Decks are a must have these days, and when they re built with the right decking material they ll add beauty and value to your home. With so many different types of products on the market, how do you choose which will suit your lifestyle and your level of commitment to maintenance? What is it about a deck that appeals to you the look of it as part of your garden landscape or is it the opportunity to add extra living space just outside your back door.
There are four key points to consider before you hit your local home improvement centre. What is your budget, your lifestyle, how much do you want to spend and how important is the look of your new deck. A successful home building project starts with a well laid out plan.
You might rush out and buy the most affordable product there is, which is pressure treated wood. Yes, it is super affordable but this type of wood is vulnerable to moisture. Therefore, you ll have to paint or roll out your deck with water repellent products to keep it safe against moisture damage. Unless you re okay with all that work every year, consider some of these other possibilities for decking materials:
Preserved wood products, developed exclusively for outdoor construction, are available at your nearest lumber yard. Copper is generally used in the preserving process, as it s a natural mineral with very advantageous properties. Copper is a fungicide, and if you add quaternary, or quat , as it is sometimes called, you get increased resistance to fungi which is copper tolerant. It will also repel pesky, relentless termites. You can find this substance in household cleaning products and household disinfectants.
Another excellent choice is preserved wood. It will last for up to 40 years when used as decking material. Think of the trees you ll save by using preserved wood and the time you ll save not having to rebuild after a decade or two. It s a fantastic, environmental choice. Apply a clear sealant regularly so the wood won t discolor or splinter. Wash with detergent to remove moss, mould, algae and dirt or simply pressure wash when required.
For years, cedar has been an elegant and durable choice for decking material. Cedar has a naturally occurring oil preservative that does double duty; repelling destructive insects and preventing decay. The texture, the colour and the grain of cedar has long been appreciated by lovers of fine wood. Cedar is light making it highly workable by contractors. It gets better with age, but unfortunately, is expensive. It s a sturdy wood but can be damaged by powerful pressure washing.
Going back to affordable products, composite wood is an easy to work with, easy to maintain wood alternative. It s made of natural wood fiber and resin. Care has been taken to ensure that compositive wood looks like the real thing. It s available in an array of popular colors. It can be cleaned with the wipe of a sponge and a bucket of soapy water or just hose it off, but not too harshly. Some of the color may come off with direct pressure washing.
Resin decking is hot right now for maintenance free decking material. It can be manipulated with regular construction tools. It repels mildew, won t warp, rot or crack under pressure, similar to composite wood. Resin comes in the latest colors with little fading. Cleaning is as easy as turning on your garden house.
Author Resource:
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer.
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