Wood is still the preferred material for decks mainly because they are cheaper than the existing alternatives. They also contribute to a deck’s beauty. Yet, the number one disadvantage using wooden products as a deck material, is its high maintenance cost. It is, therefore, important to select timber that requires the least maintenance. According to many professional builders, cedar is the best low maintenance wooden product to use for decks. Let us list their reasons for believing this so.
• Cedar trees secrete oils that repel insects. They turn out great as decks since termites and other insects cause wood to rot.
• As cedar grows, these defense oils increase with age. Decks produced from older trees are, thus, more sturdy and enduring.
• From a reddish-brown hue that looks comfortably rustic to a silver-gray tinge that is soft and familiar, this type of wood can provide your deck with several great shades as it ages.
• To top it off, cedar takes penetrating stains quite well. This makes deepening or pickling your deck a fun project.
• This is because cedar lacks resin and pitch, which also lets it cling to adhesive making deck bonding a piece of cake.
• With all those characteristics, cedar decks do not distort, peel, or split easily enabling it to hold on to its bindings for longer.
• With this ability to withstand impact, a cedar deck is easier to entertain guests with especially since nobody has to worry about treating the wood with kid gloves.
• Cedar has low density and won’t shrink. The wood is, thus, a great candidate for a long-lasting deck.
• As a wood deck, cedar weathers humidity well making it practically impervious to mold and mildew.
• Aside from rain, cedar can also hold out very well against the sun’s rays and high winds. This deck material is recommended for houses in areas that experience such weather.
• There is a high proportion of air space in cedar, which gives the wood a high R-Value rating. The good insulation makes it a prime deck material to protect against extreme temperatures.
• Decks of cedar are not very heavy and special tools are not needed to modify or renovate the wood.
• For the environmentally conscious, cedar is the best choice for their deck. It is considered a renewable resource and its production is monitored for sustainability.
Although cedar has all these great properties, it is still an organic commodity. As a deck material, you still have to perform regular maintenance, although not as frequently as with other timbers. By carrying out these measures, you can further lengthen the long lifespan of this deck material which will still inevitably rot someday.
The Deck Guys treats their customers like family. We tailor every aspect of the deck-building experience to your individual needs because we want you to love your new outdoor space.
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