer: Good outdoor bamboo decking is not the same stuff as the bamboo flooring inside your living room. The type made for decks is called strand-woven bamboo (sometimes “fused…
Thermally Modified Wood Decking: Pros, Cons, and Lifespan
Thermally modified wood decking is real wood treated with high heat and steam instead of chemical preservatives. The process helps the wood absorb less moisture, improves its stability, and makes…
Deck Railing Calculator (Fast & Free Tool)
Deck Railing Calculator 01 Measure your railing runs Add one entry per straight section. Mark any run that follows a staircase — the rake changes the math. Feet Meters +…
Deck Material & Board Calculator (Free Online Tool)
Quick Answer For a standard rectangular deck, you’ll need roughly 1 linear foot of decking board for every (board width + gap) inches of deck width, multiplied by your deck’s…
PVC Decking Secrets Every Homeowner Should Know
Quick Answer: Cellular PVC decking is 100% synthetic — no wood fiber at all, just foamed plastic all the way through. It costs more than composite, usually $12 to $22…
Composite Deck Guide: What Brands Won’t Tell You
Quick Answer: Composite decking is a manmade board made from wood fibers and plastic (or in some cases 100% plastic, called PVC). It costs more than wood upfront, usually $8…
Cumaru Deck Guide: Brazilian Teak Pros, Costs & Care
Quick Answer: Cumaru, also called Brazilian teak, is a dense South American hardwood used for premium decking. It has a Janka hardness of about 3,540 lbf, lasts 30 to 50+…
Ipe Deck Guide: Pros, Costs, Care for Brazilian Walnut Decks
Quick Answer: An Ipe deck is a hardwood deck built from Brazilian walnut, one of the hardest and most durable woods you can put outside. It can last 40 to…
Hardwood vs Softwood Decking: What Most Buyers Miss
A guy walked into the lumber yard with me a few months back. He picked up a board of pressure-treated pine. Then he picked up a board of Ipe sitting…