In case you missed all that the kit includes:

• 190-8×2” Stainless Steel Trim Head Screws
• 12-3/8” Tapered DeckWise Plugs
• 1-1/8” High Speed Drill Bit
• 1-T10 Star Drive Screw Gun Tip
• 3-Deck Board Spacers
• 175-DeckWise Hidden Deck Fasteners
• 1-Instruction Sheet

We also offer a DeckWise® 100 count kit, which is similar to the complete kit, but you do not receive DeckWise® Deck Plugs, the high speed drill bit or the screw gun tip. This kit also does not include as many fasteners or stainless steel screws.

This 100 count kit includes:

• 100-DeckWise® Hidden Deck Fasteners
• 100-Stainless Steel Trim Head Screws
• 3-Deck Board Spacers
• 1-Instruction Sheet

Choosing between the two kits depends on how big your building project is. Each kit covers different square footage and is dependent on the board size and joist spacing. If you need help determining which kit to use, you can access our website at www.DeckWise.com or call one of our sales representatives at (941)896-9851.

The post What Tools Do I Need For Hardwood Decking? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Don’t let your wood drying method lead to a deck building disaster.

Are you getting ready to build a deck, but your lumber is all wet? Well, when wood gets wet it swells and does not allow you to know its true size (this is referred to as “green wood”). Building a deck with “green wood” will result in an uneven deck that may become unstable to walk on.

If you are putting in the time and money to create this new deck wouldn’t you want the best result? Choosing the proper wood drying method will truly change the overall look and longevity of your deck. There are two different methods to properly dry wood. These two methods are known as Air-Dried and Kiln-Dried.

What is Air-Dried?

Air drying lumber is the classic method to drying wood and has been around for ages. This process requires the wood to be stacked in layers on a raised foundation in a cool, dry area and separated with stickers (aka thin wood shims).

Positives

• This method results in the wood appearing more natural.
• If completed properly, the wood tends to look more attractive, have a higher quality, and be more workable.
• This is a gentler process on the wood.

Negatives

• If this process is done too quickly, case-hardening and internal checking (aka honeycombing) can occur.
• The air drying method can sometimes leave water and sticker marks.
• Equilibrium moisture content (EMC) can be left unequal. EMC is the balance of wood moisture content reaching the moisture content of the surrounding air. If this is unequal, problems of “green wood” can occur.
• This process can take a longer time to properly complete.
• Typically this wood drying process needs to be reacclimated to the new climate prior to installation.

What is Kiln-Dried?

Kiln drying lumber is also known as “controlled air drying,” which dries the lumber in a controlled atmosphere.

Positives

• This method allows wood to dry quicker and more even, which allows for immediate installation and immediate application of surface and end protectant (such as Ipe Oil or Ipe Seal).
• If completed properly, the wood tends to be straighter with fewer defects, and it is easier to measure accurately.
• This process typically results in less mold development and insect infestation.
• Kiln drying can also reduce the cost of shipping because the wood has less water weight.

Negatives

• Depending on the species of lumber, kiln drying can be more expensive.
• Internal stresses (such as checking, splitting and warping) can occur if dried improperly.

Though these two methods are vastly different, they both provide the builder with advantages and disadvantages. Choosing between the two will ultimately depend on the builder’s preference, budget and project size. Regardless of your choice, We want to leave you with a few tips that will make your deck building more beneficial.

• To insure proper gap spacing use gap spacers (we recommend DeckWise Deck Board Spacers).
• Ask your lumber supplier about how to store and handle your lumber purchases properly.

The post What’s The Difference Between Air Dried and Kiln Dried Hardwood? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The Hardwood Wrench is capable of a pushing force of roughly 1,100 pounds. That bending power is over eight times greater than any other deck board straightener available today. By employing a self-locking cam attached to a high-quality anodized aircraft grade aluminum dog with an ergonomic stainless steel and hardwood handle, the design of the Hardwood Wrench makes installing deck boards a true one-man operation.

Expandable and reversible, deck builders can use this advanced tool in tight spaces without worrying about impeding other boards. Additionally, it is compatible with both single and double joists, capable of bending multiple boards at once, and works with all types of decking material including pre-grooved lumber, composites and PVC.

That’s how impressive the Hardwood Wrench was before the new and improved one hit the market. Now we are looking at a tool that does all that, plus some. DeckWise^® discovered that if they enlarged the length of the cam, it would completely improve the functionality of the tool. The larger surface area allows for an increased range and more bending power, helping you create closer gaps with even the most extreme bowed boards.

In addition to an increased surface area on the cam, the pins on the Hardwood Wrench were modified and adjusted, creating a stronger grasp on the joist. This alteration turns the Hardwood Wrench into a dual-purpose tool, able to not only straighten deck boards, but now, siding boards as well.

