Yes, Even Building a Winter Deck is Cool (Pun intended!)

A deck is a quick and simple way to get more use from you property. Unlike a covered patio or porch, a deck floating six inches or twelve feet above the ground level offers a completely different feeling.

As people choose to stay in their homes longer, decks are being built and renovated now more than ever. In fact, according to recent statistics, approximately 30 million American homes have decks and demand is growing and this is why:

Decks are Great Investment: When you add a hardwood deck to your home, you’re increasing your quality of life and your homes value. According to Remodeling Magazine, you can expect an average 60 – 70% percent return on your investment when you install a wood deck. People shopping for homes prefer houses with decks, because decks expand their living space and provide infinite ways to relax and have fun.

Connect With Mother Nature: Today’s people are much less connected to the natural world than any other time in history. This natural connection has been replaced for the plugged-world and less  unstructured outdoor play. Whether your home is a Maine farmhouse or a Chicago brownstone, a California ranch or a Florida bungalow, decks offer you a quick and easy way to connect with nature. The amazing lake views, the smell of your homegrown vegetables and fresh basil, listening the wind chimes on your deck, a family dinner or simply relax and meditate. Life is not simple but decks give you an easy escape to some much needed peace and quiet.

Year around Fun with Friends and Family: On Thanksgiving Day, you and your family can gather and have fun together, on Independence Day you can grill hot dogs and steaks. A built-in hot tub adds opportunities for fun and relaxation.

Whether you are renovating or building a deck, AdvantageLumber.com is here to help you be part of this trend with the best selection in exotic hardwood decking like Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa and all the tools and deck accessories necessary to complete your deck.

It’s easy to sit here and tell you that Cumaru decking is one of the finest decking materials available. But, what if you could actually SEE what it looks like installed? What if you could HEAR from a homeowner how their new Cumaru deck has positively impacted the overall look and feel of their home?

Take a look at this brief video tour of one Florida homeowner’s Cumaru deck and see for yourself what kind of impact Cumaru can have on your home.

Call 1-877-232-3915 to order 1×6 Plus® Cumaru decking, or visit AdvantageLumber.com to buy decking online.

Check it out and subscribe to the AdvantageLumber.com YouTube channel.

Wood seeks and absorbs water predominately through saw cuts and exposed grains. As wood dries, it shrinks. Any change in moisture content to some parts of the boards will cause expansion and contraction cycles of the wood. This movement can lead to cracking and splitting.

During the process of installing your new deck you will have to cut the boards to length. After cutting, you must seal the ends with a wax based emulsion such as Hardwood End Grain Sealer. Unsealed end grains will lead to a legacy of unwanted and costly maintenance, checking, splitting and cupping of the deck lumber. Using a hardwood End Grain Sealer will help minimize splitting and checking at the end of the boards.

HOW TO APPLY HARDWOOD END GRAIN SEALER:

• Apply Immediately after cutting, before final installation, but do not get it on the face of the boards, if that happen, please wipe it off immediately.
• One quarter of end sealer covers approx. 500 square feet of decking.

For more info about How to End Seal Hardwood Decking, check out this video:

Exotic hardwood decking such as Ipe, Cumaru and Tigerwood are the most durable, natural wood decking available. Because of this strength, you can’t saw these hard woods as easily as you would cedar, redwood, or teak. Here are some tips in how to cut hardwood decking:

For cutting hardwood decking we recommend:

• A circular saw with a high quality carbide tipped blade.
• Make sure you set up your miter saw properly, a good saw stand with plenty of material support decreases the chance of binding and burning a finish cut.
• Hardwood dust is a respiratory irritant, so always wear safety glasses and a dust mask or respirator.
• Always cut with the good face up to minimize end-cut splintering.
• Finally apply a wax based emulsion such Hardwood End Grain Sealer on all fresh cut ends to minimize checking and other defects cause by moisture insertion.

We asked one of our co-workers to show us the proper way (and the incorrect way) to cut hardwood decking.

Don’t worry nobody was hurt in the production of the video, everything was well planned;-)
Check it out and subscribe to the AdvantageLumber.com YouTube channel.

Ipe deck tiles from AdvantageLumber.com give you have an affordable way to renovate your outdoor living space. In fact, our deck tiles can be used just about anywhere.

As you’ll see in this video below, it only takes one person to transform boring old concrete into an attractive and beautiful living space. If these deck tiles look good outside of a warehouse, imagine just how beautiful they will look outside your balcony, lanai, or porch.

If you like what you see, give us a call. We can help you figure out just how many deck tiles and deck tile connectors you need to get started. Call 1-877-232-3915 to get your free Ipe deck tile quote.

Our supply of Tigerwood decking is rich in color and in benefits. As you can see below, the lush color of this newly finished Tigerwood deck infuses some wonderful color into this backyard. The one word our customer used to describe his new deck (see below) is “beautiful.” It’s hard to disagree given the fact that even on a winter day (when this picture was taken), his new outdoor living space looks like a warm spring day. This deck remodel project took some time, but compared to what he had before, it was well worth the effort.

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Advantage Trim & Lumber is proud to announce we are a distributor of DeckWise™ decking products.

When the good folks at Ipe Clip® Fastener Company showed us their new brand of decking screws, color-coded gap spacers, and other decking essentials, we knew right away we had to carry them. DeckWise™ offers builders and the do-it-yourself mavens everywhere premium quality decking accessories.

One cool thing about DeckWise™ is how they thought of everything. From the auger tips of the ColorMatch screws, to the overall utility of the Drill & Drive tool kit, each DeckWise product is specifically engineered to make the entire deck building experience faster and more efficient.

Check out the list of available DeckWise products on our decking accessories page. Be sure to check out their site to see more information about DeckWise products.

Do you want to order DeckWise™ products? Contact us directly and we’ll be happy to help you with your order: