Frequently Asked Questions

What makes you different from all the other pergola manufacturers?
Are you a contractor?
Do pergolas require a permit?
I live on the water; will these products be able to withstand the salt air and high winds?
What types of wood do you use?
Do you sell specialty lumber?
What is a glue-lamination?
What are these cracks showing up in the wood?
How long will it take to ship my order?
What will the life span of my product be?
What finishes do you use and recommend for outdoor wood products?
What is Thermally Modified Decking?

What types of wood do you use? All the wood we use is exterior grade. The function of the project ultimately determines the type of wood that should be used. Baldcypress is our primary building material due to its affordability and local abundance. It is also naturally resistant to insects and decay. There is also a variety of other woods to select from.

We prefer River Recovered Cypress Heartwood This eco-friendly material boasts properties that rival trees that are growing today. River Recovered Cypress Heartwood is first generation, river retrieved lumber that is also known as deadhead cypress, river reclaimed cypress, sinker cypress, old growth cypress, and virgin cypress. This quality old growth lumber was cut from 1890 to 1930, and then rafted down the rivers of northwest Florida to different sawmills in the region. A certain percentage of the lumber was lost or sunk on its journey, and these recovered sinker logs are now sawn into Sinker Cypress lumber for both historic restoration and new construction.

Using rediscovered wood helps preserve our forests by utilizing timber harvested hundreds of years ago while also providing a higher quality lumber. This old virgin cypress timber has very tight growth rings, making it denser while increasing stability and durability. Top

What is Thermally Modified Decking? This is a process that has been used in Europe for over 15 years. The material available is a pine product that has been baked which renders the wood inorganic. This means fungus will not attack it, so it will not rot, and bugs cannot eat it. This material is very stable, is easy to work with, and best of all is non-toxic. This is an alternative to PT decking that is proving to be a great material. The manufacturer gives a 20 year product warranty against deterioration. Top

What is a glue-lamination? Glue-laminations are solid members made of smaller, dry lumber. Kiln dried lumber is only available in 2” thicknesses. Therefore, any material needed in a larger dimension would otherwise be “wet”. These timbers maximizes stability and readily accept any finish. Laminating our columns and main beams provides you with a superior product that maximizes stability and can accept a finish readily. Top

What are these cracks showing up in the wood? This is referred to as checking. This is a natural reaction as the wood stabilizes in its environment. This is a common occurrence and is not considered a defect. These appear on the outer portion of the material as the outside stabilizes faster than the inside. This stabilization can last for several months, and once stable the checking should be sealed with the finish of choice to prevent premature deterioration. Top

What will the life span of my product be? Wood exposed outdoors can last for centuries, according to an article published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Products Laboratory. The type of wood you use, the protection applied, and the maintenance performed determines the life of your exterior product. When properly maintained, your product will retain its rich look for many years to come. Our Cypress and Cedar products have a life expectancy of 20+ years when maintained and River Recovered Antique Cypress Heartwood has a life expectancy of 100+ years with no maintenance. Top

What finishes do you use and recommend for outdoor wood products? Properly applying and maintaining a finish is extremely critical in extending the life span of outdoor products. We use a variety of finishes depending on the look you are interested in.

For a painted look we use Benjamin Moore Solid Siding Stain. These are available in dozens of colors or can be matched to any existing color. This finish is popular due to its low maintenance (5-7 years) and unlike paint, has a manufacturer’s guarantee against chipping peeling or cracking from wood, when properly applied. Paint is a shell finish that sits on top of the wood, where as stain absorbs into the wood and remains flexible and breathable allowing the wood to naturally expand and contract.

For a semi-transparent finish we use Sikkens wood finishes. These are also available at your local Benjamin Moore dealer and provide superior protection that showcases the grain patterns and toning the wood a specific color. Maintenance of this product is 2-3 years.

For a natural look we use Penofin Oil, also available at Benjamin Moore. This is a penetrating oil that has UV inhibitors to slow down the graying process. Typically used on exotic decking, this versatile finish has proven to be very beneficial on all exterior wood products. This is the easiest finish to apply and maintain, but will need to be reapplied yearly to retain the original color appearance. Top

How long will it take to ship my order?Most of our smaller products will ship within 48 hours. However all of our pergolas, arbors and trellises are currently made to order and usually ship within 4-6 weeks. All custom projects are scheduled on a first come first serve basis. Top