Recreating Broken or Missing Handles 

Reproducing Antique Handles

A frequent request in the CNC shop is whether we can replicate broken (or missing) handles. Usually, these requests come from people with antique or heritage items, like historical guns, treasured heirlooms, or other one-of-a-kind objects. We recently completed an antique gun handle replica for a customer. Here’s the process we went through to create…

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Interior Wood Panelling Options

Installing wood panelling is a popular way to upgrade a room and add warmth and character to a space. There are a variety of interior wood panelling options, and it’s important to choose the right product for your project.  There are a few decisions to make when choosing wood panelling:  Difference Between Siding and Panelling  Siding…

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4 Types of Sawn Wood 

When processing logs into planks and dimensional lumber, four main saw patterns can be used:   It’s important to understand the difference in saw patterns because the way wood is cut affects its stability and appearance.  Flat Sawn (Also called Plain Sawn)  Log Cut Surface/Face Grain End Grain Flat sawn is the most common cut pattern…

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Buying Marine Plywood — What You Need to Know 

Marine plywood is a specialty sheet good often used on boats and other outdoor applications. It differs from other plywood by the species of wood, number (and thickness) of layers, and the adhesive used in manufacturing. Marine Plywood Core Marine plywood is made up of many thin layers which reduces voids and large knots in…

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Best Wood for a Sauna 

Saunas (both indoor and stand-alone outdoor buildings) are becoming increasingly popular in Canada. As more Ottawa homeowners design and build saunas, we field many calls asking for recommendations on the best wood to use. Our go-to suggestion is western red cedar, but if someone wants a different species, thermally modified wood is a unique option. …

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Parts of a Staircase

Are you upgrading (or building) a staircase and overwhelmed by the parts and terminology? Below, we break down the two main parts of a staircase and explain each component in detail. Step System The step is comprised of four main components:  Stringer: The structural part of the staircase. Tread: The walking surface of a staircase.…

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Wood Texture Options: Rough Sawn, Skip-Dressed, Fresh Sawn, and Dressed

When purchasing lumbers and timbers, you’ll be confronted with wood texture (sometimes called finishing) options. Understanding the difference between rough sawn, fresh sawn, skip-dressed, and dressed lumber might seem overwhelming, but it’s actually very straightforward!  Texture Roughness Rough Sawn High  Fresh Sawn  Medium  Skip-dressed  Low  Dressed  None  What is rough sawn timber?   Sometimes called rough cut…

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Prefinished Wood Siding Guide

If you’re looking to re-side your home with wood, you have two main options: unfinished wood siding or prefinished wood siding.   Prefinished siding is popular because it comes with a factory finish, so you don’t need to worry about painting or staining after installation. It’s very easy to install and is warranted for up…

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How to Match Gingerbread Trim 

There are over 7,500 properties listed in Ottawa’s heritage register, with many of the homes in the Victorian or Carpenter Gothic style. While these homes are undoubtedly beautiful, a problem homeowners of these heritage buildings often face is how to match deteriorating (or missing) gingerbread trim.   You could try to replicate the trim by hand…

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Unfinished Wood Siding Guide

Wood Siding Guide

When it comes to choosing wood siding, there are a lot of options. First and foremost, you have to decide if you want to install unfinished siding or go with prefinished siding. For this article, we’re focusing exclusively on unfinished options. Learn about prefinished options in our article: Prefinished Wood Siding Guide. There are three…

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Cedar, Ipe or Red Batu Decking — Which is Best for You?

When it comes to the best wood for an Ottawa deck, there are three main options: Western Red cedar, Ipe, and Red Batu. Any of these woods would be an excellent choice for your deck, and often the decision comes down to personal preference and budget considerations.   Cedar  Western red cedar is the classic decking…

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Why We Recommend CUTEK Extreme to Finish Decks 

Are you looking to stain your wood decking? High-quality decking stains protect and maintain (or enhance!) the natural look of wood. But, with so many options available on the market, it can be difficult to decide which finish is best for your project.   We’re here to help by highlighting the benefits of CUTEK wood oil…

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5 Reasons to Use Red Batu for Decking   

Red Batu Decking

Red Batu hardwood is an increasingly popular exterior decking wood. Not only is it beautiful to look at but it’s durable in harsh weather conditions: a winning combination! Red Batu is similar to other hardwoods like Ipe, and can be used in place of composite or synthetic decking. In addition to decks, Red Batu can…

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4 Tips to Finish a Cedar Deck

Are you installing a western red cedar deck?  Cedar is an incredibly durable building material that’s naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insects. To keep your deck looking great for years to come, follow these four steps:  Properly prepare the deck surface Choose the right finish Apply finish like a pro Maintain the deck surface…

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4 Tips to Finish Douglas Fir Lumber 

When working with dressed Douglas Fir, either inside or outside, you’ll want to protect the wood by properly finishing it. We talked to our experts to compile the top four tips on how to properly finish your Douglas Fir lumber:  1. Wait for Lumber to Dry   In order for stain or other finish to properly soak…

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Knotty vs. Select Cedar – Which Should You Choose?    

select/knotty cedar decking

Western red cedar is a popular material for interior and exterior applications, and rightfully so. It’s durable, sustainable, and beautiful. Cedar is also versatile because the wood is sorted based on a number of criteria, so you can choose the right grade for your project (and budget).   One of the ways that cedar is categorized…

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How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? 

The most common question we hear is, how much will it cost? But when it comes to composite decking costs, it’s hard to give a definitive answer.  Relatively, composite is less expensive than PVC, but more expensive than wood.   There are also a number of companies manufacturing composite decking – and each brand has multiple…

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PVC vs Composite Decks 

PVC vs composite

For homeowners thinking about installing their first deck, it can be confusing to make sense of all the decking options – especially when it comes to PVC vs composite decking. At first glance, they seem fairly similar, but there are some key differences between the two.  PVC Composite Made of 100% synthetic material  Made from…

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How to Choose Between TimberTech Lines 

You’ve made the decision to go with a composite decking product, and have even narrowed it down to TimberTech – but now what? The next step is to decide between the different TimberTech lines and figure out which one is right for your project.  Three TimberTech Product Lines  TimberTech organizes their decking products into three…

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What’s the Difference Between TimberTech Collections? 

There are a lot of decking options out there and it can be overwhelming to understand the difference between products. If you read our article about TimberTech lines, you know that the TimberTech brand offers three distinct levels of products: Azek, Pro and Edge. TimberTech further breaks down its products into collections: TimberTech Azek –…

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Comparing Trex Collections

Trex has become synonymous with composite decking – and with good reason – they produce a quality product and continually innovate. Trex has been supplying decking material for almost three decades and has become the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking products. 3 Trex Collections  Over the years, Trex has added to their product line…

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Ever Heard of a Thermally Modified Wood Deck?

Thermally modified wood

Pressure-treated, cedar, composite and PVC are all common decking materials – but what do you know about thermally modified wood decking? If you’re like most people, probably not much.  Pyrolysis is the process of heating wood to over 400°F (180 °C) in the absence of oxygen. This process completely removes moisture and changes the chemical…

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How to Keep a Slab Flat 

Live edge slabs make beautiful tables and countertops; however, they are suspectable to warping and cupping. The best way to keep a slab flat is to properly prepare the surface and install a c-channel.  Expect Expansion and Contraction All wood has moisture in it, and as the moisture evaporates, the wood will physically change shape.…

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