Product Knowledge

Calculating tributary area is a critical step in deck-building, as it determines the size of beams and posts you should use, as well as how many posts are needed to support the deck and which footing to choose.

Is choosing—and paying more for—quality lumber worth it? The short answer is: Yes.

It can be tempting to casually bring someone in to help with a certain aspect of your deck instead of hiring a professional, but what are the risks or potential legal issues that may come up?

Long-time local deck expert Joel Skillingstead shares stories from the early days of building manufactured decks, and what he thinks of modern manufactured decking products.

Whether you’re dealing with a gentle, consistent slope or a significant fall-off, building on sloped terrain affects a number of variables, especially permitting, designing, and additional support or materials required for the actual construction.

Today, we’re covering what you need to consider and be aware of specifically for multi-level decks. The more levels you have, the more complexity you’re dealing with!

Using materials from different brands when building your deck can lead to unintended consequences and even costly issues later on. In this episode of our decking series, deck expert Kevin Kunka explains why it’s wise to stick with the same brand when embarking on an outdoor living project.

While no deck is truly "no-maintenance," manufactured decks get pretty close. Learn basic maintenance tips and best practices to keep your manufactured deck in great condition from special guest Kevin Kunka of Trex. 

The portable Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 8-1/4” Table Saw is an incredibly versatile tool, delivering surprising power and functionality. Learn more about its unique features, plus learn how to use it, in this video demonstration.

Wood routers are extremely versatile thanks in large part to the extensive variety of router bits that can be swapped in to make different kinds of cuts. These are some of the most commonly used router bits.

Today we’re joined by Yu He, Territory Manager at Milwaukee® Tool, to go over the features of the M18 FUEL™ 10” Dual Bevel M18 Cordless Miter Saw, as well as how to use it.

Wood routers can cut all sorts of grooves, slots, holes, decorative edges, and more, all while creating a smooth, finished product, even on hard materials. In today’s conversation, Dave covers the three basic types of routers and what they’re used for.

There are many ways to join two pieces of wood together, but if you want a super strong and incredibly smooth joint, you need a biscuit joiner.

We’re back with part two of our Biscuit Joiner 101 discussion. Today, Dave gives us a demonstration of how to actually use a biscuit joiner to make sturdy, seamless joints.

In this post, we cover the basics of circular saw blade types, the different parts of a blade, and what they’re used for.