Building a deck requires people to carefully select the type of wood they are planning to use, as the entire structure will stand on the material used. If low-quality wood or material is used, then the deck would not last for a long time. Three types of wood decking material are used, but each type has its unique quality. However, to make the best choice, one needs to know the characteristics that are essential for building a deck. But before anything, you need to do lots and lots of research. Building a deck is a time-consuming and difficult thing to do, and to get maximum results out of your efforts; you first need to make sure that the quality of the products that you are using is first-class. When it comes to choosing the perfect wood, you first need to do research and check the reviews of customers, too. Well, don’t worry. We are here to make it easy for you, and here is the list of the most commonly used decking materials by the most famous deck makers, even today!
Cedar Wood
Cedar is the most commonly used wood as it is rot-resistant, which means that it can keep your deck intact for a long time. Moreover, it does not absorb a lot of moisture content; hence the deck remains flat for a long time. On average, a deck made up of cedarwood can be used for at least 10-15 years. However, the only drawback of this wood is that it loses its wooden look after a particular amount of time has passed. It is also very soft; hence, if anything is dragged on the deck, it might leave marks on the floor. Lastly, cedarwood is one of the most reasonable materials that can be used to create a deck as compared to other materials that are used in its creation.
Pressure-Treated Wood
Another type of wood that is used is pressure-treated wood. It is highly economical and long-lasting; hence, in most cases, it is the users’ first preference. Pressure-treated wood is sustainable and it is highly resistant, which means that it can withstand any pressure or force applied. However, there are further classifications of pressure-treated wood; hence one needs to be careful while purchasing it. The inexpensive pressure-treated wood is very poor when absorbing moisture; it can also shrink with time. The only pressure-treated wood that one should buy includes a choice of premium or select treated boards. These boards are a little expensive, but at the end of the day, they are long-lasting compared to other pressure-treated woods that are available on the market. These woods are kiln-dried; hence, they have fewer chances of warping up.
Composite Wood
Composite wood is another type of wood that is used to create decks. People who are not a fan of maintaining their property or their belongings with time should go for such wood. It is made up of plastic, recycled along with wood and sawdust. As it is recycled, the cost of composite wood is higher than that of cedar and pressure-treated wood. Composite woods are of great quality, and hence, they will not rot or twist no matter what. Moreover, unlike other woods, the color change of composite woods is even; therefore, if you don’t want to paint it or polish it again, then it’s normal. However, if staining is done on composite woods, even color change is not a problem that needs to be taken care of. People often complain about the way it looks, but if you are planning to save your
money by investing just one time, then composite wood is the right option for you. It hardly needs any maintenance as time passes by. Hence, you have to invest your money at the start of its construction. Once the deck is completed, you can use it for a very long time without any need for yearly or monthly maintenance.
All the materials mentioned above can be used to construct a deck. However, people should make a wise choice depending on their budget and how the deck is likely to be used. Remember that not everyone can be up for the task of building the deck you’re looking for. If you are uncomfortable with the large task of building a deck, you can always contact a local deck builder to assist you with the project.