Nothing better than sitting by the fire, surrounded by friends and s’mores. But is your fire pit located in a safe place? If it is on your deck, take the correct precautions so you can enjoy it all year long. Recommended Actions: 1. Check your local codes for residential rules; some counties restrict open flames. Additionally, check your local zoning ordinances to ensure your fire pit is placed a safe distance from your house; at least 20-25 feet away from your house or combustible stru...

With winter arriving in the next couple of months, many of us are starting a to-do list for our outdoor entertainment space before the ground freezes. Be prepared with these five essential steps: 1. Store Your Outdoor Furniture The first thing to do is to remove all outdoor furniture from your deck, or you’ll risk the cold weather damaging it, especially the weight of the snow. It’s best to store everything in a dry, dark place. Don’t have an organized place to store i...

Backyard parties make up some of the best summer moments and it most likely consists of games, meals, and pool time. So you can be prepared with the essentials, here are three project plans that you should have ready for your next gathering. Cornhole Boards & Bags Yard games are always a hit during the summer. Building your own cornhole boards and bags allow you the opportunity to customize boards with paint or stain. It’s the perfect way to show off your favorite sports team or colle...

Although Pinterest and several DIY influencers show projects that involve painting a wood deck, we never see what it looks like after a few months in Mother Nature. Cracking, peeling, and flaking can occur due to the boards constantly expanding and contracting with the natural pattern of the weather. Eventually, the paint will bubble or chip and need repair.    Why Won’t Paint Last? Painting a deck requires a lot of time and labor, and it demands more to maintain every year....

Whether you are building a new deck or fence, or just getting your current one ready for the season, learn how to protect your pressure-treated lumber against natural rot and decay to enjoy it for years to come.

This month, we are officially introducing our new bold, black end tags. ProWood is committed to education, making it easier than ever for you to find the right treated lumber for your project. Each end tag features the ProWood logo as well as a color bar that indicates the treatment type and appropriate application. Build Better Projects Being able to understand the capabilities, and also the limits, of treated lumber can ensure projects and structures are built to last. With these, our fo...

Many of us are diving into the first outdoor project of the season. And with Earth Day approaching this month, we all should take some time to understand the products that are a part of our daily lives and how they impact the world around us. Sustainability is important to us, and we know it’s important to you too. ProWood is SCS certified; our MCA (micronized copper azole) treated lumber has received Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) status and NGBS Green Certification. What does t...

If you’re a homeowner, you may find yourself needing outdoor storage for various needs. Whether that be pool supplies, animal feed, toys or gardening essentials, this box is large enough to fit a 55-gallon storage tub.    Completely Customizable This particular project plan was built with 1” x 6” boards; however, if you wish to build with 2” x 4” or 1'' x 8” boards, that adjustment can be made easily. Whatever board size you choose to use, you can ...

Cooler months are upon us. Now is the perfect time to plan your fall building projects. A wood storage shed is an easy project to complete and is especially handy if you use a wood stove or fireplace to heat your home. Depending on your storage needs, our project plan is completely customizable and easy to build within a weekend.   How Much Storage Do I Need? Our standard, single-stall storage shed holds roughly a quarter cord of wood, or an amount of wood that fills a space equal to 4 feet...

If you have recently built a wood deck or purchased a home with an existing wooden deck, you’ll want to keep it in tip-top shape. However, a large concern with wooden decks is the potential of deck boards splintering over time. With proper care and maintenance, your deck boards can remain pristine and look like new. Why Do Splinters Occur? Through continuous water absorption and water loss in your wood deck, natural defects may surface. The continual shrinking and swelling of your deck bo...