Take one look at this deck…

This Amazing Looking Ipe Deck was Constructed by Someone Just Like You

With the right decking, plans, and a heckuva lot of willpower, the owner of this home created one of the nicest decks we’ve seen in a long time.

Using 5/4×6 Ipe decking, this deck has all the features one wants in a deck: Durability, Resilience, Low-Maintenance, and Genuine Beauty. And, with the Holidays just around the corner, this outdoor living area will give this family a relaxing place to watch the snow fall over the mountains near the Uinta National Forest.

Check out more pictures of this featured ipe wood deck.

Uh, oh. It looks like Doug forgot to make sure that his deck was up to code.

From the looks of it, it’s safe to assume that Doug forgot to contact his local building department to check his plans. If he had, he probably wouldn’t look so upset.

To avoid Doug’s fate, it’s important that you know what parts of your deck building plan need to be up to your local building codes.

Here are some critical parts of the deck construction process that you should pay close attention to.

Be sure to inspect and/or repair the following: more…

We now have a section of our main site that focuses on worldwide projects that feature decking, flooring, and siding from Advantage Trim & Lumber.

These project showcase the design potential of hardwoods like Ipe, Tigerwood, Cumaru, and Garapa.They also clearly reveal that there is nothing like genuine wood decking. There’s a reason why some of the world’s best commercial and residential designers turn to us for wood decking materials. By only stocking premium grade materials, they can bring their design ideas from concept to reality. You can also get some great deck design ideas for your personal home renovation project.

The list of projects will be growing by the week, so check back often for updates.

View our Featured Decking, Flooring, and Siding Projects.

The research this homeowner did prior to buying Tigerwood has paid off.

It’s almost Summer and thousands of homeowners across the country are getting ready to start working on their deck. Some will be remodeling and many will be building a deck for the first time. But, before hammer goes to nail, the question you must answer is, “What kind of material is best for decking?”

Should you go with real wood decking, or composite “wood” decking? Regular readers of this blog already know the limitations and problems that plague composite deck materials. Let’s face it; if plastic decking were so good, wood decking would be obsolete. But, because of the documented issues that both composite and PVC decking face, many people are opting for real wood deck materials.

So, let’s say that you chose to buy wood decking. What material should you choose, and what pitfalls are to be avoided when buying decking?

Here are 5 Ways to Save Money When You Buy Decking: more…

Deck Design of the Week

Tigerwood Decking Shines in New York

Learn from Deck Builder, Aaron Roberts, why Tigerwood decking is a great decking material to work with.

Building a Tigerwood deck is a rewarding experience. Many deck builders and homeowners choose this exotic hardwood because of its gorgeous golden brown colors and dark streaks. The fact that it is also more affordable and just as durable as the most expensive composite decking also adds to the luster of using Tigerwood decking. As you can see from the pictures, this Tigerwood deck design is truly unique. The hot tub area is spectacular at night and really shows how Tigerwood decking shines.

We’ve recently spoken with an expert deck builder in the Rochester, NY area, Aaron Roberts. We asked him what he thought of working with Tigerwood for this Rochester, NY home.

ATL: How long have you been a deck builder?

AR: We have been specializing in high end custom decks since the summer of 07, this will be our fourth full season.

ATL: What led you to choose Tigerwood for this deck project?

AR: The homeowner actually did the research and chose the product.  He was looking for a natural product that would be unique in his neighborhood, but more economic than Ipe.  I believe he was also attracted to the hidden fastener system.

ATL: Was this the first time you worked with Tigerwood?

AR: Yes.

ATL: Was it easy to work with?

AR: Yes, about the same as any decking that uses a hidden clip fastening system.

ATL: What tools did you use to cut and install the wood?

Our standard woodworking tools, I think we installed fresh saw blades.

ATL: How did the owners feel about the finished product?

AR: The homeowner’s love the deck, and so do their neighbors.  We were hired again about a year later to build the hot tub deck addition.

ATL: Would you work with Tigerwood again?

AR: Absolutely!

ATL: How was it to work with and order from Advantage Trim & Lumber?

AR: They made it very easy.  I filled out the quote form with the exact pieces I needed, they were purchased and on a truck in a couple of days, and arrived right at my job site.  Not a whole lot different than if I had just called up my local lumber supplier and ordered it.

Thank you, Aaron for your business, for taking the time to answer our questions, and especially for the wonderful pictures!

If you would like to buy Tigerwood decking, visit the Advantage Trim & Lumber Hardwood Store.

Do you need to convert square feet to linear feet?

Check out our handy Wood Decking Calculator. It works perfectly for both standard & pre-grooved decking. You’re also covered covered when it comes to converting square footage of tongue and groove decking into linear footage.

When completing your deck design, having decking calculators and square footage converters at your disposal will save you time, and money.

At Advantage Trim & Lumber our goal is to always make your buying experience smooth and easy. This is why we provide the tools you need to build your deck successfully. If you can think of any deck tools that you’d like to see us create, contact us and let us know!

Advantage Trim & Lumber has a full selection of ipe post and post caps available.

When you’re looking for ipe deck design ideas in this blog or through magazines, one thing you’ll notice is how many of the decks that are featured include a deck rail system around the perimeter of the deck. Of course, when your deck is multi-leveled and higher off the ground, these deck rail systems become a necessary part of building a safe and sound structure.

This doesn’t mean that you have to settle for mediocre systems that have average or below standard parts. In fact, those same high-end decks usually incorporate the same hardwood. Some decks like the one pictured above can blend materials like ipe and wrought-iron to provide a nice, aesthetic contrast that matches the strength of both materials.  When it comes to building an ipe deck, you’ll need ipe post and post caps to really make your rail system as strong and as elegant as your new deck.

At Advantage, we stock both ipe posts and post caps. You can buy an ipe post with dimensions of 7×7 and up to a length of 4 ft! Our deck posts have the following features:

• Milled to exact dimensions
• We inspect each post before it gets shipped
• Easily withstands the harshest environmental conditions
• Cover and protect pressure treated posts
• Posts and post caps made from premium grade ipe

Contact us today to get just the right amount of ipe decking material including essential deck parts like ipe posts and post caps.