What Wood Is Best For My Deck?



Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009

by Edward Villarreal
TexDecks.com

The popularity of decks as the extension of people's living areas continues to soar by the day. This is because many people have learnt to appreciate sitting outside their houses and enjoying each other's company and the weather. Decks are loved as well because they can greatly improve the appearance of one's home. One's deck can however turn out to be an eye sore or an enhancement depending on the decking wood that has been used. Pressure treated pine is not the best wood to use as it is not only unsightly, but it contains unhealthy pesticides as well. On the other hand the wood has the ability to repel pests and resist rot. The pressure-treated lumber should therefore be left for supports and frames while the durable and more attractive wood should be left for the steps, railings and floors.

Western Red Cedar is among the best types of wood that one can use for building their deck. The color of the wood is normally reddish brown and when it ages it becomes silvery gray. Although it is easy for this softwood to splinter easily, it can hold the cold, heat, sun and rain easily. If one chooses this wood they should use a penetrating stain on it to make it more durable and beautiful. Another wood that can be of great help to someone who is seeking to build a deck is the Philippine mahogany. The latter is basically tight-grained hardwood that has the ability to resist rot and pests. If one treats this wood using marine oil it will end up looking like teak. Alternatively, one can let their mahogany deck age and go on to have a silvery color.

Redwood is also great material for making decks. The wood is soft just like cedar and when it ages it becomes a comely gray. One should not let moisture get into their wood as prolonged moisture can cause it to blacken. Redwood decks have the ability to resist rot but look better if one uses a sealer. Ipe is a South American hardwood that can resist rot and bugs. This wood is very hard and this is illustrated by the fact that one cannot easily burn it. The Ipe hardwood is it is extremely tight grained, has a dark color and is dense as well. Ipe does not have any knots. Due to its hard nature, Ipe can be very difficult to work with but it is worth it in the end.

When one is looking for wood to use in the making of their decks, they should ensure that the wood is labeled patio decking'. The lumber should be surfaced and should be devoid of loose knots, cracks, knot holes, splits, cracks as well as other defects. Wood that has boards cut on flat grain comes with different patterns and is preferable.

For parts of the deck that will be subjected to elements such as snow and rain, one should choose pressure-treated lumber and decay-resistant woods. If one wants to make a low-level deck, they should also use pressure-treated or decay-resistant. For the substructures of the decks wood known as spruce pine (SPF) is ideal. One should only go for timer that is graded at number 2 and dimension lumber. The type of wood that is used to construct decks determines the overall appearance of decks. Wooden decks are popular because they are easy to install and require minimal materials for construction. It is advisable to choose wood that is attractive and guaranteed to last long.

Visit: http://www.TexDecks.com

This Article has been viewed 687 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.