Which deck materials work best for your deck? Which one is the best? Which one lasts the longest? Which one needs the most maintenance? Which one has the highest price? Or is it the most expensive? It’s possible to spend a lot on a product you don’t love if you make a wrong choice. It is one that you will likely stick with for quite some time.
Here are the answers to your questions. There is no right or wrong answer to every question about deck materials. Every situation is different so your needs may be different. Let’s explore the options to help make informed and confident decisions. One that you can be proud of for years. Come and visit our website search it on Vinyl Industries, you can learn more.
Decks are made of four primary materials: aluminum, wood, composite and plastic. Each material will be discussed individually to help you decide the right one for your deck.
Wood
Wood is the most widely used material for decks. Around 85 percent have a deck in their single-family home. A large percentage of these are made of wood, mainly pressure treated pine. There are many reasons that treated lumber is so popular. Yellow pine has a strong reputation. To impress your friends, you can refer to it as dimensionally solid. All the rest of us will just say strong. It’s inexpensive (relatively speaking), and it is easily accessible almost anywhere. It looks great, especially when stained. It can be easily refinished after weathering and will look even better than new. Yellow pine is easy-to-use. However, yellow pine is less durable than other products. Treated lumber decks can last up to 15 years with proper care. Yes, you’ll need to clean, sand and finish it once every two years. There will always be splinters and cracks, warps, as well as general wear over time. It’s best to consider cost over time rather than only the initial cost. Although the estimates are different, it is common for treated pine to catch up with more expensive woods in between 5 and 8 years. However, it is important to remember that the cost of treating pine over 8 years will not affect the initial cost. Let’s now look at the other wood species that are available.
Redwood
Redwood is a good choice for deck materials. However, you need to be aware of the differences in redwood grades. The wood’s origin, as well as other factors, determines the grade. Heartwood, the most valuable and expensive grade, comes from within the tree’s heart. Decks can be made with the “Construction” or “Select” heartwoods. Heartwood is able to last more than 30 year in good climates. Even in severe climates, it can last as long as 20 years. You should only use another grade if you have pressure treated it first. To prevent splitting, you should drill this and other hard “soft woods” before nailing the ends of your board. Redwood has a lovely brownish red color and it ages beautifully. Redwood still requires maintenance, but it’s much easier than pine. Redwood costs three times as much as pressure treated pine. Labor costs should also be comparable.