Is ‘Low Maintenance’ Decking Actually Low Maintenance?
One of the most common questions from homeowners researching decking materials: what would you actually use on your own house?...
Month: October 2026
What Building Departments Actually Want From You
The most useful mindset when dealing with a building department: they're doing their job, and once you understand the rules...
What Kind of Wood Actually Belongs in a Deck?
Is wood a good choice for building a deck? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on species —...
The Stairs Built With Glue Instead of Fasteners
Every so often a deck inspection turns up a shortcut so unusual it takes a second look to actually register....
What 40 Years in the Trades Taught Me About Eating for the Job
Ten hour days on your feet. Hauling lumber, pulling wire, running a framing nailer all day. That kind of work...
How a Deck Collapsed Under Ice — A Cautionary Design Story
Not every deck failure comes from a weak joist or a rotted post — sometimes it comes from a clever-looking...
Why Lateral Bracing Is the Difference Between a Renovation and a Collapse
A structure's exterior sheathing, brick cladding, and interior drywall aren't just finishing layers — on many homes, they're also doing...
Why 4-Post Pergolas Are a Design (and Structural) Mistake
Two rules worth knowing before designing a pergola: spans over 12 feet get expensive fast, so use them sparingly, and...
The Staircase Held Up by 3 Nails — And How We Fixed It
A client living overseas bought a summer property near Wasaga Beach, Ontario, and asked us to look at a staircase...
Horizontal Fences That Are Actually Pool-Safe
For about 20 years, vertical board fencing was the default around pools, largely because pool safety codes require a fence...
Paint or Stain on a Deck? Here’s the Real Answer
Most finishing advice oversimplifies this question, and the industry's own reference charts are part of the problem. The Western Red...
The Hidden Risk of Buying Discontinued Composite Decking
When a composite decking manufacturer goes bankrupt or shuts down a plant, their leftover inventory doesn't disappear — it often...
How Far Can a Deck Really Cantilever? A Practical Guide
Cantilevering a deck — extending the framing beyond its last support point — is a normal and useful technique, but...
A Fence Design Detail Most Builders Skip: The Gap Beneath the Panel
A well-built suburban wood fence doesn't need to cost much more than a standard good-neighbour lattice-topped fence to look and...
Why Spring Fence-Building Season Is Riskiest for Homeowners
Hiring a contractor to build a wood fence anywhere in North America between April and June carries real financial risk...