Taking on the best DIY project ever—a new deck. Here’s what you need to know to get started. By Mark Clement I mean, it shouldn’t be your first DIY project but if you’ve got some basic carpentry skills, some patience and a strong back, building a basic deck is possible. The things that throw us—all […]
Looking for a great DIY project? Learn how to build a basic raised garden bed like a pro, using Southern Yellow Pine. Want to join the garden-to-table movement? Why wait? Imagine the sense of pride you’ll feel serving gourmet greens freshly picked from your backyard. There are many other benefits too. Tending to your own […]
Choosing wood with all of the options at the lumber aisle or yard can be a bit daunting. When you know you want to use Southern Yellow Pine for your building project, there are a few things you can see on the label stamped on every piece of SYP. We put together this handy infographic to […]
Pressure-treated Southern Pine decking has been the preferred decking material for over 60 years. In recent years the deck has become so much more than just a place to store the grill. It has become an outdoor room which extends a home’s living area.. With cutting-edge grills and accessories, novel lighting solutions, festive table settings […]
By Lia Therese Feliciano, WIR Contributor Many of us choose to build with Southern Yellow Pine for everything from our dream homes to weekend DIY projects because its aesthetic and function. And if those reasons aren’t enough to consider SYP when you’re building something, let’s talk about how sawmills that make that lumber are zero […]
We had such a fun time working with Sarah from Ugly Duckling House. She had a goal of transforming her backyard from a big piece of blah into something truly amazing. We’re happy to share the journey with you. In this post, Sarah has already planned the layout and built/waterproofed the frame. Now, it’s onto […]
by Martha Retallick, WIR Contributor …and that requires maintenance. Whether your deck is pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine or another type of material, for a long life, folks must monitor and fix – little by little – any issues that arise. As with anything that is neglected, these outdoor structures can deteriorate and become a […]
There are precious few things from our childhood that we remember with more clarity than the best swing sets we played on for hours in playgrounds or our own backyards. With a little bit of imagination, elbow grease and quality wood, you can be the neighborhood hero, building a backyard playground sure to impress even […]
By Meghan Banke, WIR Contributor Chairs are a necessary accessory to backyards and outdoor spaces. We take them for granted since they are needed for practical reasons. We’ve all enjoyed nights around a dining table in the backyard, eating an al fresco meal under the stars. Or lounging around with friends on the weekend on […]
The green shaded area in this map depicts the native range of loblolly pine. Image via Pinemap.org. If you live in any of the 13 Southern states that span Virginia to Texas, you can proudly say you live in the Wood Basket of the United States. In fact, more than 60% of the entire volume […]
If you think back to your childhood, your mind probably wanders to your favorite spot. A hideaway is an essential place for kids — a safe spot to play, unwind and dream of all things they want to be when they grow up. Let’s face it: It’s also a place to hide from parents and […]
by Martha Rettalick, WIR Contributor Do you like to sit and watch flowers grow? This planter bench helps you do both. This is what I like to call a ‘weekend’ project, especially if you’re a beginner. Lovely wood planter bench. Just add flowers. Image courtesy MyOutdoorPlans.com Before we get started with the building, here’s a Southern […]
The creaking sound every time you take a step on that one spot, the cracking unsightly treads you’ve learned to skip over, the wobbly handrail you have to warn guests about – there are many signs that your stairs need replacing. And if you’ve been putting it off, no one would blame you. It’s definitely […]
By Fergus Mason, WIR Contributor Southern Yellow Pine, in many cases, can be considered a ‘locally grown’ resource. However, here’s a story about how some SYP trees traveled a long, long, long way…like, to the moon and back. It makes for a pretty good story: Seeds in Space It starts in 1970, when Stuart Roosa […]