If you’re planning to build a wooden deck this summer, you may have noticed that choosing a decking material has become much more difficult than ever before. Just a few years ago the only option was wood, which came in perhaps two or three species. Today, there are dozens of different decking materials available, including composite lumber, plastic decking and hardwood imports.
So, before breaking ground on your new deck, let’s take a close look at f basic types of decking, each with its own aesthetics, maintenance requirements, and price range.
Affordable Option: Pressure-Treated Lumber
This ubiquitous green-tinted wood is the No. 1 decking material sold today, which isn’t surprising when you consider that pressure-treated (PT) decking is affordable, relatively durable, readily available coast-to-coast, and easy to stain virtually any color.
Most PT decking is milled from southern yellow pine, and then chemically treated to resist rot, fungus, and wood-boring bugs. The two most common sizes of PT decking are 2x6s (90 cents per linear foot), and 5/4 x 6-in. planks ($1 per linear foot). Occasionally 2x4s (65 cents per linear foot) are used, but typically only on smaller decks.
The downside of PT lumber is that it’s not very dimensionally stable, meaning that when exposed to the elements it tends to swell, shrink, crack, cup, split, and warp. In fact, it’s not unusual that one or more deck boards will need to be replaced after just a year or two because of severe warping.
PT decking also requires more maintenance than most other decking materials. In order to prolong the life and look of the deck, it requires an annual power washing and then a new coat of exterior-grade stain or clear wood preservative every two or three years. PT decking may be chemically treated that doesn’t mean it’s maintenance free.
Naturally Superior: Redwood and Cedar
The next most popular wood-decking options are redwood and Western red cedar. Both of these western softwoods are prized for their rich color, natural beauty, and because they’re not pumped full of chemicals or preservatives. Both wood species contain tannins and oils that make them naturally resistant to rot, decay, and voracious insects.
When considering either of these decking options, keep in mind that the level of weather- and bug-resistance is directly related to the amount of heartwood that’s in the boards. Heartwood grows closer to the center of the tree, and is relatively hard and very resistant to decay. Sapwood grows in the outer part of the tree, nearer the bark, and is softer and more susceptible to decay. Your lumber dealer will be able to recommend the best grade lumber to use for decking, but here are some suggestions:
The construction-common and deck-common grades of redwood decking are both streaked with sapwood and contain knots. A more popular choice though is B-grade redwood, which is nearly clear of knots and contains mostly heartwood. For decking that’s 100 percent heartwood, consider construction heart redwood.
The best grades of red cedar decking are (listed from most expensive and clearest, to least expensive and most knotty): architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty. Most lumberyards don’t carry more than one or two grades of cedar or redwood, but they can usually special order whatever you need.
Source: https://bit.ly/2ZnvHI8
