We offer a wide variety of services ranging from custom designs in garden structures such as Decks, Pergolas, Arbors, Fences and Gates, to remodels and Roof Framing. With a foundation of quality Carpentry in our team we tackle most residential construction.
“We are only satisfied when our clients are completely satisfied”. See our photo gallery for some of our designs and products.
Materials we mainly construct with:
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Redwood Lumber Grades:
And Uses
There are over thirty different grades of redwood lumber including general purpose grades and specialized grades for a single use. There is a grade of redwood for almost any application suitable for wood. Redwood is graded by appearance and durability, with criteria defined by the Redwood Inspection Service.
Excellence of appearance is a major factor in the grading of redwood. Clear- ness (freedom from knots) is the deter- minant for the highest grades. Other grades are categorized by number, size and nature of knots and the presence of other characteristics such as stains, crook or manufacturing defects that may occur.
For durability and resistance against insects and decay—redwood is graded by its color. Reddish-brown heartwood from the inner portion of the tree contains extractives that render it resistant to decay.
The cream-colored sapwood that devel- ops in the outer growth layer of the tree does not possess the heartwood’s resis- tance to decay and insects.
As a rule of thumb, all heartwood grades of redwood will have the word “Heart” in the grade name.
The architectural grades, Clear All Heart, Clear, Heart Clear, Heart B and B Grade, are normally sold kiln dried (pre- shrunk and stress free) for the finest exterior and interior architectural uses.
No other wood equals these finish grades in beauty and dimensional stability. They are the choice grades for siding, panel- ing, trim and cabinetry where attractive- ness and tight joinery are desired.
The garden grades, Deck Heart, Construction Heart, Deck Common, Construction Common, Merchantable Heart and Merchantable, are offered seasoned or unseasoned. They are frequently specified for decks, fences and garden structures where knots or other characteristics have little or no effect.
For uses where the wood will be on or near soil, such as posts, bulkheads or patio grids, it’s essential to use one of the durable, heartwood grades—Clear All Heart, Heart B, Deck Heart, Con- struction Heart or Merchantable Heart.
For construction above ground where there is little danger of insect or decay problems, one of the sapwood con- taining grades—Clear, B Grade, Deck Common, Construction Common or Merchantable—will serve handsomely.
Heartwood
Clear All Heart
Finest architectural heartwood grade, normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned), well manufac- tured, free of defects one face (reverse face may have slight imperfections). Available surfaced or saw-textured.
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork. Also fine decks, hot tubs, garden structures, industrial storage and processing tanks.
Heart B
Quality heartwood grade containing limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear All Heart and Heart Clear. Available kiln dried or unseasoned. This grade can be surfaced or saw-textured.
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses. Quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.
Construction Heart/Deck Heart
A heartwood grade containing knots of varying sizes and other slight imper- fections. Available seasoned or unseasoned. This highly useful grade can be ordered surfaced or rough.
Deck Heart has similar appearance and uses as Construction Heart but is also graded for strength. Deck Heart is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only.
Uses Decks, posts, retaining walls, fences, garden structures, stairs or other outdoor uses especially on or near soil.
Merchantable Heart
This economical heartwood grade allows slightly larger knots than construction grades; holes limited to size of knots. Allows checks, some splits and some manufacturing flaws. Available unseasoned, surfaced or rough.
Uses Fences, retaining walls, garden structures—especially on or near soil.
Garden Architectural
Sapwood
Clear
Same general quality as Clear All Heart except contains sapwood in varying amounts. Some imperfections not permitted in Clear All Heart. Normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned). Available surfaced or saw-textured.
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits. Also quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground applications.
B Grade
Quality grade containing sapwood, limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in Clear. Certified Kiln Dried; also unseasoned. Available surfaced or saw-textured.
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, fascia, molding and other architectural uses; quality decking, garden shelters and other above-ground outdoor applications.
Construction Common/Deck Common
Same general characteristics as Con- struction Heart, but contains combination of heartwood and sapwood. Unseasoned or seasoned, it can be surfaced or rough.
Deck Common is also graded for strength and is available in 2×4 and 2×6 only.
Uses Decking, fence boards and other above-ground garden uses that do not require heartwood’s insect and decay resistance.
Merchantable
Has same characteristics as Merchantable Heart but contains sapwood in varying amounts. This economical grade is available unseasoned and can be ordered surfaced or rough.
Uses Fence boards, rails and other above-ground outdoor and garden uses. Also subflooring and temporary construction.
Heart Clear
High quality grade with same character- istics as Clear but is entirely heartwood. Normally Certified Kiln Dried (also available unseasoned). Available surfaced or saw-textured.
