Regardless of all of the competition, this ubiquitous green-tinted wood is still the No. 1 decking material sold today. The truth is, according to Arch Treatment Technologies, a leading producer of wood preservatives, approximately 75 percent of all new decks are finished with pressure-treated (PT) lumber.
The widespread popularity of PT lumber is not surprising: it is inexpensive, readily available coast-to-coast, and easy to cut and fasten with nails or screws. 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 treated decking are 2 x 6s (90 cents per linear foot), and 5/4 x 6-?in. planks ($1 per linear foot). Occasionally 2 x 4s (60 cents per linear foot) are utilized, but usually only on modest decks or railings.
The downside of PT lumber is that it's not really dimensionally stable, so it has a tendency to crack, split and warp. And routine maintenance is needed to prolong the life and look of the deck. This can incorporate an annual power washing and an application of stain or wood preservative every single two or three years.
By the way, for a lot more than 60 years PT lumber was infused with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a suspected--some say, known--carcinogen. Nonetheless, CCA hasn't been utilised in residential lumber since December 2003.
Today's PT lumber is treated with safer, much less toxic chemicals, for example alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) or copper azole. A newer carbon-based, nonmetallic preservative is also offered in a limited number of products, which includes Wolmanized L3 Outdoor Wood.
Naturally Superior: Redwood and Cedar
For a lot of purists, the only alternatives for decking are redwood or red cedar. Both of these western softwoods are prized for their wealthy color and natural beauty, and simply because they aren't pumped full of chemicals or preservatives. Both species contain tannins and oils that make them naturally resistant to rot, decay and voracious insects.
Nevertheless, the level of weather- and bug-resistance is directly related to the amount of heartwood within the boards. Heartwood grows closer to the center of the tree, and is relatively hard and very resistant to decay. Sapwood grows inside the outer part of the tree, near the bark, and is softer and more susceptible to decay.
Award-winning deck builder Scott Padgett, of Idyllwild, Calif., uses redwood exclusively for decking. ("Composite decking has no soul," scoffs Padgett.) The California Redwood Association (CRA) recommends utilizing sapwood-streaked construction typical or deck typical redwood for decking, but Padgett prefers to use B-grade redwood, which is practically clear of knots and contains mostly heartwood. For decking that's 100 percent heartwood, the CRA suggests employing construction heart redwood.
Based on the experts at the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, the four greatest grades of cedar to make use of for decking are (listed from most costly and clearest, to least costly and most knotty): architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty.
In most regions of the country, redwood and cedar each and every price at least 3 times much more than pressure-treated lumber. As an example, I lately bought an 8-ft.-long red cedar 2 x 6 and paid practically $4 per linear foot--ouch! Both species are considerably much less costly on the West Coast. In California, for instance, a B-grade redwood 2 x 6 costs about $2.35 per linear foot.
Redwood and cedar require an annual power washing and coat of finish each and every 3 to four years. To protect the wood's surface from the weather, and to assist decrease checking (fine splits), apply a clear, water-repellent wood preservative.
To maintain the wood's natural color, nonetheless, you will have to apply a stain. (Padgett recommends Superdeck semi-transparent stain.) Should you do not apply a stain, both redwood and cedar will ultimately weather to a soft silvery gray.
Read far more: Your Ultimate Guide to the five Materials That Make a Contemporary Deck - Popular Mechanics
Author Resource:
This article has been written and researched by Paul Henderson, working alongside the best decking contractors. Fences and Decking.com working in London, Surrey and Sussex, RH10 5NJ, 01293278112.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")