The New Preservatives

When I’m on a deck or porch site, the way I usually figure out that a scraggly bush needs to be limbed or removed isn’t…

I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more…

For porches – think beaded ceiling material and crown – a miter saw is a must. I use a DeWalt DW718. DeWalt nailed this tool:…

Three Fences Designing, detailing, and installing fences for looks, quality, and production speed Mark Clement If I said I didn’t like building fences, I’d be…

There’s a lot to consider when you set out to refurbish an old porch. They’re challenging, and not just because every porch is different.

Today, of course, our hammers hang from our belts, and we drive most of our nails with pneumatic tools, so who cares if there is…

In 2004, after dominating the market for more than 70 years, wood treated with CCA (chromated copper arsenate) was withdrawn from residential use due to…

I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more…

Miter-saw set-ups can range from just a couple of sawhorses and a truck bed to something so nitpickingly complicated that I would break it in…

I have specific criteria for work gloves. First, the gloves have to fit, meaning that when I’m wearing them, the answer to the following questions…

I remember when there were roughly a billion fewer choices of deck boards and railing systems. The first decks I worked on as a carpenter’s…

If you’re tempted to skip this article because you think safety is boring, consider that having a safety program might help you and your crew…

TOOL KIT Light and Compact Framing Nailer By Mark Clement Stanley-Bostitch 800/556-6696 bostitch.com Street price: $250 As dependable as screws are for decking, about the…

I’ve heard people call a pergola anything from an arbor, a colonnade, or a trellis to “one of those garden things.” But regardless of what…

Like most small-business people, I’ve used personal computers (PCs) to manage my business. My wife, who runs the office, has also used PCs. Plus, I…