Home improvement—and maybe life improvement—tricks to make projects easier. By WIR Contributor Mark Clement Deck cleaning is an unromantic title to a project that I often find rewarding, not that hard, and once I’m into it, enjoyable. I love brightening a deck and bringing the wood out from under who-knows-how-much dirt and whatever. But deck […]
By WIR Contributor Mark Clement Get your workshop set-up set up when it’s cold outside It’s One Half Set Up, One Half Clean Up. The rest is work. I have a little saying that goes something like this: Looking for a tool isn’t working. It’s looking for a tool. Working—doing DIY—that’s working. Screwing two boards […]
Tune-up accuracy, safety, and up your miter saw game. By Mark Clement The ownership of a miter saw is nice. Reading the instructions is a pretty good idea too. However, there’s more to it than the manual and just eyeballing your cuts. While a miter saw is a mainstay for many rough carpentry projects such […]
You get to enjoy al fresco dining on balmy summer nights and time spent with friends and family relaxing. A well-maintained deck also adds value to your home — especially when you choose a natural wood deck. According to Remodeling Magazine, a wood deck ranks among the top five projects with the best return on investment […]
We celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd every year, but the importance of sustainability is something to be passionate about year-round. In an era filled with single-use plastics and carbon emissions, looking to our renewable resources, like lumber, could be a key to being more environmentally conscious. Lumber is local Carbon emissions are a significant […]
Hankins Inc. in Ripley, MS The lumber industry is one of the backbones of our economy and it’s made up of companies, big and small, that keep one of our greatest commodities – lumber – usable for our consumption. Lumber production is vital for our sustainable society and we rely on lumber mills to keep […]
You don’t have to live near the pacific islands to sip drinks from a coconut cup and relax to tropical music. Here are the basic step-by-step plans for a tiki bar. Lanterns, fishnets and other trinkets not included. Source: www.popularmechanics.com Yes, it’s December. And yes, we’re thinking about summer already. Let’s build a Tiki Bar. The […]
This easy woodworking project would be a great use for scrap wood one has in the woodshop. These fun coasters or drink mats would make a great and cheap … Source: www.youtube.com Here’s a project pretty much anyone can do.
Check out these six easy steps to clean and refinish your wood deck for outdoor entertaining. Source: www.woodnaturally.com We talk a lot about decks and deck maintenance here at Wood. It’s Real. Deck maintenance is important for the safety of your deck, and deck cleaning/refinishing is important for the beauty of it. Good news is […]
Keeping chickens is a great introduction to raising animals, whether you’re interested in urban farming or simply want to liven up your country home. But before you’re ready to set out as a chicken farmer, you’ll need to build the home they’ll live in. Southern Yellow Pine is an ideal material for building coops since […]
The town of Chester in New York State plans to convert its municipal buildings from oil-fired heating systems to bio-fuel. Their city buildings will use wood pellets (learn more about biomass here) and will therefore save the town thousands of dollars every year. Even better news: wood pellet energy source is completely renewable…because it is a byproduct […]
Lumber manufacturers in the Southeast go back 5 generations of operators… and employ foresters to manage the needs of the land and forest. Those foresters employ best management practices, enabling a healthy forest for future generations. Not a bad deal. What is a Forester? A forester is the person who manages the health and the […]
We’re pretty one-sided here when it comes to recommending a building material for decking or other outside project. Here are four things to help you know about SYP and how it compares to the competition. Easy to Use. Treated Southern Pine decking is a favorite because it is so versatile and easy to install. It does […]
From circular saws to cordless drills, power tools simplify and speed up building and remodeling projects as well as general woodworking tasks. But when used incorrectly, these household helpers can injure, maim, and even kill. The best way to prevent a trip to the emergency room is to familiarize yourself with a power tool’s safe […]