Checking
Short openings along the grain.
Record to separate possibilities
Which faces are affected? Are ends or connections involved?
Read the supporting field guideHardwood Failures / A diagnostic field guide
What are
you seeing?
Start with the visible condition. Compare the pattern, identify what is still unknown and prepare a useful next step.
Explore a condition ↓Open an observation record ↗VISUAL INDEX / 15 OBSERVATIONS
Find the closest visible pattern.
Diagrammatic pattern keys, not specimen photographs or diagnoses.
OBSERVE / 01
Checking
What it looks like
Short openings along the grain.
What additional information matters
Which faces are affected? Are ends or connections involved?
Keep the conclusion open
A similar appearance can have different causes. Preserve original photographs and product records before cleaning, refinishing, cutting or changing the attachment.
Potential structural, guard or connection concerns need qualified on-site assessment; a photograph cannot establish safe use.
Record this observationKeep this category in the investigation ↗Open a local photograph ↓Follow the evidence:Full field guidesConnection review ↗Storage and moisture record ↗Weathering context ↗
Pattern organization is an observation aid. Technical context: USDA Wood Handbook; see the linked field guides for claim-specific sources. Reviewed September 14, 2026.
CONTROLLED PATTERN COMPARISON
Similar appearance. Different questions.
Splitting
A more extensive opening.
Record to separate possibilities
Is the opening visible on another accessible face? What is the member’s role?
Read the supporting field guideExplanatory diagrams use the same board envelope. They do not establish cause, depth, safety or acceptance. Surface color alone cannot identify biological growth or a chemical reaction.
Record location, context and chronologyONE SCENE / MORE CONTEXT
A close-up is only the beginning.
1 / Surface detailSurface detail
Describe the visible mark, direction and texture. Color cannot establish a cause.
Illustrative concept scene, cropped from one reference. It is not a documented failure, measured specimen or diagnostic evidence. Zooming does not reveal hidden geometry.
The decision follows the evidence
Observe.
Describe and preserve the condition. Monitoring is appropriate only when the responsible reviewer considers it suitable.
Address.
Resolve the cause and the applicable product guidance before choosing maintenance or correction.
Review.
Potential structural, guarding or attachment concerns require qualified assessment. A picture cannot establish safe use.
A photograph needs its context
Similar openings.
Different evidence.
These published timber inspection photographs show why a surface opening and its surrounding condition must be recorded together. They are not Ipe case studies or a do-it-yourself inspection procedure.
The source identifies decay-related discoloration near a split. That source finding cannot be transferred to a similar-looking board.
Component role, access and depth assessment are additional context. Do not reproduce this probing procedure without appropriate expertise.
Photographs: USDA Forest Service, reproduced on FHWA InfoTechnology — Probing, figures 1A and 1B. Species, site and capture date are not supplied on that page. No endorsement is implied.
Make the next conversation useful
Bring a record.
Leave the verdict open.
Location, original photographs, dated observations and material documentation are more useful than an unsupported diagnosis.
Create an observation recordHow to document the condition →Your observation / stays on this device
Look at your own material.
Open a photo beside the field categories. Choose a description and record the evidence you still need.
BUILD A USEFUL PHOTO RECORD
Whole setting
Record the location, orientation, neighboring materials and exposure. Include a wider view before the detail.
Illustrative capture guidance. These views are not a documented defect case or a precise zoom into the same feature.
Your photograph will appear here.
Photo preview is local and is not uploaded or analyzed by AI. It is not retained after leaving or reloading the page.
Observation is not a diagnosis.
A chosen category is a possible description, not a confirmed cause. This record does not decide defect, warranty, claim eligibility or structural safety.