Guides
Plain-English answers on growth, feeding, and aging. Sources for every number are on the methodology page.
Board Feet Explained (and the Nominal Lumber Trap)
How to calculate board feet with a worked example, the nominal-to-actual lumber size table, and the order mistakes that cost you money or wood.
Deck Board Spacing: What the Manufacturers Actually Say
Trex and TimberTech publish different gap specs for their own boards. See both, plus joist spacing and waste factors, before you start laying boards.
Deck Stain Coverage: Why the Can Is Optimistic
Manufacturer coverage rates for deck stain vary widely by brand, wood condition, and coat number. Compare them side by side here before you buy.
Fence Post Depth and Concrete: Getting It Right
How deep to dig fence post holes, why concrete manufacturers give different depth rules, and how many bags of concrete each hole actually needs.
How Much Mulch Do I Need?
The cubic-yard math for mulch, extension-sourced depths by mulch type, bag-versus-bulk math, and mistakes that throw off your total before you buy.
Mulch Types and How Deep to Lay Each
A type-by-type mulch depth guide from university extension services, covering bark, straw, leaves, and gravel, with sourced conflicts flagged.