Products Product Blog

Product Blog

Welcome to our Blog. Learn what's new in the building materials world and find answers to your building questions.

• Friday, April 6, 2012

  KDAT

  Dave

  Most industries have acronyms that communicate something specific to those in the industry, but can sometimes be foreign to others. The Lumber and Building industry is no different. We have EWP, SPF, PT, R4S, S1S2E, and CDX to name a few. However, KDAT is one such acronym that has been around awhile, but has become more popular recently.

  So, what is KDAT? KDAT stands for: Kiln Dried After Treatment. When lumber is treated to be used outside, or in contact with the ground, it undergoes a process in which kiln dried lumber is infused with the preservatives, and thus the wood’s moisture content goes up significantly. For those who have ever used Pressure Treated lumber, you know what I’m talking about. However, not so with KDAT material. KDAT lumber is taken back into the kiln after it’s treated, and re-dried down to it’s original moisture content, which then provides the end user with some great benefits:

  —It’s ready to finish immediately. No more waiting for the wood to dry out before you paint or stain it.
  —The natural tendency of the wood to twist, cup, shrink or warp is minimized.
  —It’s lighter than freshly treated lumber, which makes it easier to handle, cut, and install.
  —It has more strength and stiffness, and increased holding power for your fasteners.

  KDAT Pressure Treated Lumber is a premium product that will make your new deck or screened porch look great. For more information, check out YellaWoods website: http://www.yellawood.com/products/yellawoodselect

  Or, come on in to our store, where starting mid April, we will be stocking KDAT in our premium 5/4 decking, and in a 2×4 and 2×6 clear grade.

• Wednesday, June 29, 2011

  Router Bits

  Russ

  Have you ever wasted hours trying to track down a hard to find piece of trim or moulding pattern? The lack of availability of older mouldings, and the on going need to create custom patterns on site, make having a good selection of router bits in your tool arsenal a necessity.

  Walker Lumber has recently added a nice selection of CMT router bits. CMT has grown from it’s humble beginnings as a small workshop in Italy in 1962 and developed into an international supplier of superb router bits. CMT uses the highest quality raw materials and innovative manufacturing processes to create some of the most effective cutting tools around. For more information about CMT bits, visit their web site at www.cmtutensili.com

  So, take the time to stop in and look over our large selection of these excellent router bits and help us clear out our remaining Freud and Bosch router bits at 20% OFF

• Tuesday, March 1, 2011

  Spring projects

  Dave

  With warmer weather and the coming of spring, most of us are ready to get outside and spruce up our yards and outdoor living spaces. Walker Lumber has the materials and know how to assist you with your projects.

  If it’s a fence you are thinking of, we now stock a 1×6×6′ dog eared cedar fence picket as well as our standard Pressure treated pickets.

  If it’s a deck, we carry 5/4×6 pressure treated deck boards in both a standard grade or a premium grade. Or, for those who want something different or want to use a premium product, there are many decking options for you: 5/4×4 PT for a smaller board look, 5/4×6 western cedar, 2×6 redwood, 1×6 Ipe, or several of the composite decking that’s available—Azek, Trex, & Timbertech—that offer a higher quality and longer life.

  If it’s a landscape project, we carry many products such as good used railroad ties for retaining walls, 2x cedar for a raised garden bed, or grass seed and fertilizer for your lawn to name a few.

  Come on in and let our knowledgeable staff help you with your project needs.

• Thursday, October 14, 2010

  Kreg Jig

  Russ

  One of the many problems to be solved in woodworking, is how to make a strong joint without visible fasteners. An effective and easily applied solution to this is the Kreg pocket hole system. Consisting of a simple drilling jig and specially designed self-tapping screws, the Kreg system has changed the way woodworkers handle this task.

  Prior to the Kreg jig innovation, time consuming techniques such as doweling, biscuit joining and mortise and tennon joints were some of the more popular options. While these are all tried and true techniques, they were not the most efficient ways to accomplish a strong and aesthetically pleasing joint. The Kreg jig eliminates the need to precisely align holes for doweling, or making precise cuts for biscuit or mortise and tennon joints.

  Kreg reduced the process to two simple steps. Drill the pocket hole then drive the self-tapping screw. Cabinet makers, carpenters and hobbyists have come to appreciate the speed and strength this method of joinery provides.

  The numerous possibilities Kreg offers make this tool system much more than a one trick pony. From cabinets and shelves to furniture and framing, Kreg offers an array of products to help you give your clients the quality they expect, with the efficiency you need.

• Monday, June 28, 2010

  Traditional Wood Porch Floors

  Don

  There is nothing like the look and feel of a traditional wood porch floor. While there have been many new products introduced over the last several years to replace wood for porch floors, real wood is still a favorite. There are a few good tips and practices that will help insure a good wood porch floor.

  First of all the wood should be allowed to acclimate in the conditions it will be laid in. It should be sticked and allowed to acclimate for several days at the site of installation.

  Next, a good coat of quality oil based primer should be applied. Not only will this inhibit the ambient moisture in the air from passing in and out of the wood, thus preventing shrinkage and swelling, but this also keeps the moisture from entering and leaving the underside at a higher rate than the top, which causes cupping and cracking. The Southern Pine Council goes so far as to also recommend a coat of the final oil based paint before installation.

  While paint and primer will inhibit the flow of ambient moisture, it will not keep out moisture from standing water. Thus, it is important to slope your porch flooring away from the house so water does not “stand” on it. The minimum slope recommended is 1/4" per foot. This is a minimum and more is better. Also care must be taken to avoid flat and low spot where water can sit. The area under the porch should also be sloped and graded so as to avoid any standing water under the porch. Finally, be sure to allow for air flow so that moisture from the ground can not build up and sit stagnant under the porch.

  Carefully managing the effects of moisture and water on a wood porch floor is essential to a good job, which then will minimize the movement of the wood. Movement contributes to the breakdown of the wood fibers, which in turn causes cracks and checking. Likewise, wood movement also accelerates the deterioration of the paint causing cracks for moisture to enter more easily, thus resulting in even more damage. The more moisture is controlled the longer the floor will look good, and you or your customer will have a beautiful porch floor that will be enjoyed for years.