Is Your Deck Wood Good? Pros and Cons of Common Deck Materials

In today’s world, there are more choices for your deck than just wood. However many prefer the beauty of a good wood deck, but know what you want and where to get it. Some woods are treated with chemicals, depending on the company, and you’ll find differences in quality and price. The chemicals keep the wood from rotting and also free from insects.

The most popular wood material is cedar and pine, and they are used more often in outdoor construction. Pine is less expensive, sturdy, and easy to work with, and is usually chemically treated. While cedar is naturally weather and bug resistant due to the substance within the wood itself. It is cost effective and beautiful as well.

Ipe is a tropical hardwood. It takes a special high-end saw blade to cut. The wood is dense and is often pre-drilled for screws. Ipe is more expensive than other deck materials, and they claim that it will last 3 times longer without the use of sealant. It is naturally resistant to bugs and weather. It is also less combustible, but is not fireproof.

Before you make your choices for a wood deck, check out the other deck materials. Plastic lumber has many advantages over wood. You can cut or drill it just like wood, and it won’t rot or draw bugs. It is also low maintenance and you’ll never have to seal it. Plastic lumber will make a nice deck for you, but remember it is not suitable for support capacities.

Composite deck material is just what it says, and it falls between plastic lumber and wood. Usually it is made from scrap wood fiber and recycled plastic. Because of that it is resistant to water and rot as well. It looks and feels like wood, and is a good choice in wet climates. The composite will withstand water and is slip resistant.

When you’re planning on doing the work yourself and if you don’t have much experience at building decks there are deck plans you can buy to help you plan and build the deck.

If that is more than you want to tackle, try hiring a deck contractor. They will get the job done long before summer and they have the knowledge to build the deck that will fit in your back yard. They’ll use the wood that is best suited for your area and instruct you in the ways to keep it in good condition for the life of your home.

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