Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - how to identify wood

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06-16-00, 02:28 PM
I recently bought a house with a deck; don't know how old the deck is. Some of the railings have cracks. If I have to replace the wood, how can I determine what kind of wood it is, since it has been stained? Or is there something I can fill the cracks with?

06-17-00, 11:30 PM
If your decision is to replace any wood, I wuld recommend that you cut one of the boards that will be replaced and see what the inside grain/fiber looks like. Hopefully, you can tell your wood from this perspective. The stain should not have penetrated this far into the wood.


More than a Carpenter
http://www.carpenter.cjb.net
06-19-00, 07:00 AM
Thanks. But if I don't want to replace the wood (it is not really necessary) can I use a wood-filler or something? Can filler be stained?

06-23-00, 07:04 PM
I don't know what anyone else's experience has been, but I wouldn't recommend using wood filler or putty in an exterior use of this kind.