George @ East Teak here. For all asking, this wood came from me. Ideally I wished everything I sold was perfect and so many of the post here allude to the good product we offer. For the guys who work with ipe everday, bowing, width differences, etc. are not a problem. For the DIY's, they see so many of the beautiful finished pcs of art that they do not realize that each deck and homeowner has a lot of sweat equity in their project which makes it that much more special. As the projects are worked on, the realization is that there is a lot of work involved and each DIY should be busting with pride from their efforts and achievments. As their experience grows daily, they realize that they are working with natural products that seem to have a mind of their own. Other than the actual builders,The Hyatts, Brklyn Decks, and pressure pro guys are the real heroes here. They do an incredible job of tempering reality with practicality

Stucco might be an ok look for the back of the house but real stucco is expensive--- might consider the Hardy siding that has stucco-type finish say new product called Cedar Boards insulated vinyl siding from Certainteed that looks interesting but like I said I don't think we can use vinyl siding--maybe because it is not on front of home if we DID use vinyl would we have to change out all the fascia around the house that is wood?

Thank you beacher, I kinda understood what the carpenter was trying to explain to me, but I was still unsure. You have made it much clearer for me. Thanks for the tip on the gutters as well, it makes sense to caulk and paint before reintalling the gutters. I was not aware of the pvc type trim stock, but then again, this is a whole new adventure for me. When I spoke with my carpenter, I explained that we would most likely be selling in the next 3 -5 years and wanted a good middle of the road type material. We are still paying on major foundation work from last year and while we want this job done right, we can't afford to go high end materials. He suggested masonite. So that is the plan. Is there any reason why that would be a bad choice? And as I type this I realize that I don't know if the trim stock and facia wood are the same thing. Sorry to show such ignorance, but then again, that's why I'm here. Great bunch of people over here to help find my way through this project. Brickeyee, thanks for the suggestion of the minwax on the end grain. I am guessing that the end grain is the acutal end of the piece of wood? And does the paint go over the minwax with any problem? Again, thanks so much...I really appreciate the insight and help. :-) Erin

I installed shelves into my hall closet and have bins for everything. Labeled them with whatever is in it, toothbruses, paste, mouthwash. Make up was put in one, and I was saving the old large makeup kit for yard sale. Happened to think one day, that old makeup kit would be a good place for my jewelry pliers, pieces and parts for making and repairing jewelery. Now, if I could just remember where I put it. Found a small footstool with lid, changed it into a sewing kit. Found three long skinny storage bins, fit perfect inside to hold spools of thread. Scissors in one, others with needle threaders, thread cutters, small razor knife, etc. Works great, and so much more storage than small kit I had before. Also was able to store old hanks of embroidery thread. They work great for buttons and making closures for bags without one, add a loop of embroidery thread,( all 6 strands) and button to other side. All done, no muss no fuss. I pick up old notebooks and folders at yard sales, use them for project folders or storing important papers, use magazine holders for all the notebooks, and it is all in handy reach on shelf. even have special one with page protectors showing all my cut outs of excercises from a magazine,just flip to one I plan to do, and can page mark them for different days of week, what body part they focus on, etc. clothes pins, paint with different colors, add name with sharpie marker, and everyone has their own "important paper" pin. can also add magnets to stick on fridge. I use two magnets on my sliding screen door to keep from walking into it, just back to back. Also have some on my kitchen window, fruit and vegetables, my kitchen theme, keeps birds from flying into window and scaring the life out of me! Hung an old door knob with plate outside in my carport, holds wipe off board and marker for friends to leave me a note if I'm not home. have a small rolling plastic cart with drawers, topped it with topper of round table, and cloth with glass on top. Those little round cloth tables were so cute, but I needed extra storage space, can't see the cart. A two drawer file cabinet is the right height for the same thing. And serves as a table next to my favorite rocker. Love all your great ideas, hope I've given you some new ones.