What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of decking materials?
Even if you weren’t able to get a new deck this spring, there’s no need to worry! The summer is still an excellent season to get a new deck. If you’re still interested in adding a new deck to your home, you should learn all you can before you begin. But before you get started on your new deck, you need to decide the type of decking material you want to use. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of decking materials? Here you can find an introduction to pressure-treated wood, redwood and cedar, hardwoods, and composite decking materials.
Pressure-Treated Wood
Did you know that pressure-treated wood is one of the most popular choices for decking material? Three-quarters of all decks in the United States contain pressure-treated wood. Pressure is used to soak chemicals into the wood that makes it resistant to the effects of rotting, molding, and insects. Although in the old days, the chemicals used on the wood were potentially toxic, new pressure-treated wood is safer to use as a decking material because the different kind of chemicals used on the wood now. The biggest issue with pressure-treated wood now is that you will probably have to perform regular preventative or reactive maintenance on it because the wood quality will diminish over time.
Redwood and Cedar
Redwood is iconic, and it is highly similar to its cousin, cedar. Redwood is more plentiful out west, but you can still find redwood here on the East Coast. However, when you do find it, redwood will most likely be more expensive to purchase than cedar. Cedar is another strong choice for use in decking if you prefer natural wood over engineered wood. After all, this type of wood is easy to find, light, and sturdy. Cedar wood decks are gorgeous, and they naturally contain oils that discourage the effects of rotting and attacks by insects. But when you choose a cedar deck, also remember you should invest in staining and sealing it – these measures help the deck last much longer.
Hardwoods
You can also choose hardwoods for your deck. However, certain types of hardwood are going to be more expensive than others just because they are so exotic. Despite their higher price tag, these materials will also last an incredibly long time – up to 50 years. Whatever type of hardwood you choose, they might come from somewhere tropical. If this is the case, you should ensure that the wood is harvested sustainably. Sustainably-harvested wood is much better for the environment.
Composite Decking Materials
Composite decking materials combine natural and synthetic materials. While natural wood decks might suffer from warping, rotting, or splintering, composite decks do not encounter these problems. Because these types of decks are also unaffected by insects, you almost never have to worry about performing any maintenance on them.
Ready for the Deck of Your Dreams?
Mid-Atlantic Deck & Fence has almost 30 years of experience in building beautiful custom fences, gazebos, screened-in porches, and decks throughout the state of Maryland. We have the expertise to design your dream fence or custom deck and have it installed in a headache-free process. Give us a call at 1-800-833-9310 or visit us online for a quote today! We offer many different styles of fencing and decking in addition to custom options designed specifically to suit your preferences and tastes. To see examples of our work and get more tips on how to choose the right decking for your family, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Tags: Decking, decking materials, Decks