The flexibility of wood has made it the most common building material throughout much of America's building history. Because it can be easily shaped by sawing, planing, carving, and gouging, wood is used for a broad range of decorative elements such as cornices, brackets, shutters, columns, storefronts, and trim on windows and doors.
Wood also is used in major elements such as framing, siding, and shingles.
The main objective in wood maintenance is to keep it free from water infiltration and wood-boring pests. Moisture encourages wood-boring insects so that these two conditions frequently occur together. Inspect wood surfaces for signs of water damage, rot, and pest infestation. Keep all surfaces primed and painted in order to prevent water infiltration. Use appropriate pest poisons with extreme caution and follow product instructions.