With the small changes that DeckWise^® made, they can now offer you the ideal tool for precise deck board installation. One tool, ten configurations, toughest bending power available, and dual-purpose. Some may claim to have ‘better’ and ‘new and improved’ products, but can’t back it up. When DeckWise^® makes this claim, they mean it. The Hardwood Wrench is truly the ultimate, indispensable deck board straightener professionals can use for all their decking, flooring, and cladding projects.

The post Why Should You Use A Board Straightener? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The FSC has made its goal to properly manage forests in hope to maintain biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes. We suggest that if you are purchasing lumber to build a deck, you should check to see if it’s FSC certified. Another idea we suggest is building your decks with reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood is recycled wood that has been reclaimed by many different sources. A few sourcing options can be old barns, buildings and train trestles. Building your deck with reclaimed wood can result in a beautiful, strong and unique deck. Decks built with reclaimed wood can actually be more durable than decks built with traditional lumbers. Often times, reclaimed wood has been around for over a century, which allows the wood to go through the cycles and weather changes. However, there are a few things you should consider before building your deck with reclaimed wood.

Being environment-friendly can often increase the cost of your decking project. Reclaimed wood tends to be more expensive because of the sourcing process it endures. There also is a limited supply, so you need to make sure you have the right amount prior to building. The lack of supply also makes it difficult to match colors and patterns, and the species of wood can be unknown.

After all of that has been said, we believe if you have the extra money and resources to build a deck from reclaimed wood we think you should! And if you don’t have the money and resources for reclaimed wood, but you desire to still be environment-friendly stick to recycled materials and FSC certified wood.

The post How Can You Still “Go Green” By Building a Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The U.S. patented Hardwood Wrench is a self-locking board straightening tool that offers endless benefits. With its larger self-locking cam, stainless steel and ergonomic hardwood handle, and adjustable joist pins it straightens deck boards with ease. But wait, there’s more. The Hardwood Wrench is expandable, reversible, dual-purpose and has a pushing force of roughly 1,100 pounds.

Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Here’s how the Hardwood Wrench works: You start by placing the adjustable joist pins on the joist and butt the cam against the board. Turn the handle to straighten the deck board, which automatically locks the cam into place. That’s it!

Both of your hands are now free to install the fasteners. To remove the Hardwood Wrench you simply swing the handle to unlock. One other tool you may want to consider using, which compliments the Hardwood Wrench, is DeckWise^® Board Spacers. These brightly color-coded spacers come in five different sizes and are meant to work flawlessly with the Hardwood Wrench. These spacers assure you that you have even gaping between your boards.

If you are interested in the amazing new Hardwood Wrench and want to find out more visit www.DeckWise.com. This site also offers further information on all our other products.

The post How Do I Straighten Bowed Deck Boards? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

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However, we are more than just a manufacturing company – we want to help you create better decks, by providing you with the most efficient and high quality tools possible. We succeed at this by offering innovative products that increase building efficiency and are simple to use. We believe these factors are crucial for any successful deck builder. Our products are all designed to be effective yet simple. We stand by our claim, “Work smarter, not harder.” We want you to leave the hard work to us. With our proven track record of high-customer satisfaction, our products are your smart solution for tough decks.

Below are links to our products. Click on the links to read more about each item.

You can also learn more about our products and company by accessing www.DeckWise.com

Hidden Deck Fasteners

Hidden Siding Fasteners

Hardwood Wrench

Ipe Oil

Ipe Seal

Colormatch Deck Screws

Deck Tile Connectors

Hardwood Plugs

Drill & Drive

The post What’s So Great About DeckWise® Products? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Some of the confusion has to do with the pronunciation and spelling of this wood’s name, which is pronounced “ee-pay.” And, although you now see the correct spelling as Ipe, it has been searched many times through Google using the terms epae, epay, eepay, eapae and ipay.

Ipe is native to rainforests in South Central America. Although it’s known by a number of different names, Ipe and Brazilian Walnut seem to be the most popular. It’s trunk diameter can grow to six feet round and can grow up to 200 feet in height, which makes it one of the tallest trees in the Amazon. Famous for its beauty, the wood appears oily and has a medium texture boasting an olive brown to black color as the heartwood, and a whitish yellow as the sapwood. Once milled, it will eventually darken to a rich medium to dark brown.

Other qualities that make Ipe stand out above the rest have nothing to do with beauty, but instead, durability and performance. Ipe has been given a fire Class A fire rating, the same given to steel and concrete, and is impermeable and highly resistant to fungi and termites. According to the Janka Rating (which measures the resistance of wood to withstand denting and wear), Ipe is the hardest, most durable decking material available with a rating of 3,684, which makes it three times as hard as Red Oak. Because of this, Ipe has many different uses such as flooring, naval construction, bridge work, outdoor furniture, and of course, decking.

DeckWise^® features many products designed to perform flawlessly with Ipe and other hardwoods such as Ipe Oil, Ipe Seal, Ipe Clip® Hidden Deck Fasteners, Colormatch Stainless Steel Screws and the Hardwood Wrench. You can view more information about our products at DeckWise.com.

The post What is Ipe? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

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The post Are You Installing Composites and PVC decking? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.