Lumber has been in near-continuous use as a building material for thousands of years, with customized milling existing nearly as long. Understanding your custom milling choices will help bring your project to the next level of beauty and sophistication.
What is Custom Milling?
Custom millwork is a design option for lumber decking, fencing, railings, and more. This small decorative detail can make a huge impression—custom milling can help bring together a number of separate design elements and form a running theme throughout the home and backyard.
Custom millwork has typically been reserved for large, expensive homes, but in recent years, the trend has become available to a wide variety of homeowners. These days, custom millwork is accessible to virtually any home, and offers the ability to personalize your outdoor project in a unique way.
Custom milling could include corbelling the ends of your patio cover rafters and beams. Or replacing old siding with new material that has been milled to the same dimensions. With the right equipment and experienced craftsman, any pattern can be reproduced.
Do I Need Custom Millwork?
There are a few situations where custom milling is necessary to get the job done, including:
- Unique Finishing Touches – If you are looking for a special way to personalize your home’s exterior, then custom millwork is for you.
- Difficult Spaces – Sometimes, custom millwork is necessary for lumber pieces to fit into their intended places, due to space constraints.
- Theme Concerns – When you’ve crafted a running theme throughout the design, custom millwork may be required to bring that theme to your lumber decking and fencing.
When Custom Millwork Isn’t Necessary
Generally, you won’t need custom millwork to lay the majority of the planks for your lumber decking, fencing, or railings. You typically don’t need custom millwork to install your substructure (frame) of your deck.
J & W Lumber has been supplying outdoor lumber and building materials since 1957. With six locations throughout southern California, we are uniquely equipped to solve your custom milling needs. For more information, give us a call at (760) 741-8776.