Uses Siding, paneling, trim, cabinetry, molding, fascia, soffits, millwork; also fine decks, rails and garden structures.
Heart Clear
Select Heart
A tight-knotted heartwood grade resistant to insects and decay. It is suitable for high quality construction without waste. Usually unseasoned. Durable grade available surfaced or rough.
Uses Decks, posts, garden structures, curbing, retaining walls, industrial uses, farm structures.
Select Heart
Select
Same general characteristics as Select Heart, but contains sapwood in varying amounts, some imperfections on the back side not permitted in Select Heart. Usually unseasoned. Economical grade available surfaced or rough.
Uses Decking, fence boards, garden structures and other above-ground uses where durability is not a factor.
Rustic Siding
Rustic siding with knots and sapwood is available seasoned in thick-butt bevel, channel, tongue and groove, and board and batten patterns. Produced with a saw-textured surface.
Rustic Siding
Finger-Jointed
Clear All Heart and Clear boards up to 20 feet or longer made from kiln dried pieces finger-jointed and end- and edge-glued. Also available in Clear All Heart, vertical grain and saw-textured on special order. Normally sold surfaced, mixed grain. May be special ordered in patterns or plowed fascia.
Uses Exterior siding, quality fascia, exterior trim. Interior paneling, trim and fine molding.
Grains
Vertical Lumber milled so that a cross section of the annual growth rings appears with grain lines parallel on face of board.
Flat Lumber cut tangent to annual growth rings exposing a face highly figured or “marbled”.
Other grades will be shipped with a mixture of vertical and flat grains. Clear All Heart and Clear may be specified in vertical grain.
Trex – Composite Materials:
View Trex
Trex
A wood polymer composite deck material made from reclaimed plastic and wood fiber. Trex is a relatively maintenance free decking.Trex has been used extensively over the years in playground equipment as well as pool decks and industrial flooring.
Highly resistant to moisture Trex comes in several colors, Natural, Winchester Grey and Madeira. Cost usually runs between that of a pressure treated deck and a clear cedar deck.
Performance Characteristics
A splinter-free material with the workability of wood, it won’t check, split or rot. Trex can be routed, sanded, nailed, drilled and even turned on a lathe..Because of the wood content that’s contained in Trex, natural color shifts do occur. Trex will weather to it’s final color after 8 to 12 weeks of exposure to sunlight and rain. Natural will go from a tan color and fade to light gray. Winchester Grey will weather to a driftwood gray and Madeira will remain a reddish brown.
Installation
Trex may shrink and expand slightly. Generally the preferred method is to install boards with a small gap between each board. The space between each board should be small enough to avoid the possibility of a women’s high heal or other small objects from falling between the boards. In most situations a 3/16 inch gap works well.Trex is not intended for use as load-bearing post, beam and joist or any other load bearing member. For best results, see current manufacturers installations instructions.
Summary
Trex is a good product for people who want an alternative to a wood deck. Good for around pool decks or where low maintenance is desirable.
Ipe – Tropical Hardwood:
Ipe
Ipe also commonly referred to by the brand name Iron Wood, is becoming more widely available in deck construction. Resistant to decay, termites and wood borers, this type of wood is well suited for exterior deck construction.
It’s tight grain makes it impervious to water, has very few knots or sapwood. Each board is almost perfectly clear. Variations in wood tone and colors are to be expected, Ipe and can range from a rich brown to a golden tan color.
Very little maintenance is required. A clear finish can be applied to preserve the natural color. If left unsealed, it will weather to a silver patina.
Performance Characteristics
Hard woods such as Ipe naturally resist wear, rot and splintering. A very durable product, these woods have been used in commercial applications such as the famous Atlantic City boardwalk.
Lumber Grades
Considered a premium lumber, boards are straight with virtually little or Knots and blemishes.
Life Expectancy
Boards that have been in place for 26 years show virtually no sign of decay or infestation of insects. Some brands comes with a 25 year transferable warrantee.
Installation
Hardwoods such as Ipe will have to be drilled prior to nailing or screwing. The wood is so dense that nails and screws would have a hard time penetrating it.
Shrinkage between deck boards is minimal and small spaces should be maintained when installing the decking. A 1/4 – 3/16 of an inch space between boards should be adequate for most installations. Fasten boards with screws to aviod problems such as nail heads popping up above the boards and loosening up over time. Drill and plug screw holes with wood dowel or use hidden fasteners for best results.
Summary
Ipe is as hard as oak and will hold up well with little maintenance. Pre-drilling is necessary when using hardwood such as Ipe.
