Not all wood rot is the same, and knowing the difference can indicate how quickly you need to act, and whether a small repair or full replacement is needed.

These hardy types of wood, adapted to survive in harsh environments, have been integral to indigenous life for centuries. Native Americans utilized mesquite for food, medicine, and making tools.

At the Smithsonian Museum Support Center in Suitland, Maryland, cabinets contain thousands of wood specimens, some of which ...