Choosing a Wood Deck

A wood deck is an excellent addition to your home, and the choices for the material are extensive. Consider cedar or redwood, which are naturally decay-, rot-, and insect-resistant.

Other premium woods include cumaru and ipe, which have high Janka hardness ratings. They are naturally weather- and insect-resistant, but they need periodic refinishing.

Cedar

Cedar is one of the most popular woods used for decking. It is a beautiful natural wood with a warm aesthetic. Cedar also has great durability, resisting rot and bugs without preservatives. It also has a natural protective oil that helps it fend off insects and fungus. Because of this, it can be left untreated and will still last longer than a treated deck.

However, cedar is not as hard as other decking materials. It can be dinged, dented, and scraped easily. It is a softwood, and it is important to use fasteners that are resistant to corrosion, such as hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel.

It is also best to stain a cedar deck because it can quickly turn gray if not stained. This can be desirable, especially for some people who want to achieve a weathered cabin look. But a gray deck is not as good for bare feet and pets’ paws, because it becomes rough and can pose a splinter risk.

Pressure Treated

Pressure treated wood is used for outdoor decks because it offers a lot of protection against moisture. It is commonly available from lumberyards and home centres. It is usually made of pine, spruce or fir lumber and is treated with chemicals.

It’s important to know that if your wood has a grade 1 label it will have more cosmetic blemishes and should only be used for non-ground contact applications. Also, since most PT lumber is kiln dried before and after treatment it has a greater tendency to warp than cedar or redwood.

Until 2003, the most common chemical used to treat lumber for residential use was chromated copper arsenate (CCA). This compound contains arsenic and has been linked to health concerns when it leaks from treated wood and contacts someone walking barefoot on a deck. Today, most residential lumber is treated with different chemicals that are safe for people and pets. These newer advancements such as EL2 and micronized copper azole contain no arsenic and reduce corrosion potential of fasteners.

Redwood

Redwood is a natural wood that is available in different grades for a wide variety of applications. It’s one of the most durable and eco-friendly building materials on the market today. The wood’s natural features make it resistant to insects and fungi without the need for preservative chemicals. It also has a very low rate of shrinkage and will not warp or cup like treated lumber. It’s also very easy to work with and accepts paint or stain extremely well.

The wood’s storied reputation for durability is earned with careful forest management and natural features that no other deck material can replicate. It requires regular maintenance, such as sweeping and wiping up spills, but with proper care it can last for 30 years or more.

The best redwood is harvested from old growth forests. This ensures the wood has the decay resistance properties that have made it famous. Newer redwoods are grown and harvested on fast-growing farms and lack these qualities. Garden or merchantable heart grade contain knots and imperfections while clear heart is the highest quality and most expensive.

Composite

If you don’t have the time or desire to spend several days power washing, sanding and staining wood decks, you can achieve a similar look with a composite deck. Composite decks are made of a mix of waste wood or cellulose fiber and plastic and require only occasional cleaning.

While it may seem like all composite decks are the same, there is a lot of variation between brands and product lines. Different manufacturers use a variety of manufacturing processes including extrusion and compression molding to create their boards.

As a result, you’ll find that some products hold up better against the elements than others and some look more like natural wood than others. Additionally, a composite deck can be an excellent choice for families with young children and pets as it is splinter-free and not as flammable as wood. Be sure to choose a color that you’re 100% happy with, as it is often not easily changed once installed.



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