Building Materials & Supplies

A lag screw or lag bolt is used to provide a structural connection between two or more pieces of lumber. A lag screw has a ticker shaft than a normal screw or bolt and the threads around the shaft...

The best way to care for cedar lumber is by painting or staining it. Before painting it, you should prime the cedar. Whether it is used for siding, a deck, railing, or another purpose, cedar...

Removing paint from treated lumber works much the same as removing it from regular wood. There are three primary methods that are used--sanding, chemical stripping or applying heat and scraping...

Two by four stock lumber can be recycled into everything from compost or mulch to gymnastics equipment and butcher blocks. They can be reclaimed prior to demolition of old buildings or disposal of...

When wood is pressure treated, chemicals are forced into the wood to preserve it and make it resist rot, decay and insects. Three of the most common chemicals used to treat lumber are discussed...

Treated lumber, which is notorious for warping and bowing, is treated by dunking the lumber into a vat of liquid and then applying pressure to force the liquid into the wood. That means the wood...

Cutting and working with treated lumber is similar to working with regular or cedar lumber except for a few key differences. There are also certain safety precautions that you should take and ways...

Pressure-treated lumber is used for such outdoor items as decks, railings and fences. Treated wood is soaked in a chemical that makes it resistant to rot and insects. The best way to care for...

The best way to care for cedar lumber is by painting or staining it. Thompson Protection is a high-quality stain, routinely rated as one of the best available. It lasts for three years before...

Removing paint from treated lumber works much the same as removing it from regular wood. One of three methods are usually used: sanding, chemical stripping or applying heat and scraping off the...

The best way to maintain pressure-treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

The best way to maintain pressure-treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

The best way to care for pressure treated lumber is by painting or staining it. Whether it is for a deck, railing or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

Moisture content, as the term suggests, refers to the natural qualities of moisture retention in wood. Lumber manufacturers develop methods of measuring moisture content in order to produce lumber...

Applying a paint to treated wood is a good idea no matter how the wood is used. Whether it is a deck, railing, or other purpose, painting or staining the material will lengthen the life of the...

Applying wood sealer to wood used outside is a good idea---no matter how the wood is used. Whether it is a deck, railing, or porch, sealing the lumber will lengthen the life of the wood. It's also...

Treated lumber is treated with a chemical that makes it resistant to rot and decay. The treatment only offers a resistance, not a cure from rot and decay, so some basic maintenance is required to...

Pine is a versatile, soft wood. It is used to make the lumber that frames out houses as well as some very fine furniture. Its wide variety of uses makes it an important commercial commodity.

Cedar is a wood used commonly in the construction of closets, decks and outdoor projects. Cedar is naturally resistant to weather and insect damage. If you have a project that calls for cedar,...

Staining white pine can be difficult because the wood is very porous, so it readily absorbs the staining liquid, which can lead to dark spots and uneven staining, or a much darker color than...

Lumber can be used for many home improvement projects, but the cost of commercial lumber can make many of these projects cost-prohibitive. One money-saving alternative is to build your own wood...

The lowermost structural framing member in most buildings is the sill plate. The sill plate, or bottom plate, is installed into the framing while the walls of the building are being built. The...

If you are starting a big project such as a home renovation or construction of a deck or clubhouse, you will probably require a decent amount of lumber in order to complete the project. To ensure...

Pressure-treating only prevents wood from rotting, insect infestation and mildew---it doesn't stop the natural weathering processes that leach protective oils out of the surface of the wood....

So just don't feel like paying retail for it. That's ok, because the same thing that applies to shopping for everyday items can be used to find decent building materials.

Wood splitting poses a serious challenge to you when trying to get your project finished with the minimum amount of monetary outlay in lumber purchases. Wood splitting is caused by sharp-tipped...

Heat treating is used to eliminate pests which may be found in softwoods and hardwoods that have been cut into lumber. The main pests which are targeted by heat treating are the pinewood nematode...

Termites, insects, fungus, mold, and sunlight all damage wood over time. Forcing a mixture of pesticides into the wood through a vacuum or pressure treatment process protects the lumber but the...

Before building a shed or other building structure on a concrete slab, you must estimate the lumber required for the job. Unless you are building some sort of custom design, 2 x 4 inch material...

Plastic lumber is a popular choice for outdoor structures, such as fences, decks and pergolas. Plastic lumber doesn't rot; resists stains, mold and mildew; comes in different colors; and has the...

White maple lumber is a hard white maple, also known as Acer saccharum. Other common names include hard maple, rock maple and sugar maple. It is strong and durable, making it ideal for flooring...

When building your backyard or pool deck, there are a wide variety of materials to choose from. One of the most common is treated lumber 5/4 decking. If long-lasting color and consistent...

The best time to treat lumber in an attempt to prevent termite damage is when a house or other structure is first being built. Either buying a pre-treated or termite-resistant wood or simply...

Pressure treated lumber is different from ordinary wood. The wood undergoes a process of chemical infusion to prevent rotting, fungi and insects from spoiling the wood. After pressure treatment...

Cords and board feet are two measurements used when describing wood. Cords are often used to describe the amount of cut and split firewood. Board feet describe the amount of wood in lumber for...

Wood veneer is very thin strips of wood used to cover anything from existing wood surfaces to particle board to cabinetry. These veneer strips most commonly are used to create door and window frames.

Framing is putting together an internal structure to which the finishing materials are attached. It must support the weight of the finishing materials and the people who use the structure. Framing...

When purchasing lumber for home improvement projects it often pays to be picky. Especially if you are working on a smaller project, are on a tight budget or are doing finishing or furniture work...

Since treated lumber prevents destruction and decay from bacteria, fungi and insects for roughly 40 years, both consumers and businesses benefit not only by the enhanced strength and lifespan of...

Wood used in exterior residential or commercial applications is typically pressure treated, increasing durability and lifespan. Pressure treatment prevents the wood from being susceptible to decay...

While there has been public concern over the use of treated wood, the Environmental Protection Agency has said that health risks are low to moderate. Some preservatives are no longer used or have...

Concrete is the main material used in masonry today due to its sturdiness and subtle elegance. When poured right, a variety of designs and patterns can be displayed. Concrete can be expensive,...

In this article, you will learn how to put up shelving and create additional storage in your laundry or utility room, without spending a lot of money.

Many homeowners have space dedicated to storage. In many cases, the space is unorganized due to the various items stored there. One way to alleviate this problem is to build your own parts bin. A...

Plastic wood is basically recycled composite lumber. It is a major use for recycled wood fibers, plastic bags and milk jugs. A mix of these materials are compressed and designed to look much like...

The board-foot (BF) is a unit of volume that specifically measures lumber. It is an estimate of the volume of raw lumber and is primarily used in the United States and Canada, although the term...

Polywood is the name of a company that makes structural plastic components and plastic furniture using recycled plastics. Plastic milk jugs and industrial waste and recycled into polywood, the...

Pressure-treated wood is a popular building material for outdoor projects such as raised flower beds, swing sets, fences, picnic tables, furniture, decks, porches and some outbuildings. The...

Treated lumber is timber injected and covered with chemical preservatives to prevent insects, microorganisms, fungi decay and weather elements from destroying the surface and the internal...

When building or remodeling a home, the cost of materials can often become staggering. As hard woods become more scarce the price sky-rockets, and the price for most other items continues to...