Discover the Mataverde Difference
Our goal is to satisfy our customers so they will rave about their project. If you are happy, so are we. It's that simple. But this philosophy affects everything we do. To begin with, we select the finest sustainable materials and then inspect them for quality a minimum of three times. Then we provide you as much information as we can - upfront - to help guide you to the best decision for you and your project. Once your materials arrive on site, we provide you with more tools so you can handle your products properly and enjoy your project for decades.
We firmly believe in the old adage, “Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.” To get the best looks and long term performance for your project, an informed client will help ensure a successful project. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most out of your exterior Mataverde hardwood decking and siding materials for a successful project with the least amount of challenges or interruptions. Your long term satisfaction is our goal.
PLANNING YOUR DECKING OR SIDING PROJECT
Selecting the Right Design for your Project
It all starts with an idea. You'll need to decide what type of a project you want to build. Whether you are working with an architect, design professional, or yourself, you probably have a good idea of how you want your decking or siding project to look. If you are looking for more design ideas, we have lots of tools for you to explore on our website:
Project Photo Galleries
To get started, we have lots of project photo galleries on our website. Feel free to browse through them for some great project ideas.
Wood Siding Project Photo Galleries
Project Portfolios
For even more project design ideas, we have several project portfolios that feature some award winning designs and case studies. Please download any of the portfolios that interest you:
Download the "150 Deck Design Ideas Portfolio" today.
Download the "Rooftop Deck Design Ideas Portfolio" today.
Download the "Residential Wood Rainscreen Project Portfolio" today.
Selecting the Right Wood Species for your Project
Once you have decided on a design for your deck or siding project, you are ready to look at appropriate materials to build it with. There are many different wood species to choose from. They each have different looks, strengths and prices. It can be confusing. Let us help.
For wood decking materials planning, here are some resources you may find helpful:
Download "The Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Decking" today.
For wood siding or wood rainscreen planning, here are some resources you may find helpful:
Download "The Ultimate Guide to Building Green with Wood Rainscreen Siding" today
Ordering the Right Material Quantities
Once you have decided on the best material options for your project, it's time to figure out how much material you'll need. Experienced construction professionals know that ordering a little bit of “extra” material for your project is in fact less costly in the long run and will also provide options for you during installation. Most experienced builders and contractors will typically add a minimum of 3-5% extra material to compensate for cutting, defecting and waste.
To a contractor, ordering a little extra material will create a better-looking project, helps avoid any delays in getting the job completed, and eliminates any potential extra delivery or millwork charges. To an owner, this “attic stock” means ready access to replacement materials if ever needed, at the original price and looks. In short, adding a little bit of extra material to your order is the best and lowest cost insurance you can buy.
Choosing the Right Material Quality
Mataverde premium decking and siding materials are selected to specific quality criteria. Mataverde wood is inspected a minimum of three times before you even see it. As wood is a natural product, expect variations in color, graining, figuring and appearance. High density hardwoods especially exhibit lots of exotic graining and tropical color variations. This is an inherent characteristic of natural wood species and is part of the unique character and individuality of each board. These variations help add a distinctive beauty to your project for years to come.
Mataverde decking and siding are inspected many times to ensure that you get the best product available
If a particular piece of wood has an appearance that you do not find desirable or to your preference, it is best to lay out your decking or siding boards to blend them in and use them in a way that is most advantageous to your project use and design. Another common technique is to trim or “defect cut” any pieces of boards that have a quality concern or appearance issue of any type. This allows you to make best use of your materials in a way that will yield long term beauty and success.
RELATED: Why Using Random Tallies of Hardwood Decking Works Best
RELATED: Why Using a Mixed Length Tally of Wood Siding Makes Sense
Material Sizes
Mataverde premium hardwood decking, siding and Lumber are available in many widths, thicknesses and lengths for your project needs. Mataverde Decking and Siding Specialists are trained to help you determine which species, thickness and widths will work best for your project needs. Our decking and siding specialists can also offer suggestions on lengths, based on your project type, material layout, project budget and shipping requirements.
Mataverde decking and lumber is typically available in lengths anywhere from 6’ to 20’. Mataverde rainscreen siding is typically available in random lengths from 4’ to 12’, which are very effective in installing rain screen siding projects. When planning your length needs, it is most cost effective for you to use a random length tally with a variety of lengths to help you meet your project goals.
To make best use of exterior hardwood decking and siding materials, laying your boards in a random length pattern (like a hardwood floor) is the most effective, and beautiful, way to “blend’ various board appearances and make best use of your materials.
RELATED: Check out Mataverde Stock Lists here
Sustainable Material Options
Mataverde Premium Hardwood Decking and Siding is sustainably harvested. These eco-friendly processes ensure that there are as many mature trees available at the end of a harvesting cycle as there were at the beginning. A maximum of only one to two mature trees per acre of forest can be harvested. This allows enough space and light for other trees to emerge from the forest canopy.
In addition to FSC® Certified material (Forest Stewardship Council®), and Rain Forest Alliance certification, Mataverde decking and siding are also available in the IBAMA/SEMA sustainable yield forestry methodology.
RELATED: Learn more about Mataverde sustainability options here.
AFTER YOUR DECKING OR SIDING MATERIAL ARRIVES ON SITE
Proper Wood Acclimation
Proper acclimation of your wood on site, is the most important thing you can do. Do not skip this step. All wood moves. Wood expands or contracts naturally, based on its moisture content. Most of this movement occurs as it is drying out or “acclimating” on site. Once wood has fully acclimated it has reached “Equilibrium Moisture Content” or EMC for short. After the wood has reached its EMC on site, movement of the wood is minimized and only changes seasonally depending on humidity and temperature.
For best long-term results, it is imperative to allow your wood to acclimate thoroughly before installing it on your project. Wood typically expands and contracts primarily across its width, so any dimensional changes are likely to be seen there. Don’t be alarmed if you see some changes in width; simply use these boards to their best advantage.
If you are laying out decking or siding and notice that some boards have acclimated slightly narrower than others, simply use the narrower boards on the same row of decking or course of siding. The best place to allow wood to acclimate is in a shaded area covered on the top of the unit only. The greater the amount of air that moves over the surface of the wood, the faster the wood will acclimate. That’s why many experienced builders will use spacers between each stack of wood to help the acclimation process.
RELATED: Download Critical Acclimation Guidelines
Installing Your Decking or Siding Material
Our goal is to help guide you along the way to a beautiful exterior hardwood project that will provide you with satisfaction for years to come. With lots of input from our clients, we have developed some helpful guidelines for the best installation techniques for Mataverde decking and siding products.
Please find Decking Installation Guidelines here
Please find Rainscreen Installation guidelines here
If you have any questions, before, during or after your installation, we are here to help you in any way we can. We take pride in providing helpful information to our clients.
Protecting Your Material After Installation
Whether you choose to apply a UV protective coating to your new exterior hardwood before or after installation, either way, it is a great idea. Applying a UV inhibiting sealer such as Penofin Hardwood Formula or a similar product will help minimize surface checking and protect your wood during the initial acclimation period. Even if you ultimately want your exterior hardwood to weather to a silvery patina over time, your wood will benefit from an initial application of a UV inhibiting sealer.
More information about care and maintenance options here.
Who do I contact?
For US and Canadian Shipments East of the Rockies:
Our East Coast Offices may be reached at (860)-444-7524 Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Time
For Shipments to Rocky Mountains and Western States and Canadian Provinces:
Our West Coast Offices may be reached at (707)-794-0510 Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm Pacific Time
Have any questions? Please let us know how we can help.
DOWNLOAD THE MATAVERDE SUCCESS PLAN
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