Home renovations are a big project to undertake, there are endless discussions and brainstorming sessions. If you are deciding on what type of materials you want to use, consider making a list of materials you need and double check that you have everything you need. If you read Part One of this series, you learned about softwood, hardwood and plywood. In Part Two, we want to dive into the different materials you can come across in lumberyards. In Part One, we focused on the basics of construction materials and what you need to know. In Part Two, we are going to get into decking, fencing, siding, and additional products you may find while shopping in a lumberyard.
Decking
There are many different types of decking that you may come across from different lumberyards. The most common ones are traditional wood decking, exotic hardwood decking, and composite decking. Usually for wood decking, you will find either cedar or redwood, both of which are very optimal for deck building. For exotic hardwood decking, the most common ones are Ipe, Garapa, Mahogany, Red Balau, and Tigerwood. Exotic hardwood decking is more for homeowners who want a high class look and don’t mind the regular maintenance to keep up with the deck. If you have a busy life and don’t want to stress about the upkeep, then consider using composite decking which needs little to no upkeep.
Fencing
Adding a fence to your home is vital to enhance the curb appeal of your home and also to add value. There is a wide selection of types of fencing that you can purchase. From split rail fence, ranch rail fence, cedar privacy fencing, composite fencing, aluminum fencing, and vinyl fencing there are endless options. Most lumberyards will carry materials for any kind of fencing, especially if they specialize in fencing like we do! Each kind of fencing has its own benefits and are ideal for certain situations. We recommend talking to your supplier or contractor to see what type they think would work best for your home.
Siding
Siding also has many different options within traditional siding. Siding is what makes your home, home. You want the exterior of your home to influence your overall style. Most lumberyards will sell traditional wood siding that is the go to option for any home. Some will also carry the more specialized siding products like log lap siding and cedar shake shingles. This is in addition to the normal tongue and groove siding, shiplap siding, bevel siding, and channel siding. The type of siding you want for your home depends on a lot of different aspects, such as the style of your home, the environment you live in, and the kind of maintenance you are okay with committing to. Also, keep in mind that usually companies that specialize in siding may have special order opportunities where you can customize everything to your liking.
Railing
Almost any lumberyard that sells decking material will sell deck railing systems. No deck is complete without a railing, so why not sell it? Typically, you will want to buy railing from the same company or brand you bought the decking material from. That way it all flows together and looks good. As far as the brands lumberyards offer, they could be anything from local companies to nationwide companies like Fortress, Fiberon and TimberTech. Check with your supplier to see what brands they carry.
Specialty Products
Depending on the lumberyard you are shopping at and how popular they are, they may sell specialty products. These products could be anything from reclaimed lumber, timbers, beams, beetle kill pine or even kitchen remodeling materials like granite countertops.
Here at RMFP, we carry all the products we mentioned above and more. We strive to be a one-stop-shop so our customers can find all the materials they need for their home renovation projects. We understand that it can be stressful and intimidating to figure out all that you need to make your home perfect. If you missed Part One of this series, go back and read it for the basic information that is good to know. If you want to learn more about each of these individual products visit our website at www.rmfp.com. We write weekly blogs on all of our products and go in-depth about the brands we work with. Also, if you want to see a blog on a specific topic that we haven’t touched on, let us know!
