If you’re planning to build a wooden deck this summer, you may have noticed that choosing a decking material has become much more difficult than ever before. Just a few years ago the only option was wood, which came in perhaps two or three species. Today, there are dozens of different decking materials available, including composite lumber, plastic decking and hardwood imports.
So, before breaking ground on your new deck, let’s take a close look at f basic types of decking, each with its own aesthetics, maintenance requirements, and price range.
Affordable Option: Pressure-Treated Lumber
This ubiquitous green-tinted wood is the No. 1 decking material sold today, which isn’t surprising when you consider that pressure-treated (PT) decking is affordable, relatively durable, readily available coast-to-coast, and easy to stain virtually any color.
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 PT decking are 2x6s (90 cents per linear foot), and 5/4 x 6-in. planks ($1 per linear foot). Occasionally 2x4s (65 cents per linear foot) are used, but typically only on smaller decks.
đź’ˇNever use untreated pine decking; it’ll quickly decay in the weather.
The downside of PT lumber is that it's not very dimensionally stable, meaning that when exposed to the elements it tends to swell, shrink, crack, cup, split, and warp. In fact, it’s not unusual that one or more deck boards will need to be replaced after just a year or two because of severe warping.
PT decking also requires more maintenance than most other decking materials. In order to prolong the life and look of the deck, it requires an annual power washing and then a new coat of exterior-grade stain or clear wood preservative every two or three years. PT decking may be chemically treated that doesn’t mean it’s maintenance free.
Naturally Superior: Redwood and Cedar
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The next most popular wood-decking options are redwood and Western red cedar. Both of these western softwoods are prized for their rich color, natural beauty, and because they’re not pumped full of chemicals or preservatives. Both wood species contain tannins and oils that make them naturally resistant to rot, decay, and voracious insects.
When considering either of these decking options, keep in mind that the level of weather- and bug-resistance is directly related to the amount of heartwood that’s in the boards. Heartwood grows closer to the center of the tree, and is relatively hard and very resistant to decay. Sapwood grows in the outer part of the tree, nearer the bark, and is softer and more susceptible to decay. Your lumber dealer will be able to recommend the best grade lumber to use for decking, but here are some suggestions:
The construction-common and deck-common grades of redwood decking are both streaked with sapwood and contain knots. A more popular choice though is B-grade redwood, which is nearly clear of knots and contains mostly heartwood. For decking that's 100 percent heartwood, consider construction heart redwood.
The best grades of red cedar decking are (listed from most expensive and clearest, to least expensive and most knotty): architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty. Most lumberyards don’t carry more than one or two grades of cedar or redwood, but they can usually special order whatever you need.
In most regions of the country, redwood and cedar each cost three to five times more than pressure-treated lumber, depending on the grade. However, both species are considerably less expensive on the West Coast, particularly in California and the upper Northwest.
Both redwood and cedar decking requires an annual power washing and coat of finish every three to four years. A clear wood preservative that contains a water repellent will help protect the wood's surface from the weather and to reduce checking (fine splits). However, a clear finish won’t prevent redwood or cedar from eventually weathering to a silvery gray color. If you’d like to maintain the wood's natural color, you'll have to apply a semitransparent stain that’s specifically tinted and formulated for use on cedar or redwood.
Exotic Import: Tropical Hardwoods
Decking cut from tropical hardwood trees started trickling to market about 20 years ago. Now, several species are available from coast to coast, including garapa, massaranduba, cumaru, red tauari, tigerwood, and ipe. These rich-grained woods are extremely hard, very durable and naturally resistant to rot and insects. In fact, they’re so dense, it’s virtually impossible to screw into a board without first boring a pilot hole, which is why tropical decking is typically secured with hidden fasteners that clip or screw into the edge of the boards.
When first introduced, tropical hardwoods were outrageously expensive, but prices have come down over time and in most parts of the country they're only slightly more expensive than fine-grade redwood or cedar. The most common of all tropicals is ipe (EE-pay), which is sometimes called Ironwood or Brazilian Walnut. It's a beautiful hardwood that's similar in appearance to mahogany, but has a darker, richer crimson color. Expect to pay about $5 per linear foot for 5/4 x 6 in. ipe decking.
Tropical hardwood decking is so dense it doesn't accept stain very well. And if left unfinished, it’ll weather to a silvery patina. If you choose not to stain the deck, be sure to apply a UV-blocking clear wood preservative every two to three years to enhance water resistance and deter checking.
If you'd like to stain the decking to maintain its natural color, it’s important to use a penetrating stain that’s specifically formulated for use on hardwood decking, such as Messmer's UV Plus Finish. Most standard deck stains are meant for softwood decking.
Finally when buying tropical wood—or any wood for that matter—check with your lumber dealer to ensure that the wood is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a nonprofit organization that identifies lumber that has been harvested in a legal, sustainable manner.
Better Board: Composites
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Composite decking and its close cousin, PVC decking, represent the fastest-growing decking materials sold today. Composite decking is made from a mixture of recycled plastic and wood dust that’s molded into long, dense boards. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) decking, also called synthetic decking, is made of 100 percent plastic; there are no wood binders.
Composite and PVC decking are popular because they’re virtually maintenance free. Both types are extremely weather-resistant, easy to clean, and neither will ever splinter, warp, cup, or rot. And they don’t require sanding or staining. They’re available in a variety of colors and each features a wood-grain texture that—from a distance—looks like natural wood. Although many homeowners think composites do a better job of mimicking real wood than does PVC. But PVC decking is much lighter than composite decking, so it’s easier to carry and lift into place. And it’s worth mentioning that most composite decking and plastic decking manufacturers also offer a line of matching handrails, balusters, and fascias.
Wood-composite decking cost two to three times more than pressure-treated wood, and PVC decking runs 10 to 15 percent more than wood-composites.
Composite decking brands include Trex, Fiberon, and Veranda. PVC decking manufacturers include TimberTech Azek, Zuri, and Vekadeck.
Stay-Cool Option: Aluminum
Chances are you’ve never seen an aluminum deck, or even knew they existed, but in some ways, aluminum is a near-perfect decking material: It won't rot, rust, warp, splinter, crack or check, and it's extremely weather-, mold- and slip-resistant. Its powder-coated finish lasts virtually forever and it'll never peel or blister. Aluminum can't catch fire, wood-boring bugs hate it, and it's 100 percent recyclable.
When compared with wood, composite, and plastic lumber, aluminum decking is three to four times lighter, yet two to three times stronger. It can be cut with the same saws and carbide-tipped blades used to cut wood. And don’t worry about your deck looking like high-school bleachers. Most aluminum decking comes in a variety of wood-grain finishes and colors.
Most aluminum decking planks have interlocking edges, which create gap-free, watertight decks. Built-in, self-draining channels collect and dispose of rainwater, a feature that’s particularly useful for second-story decks since the space below stays dry. Aluminum decking is available from such companies as LockDry, Versadeck, and Nextdeck.
Now you’re probably thinking: Doesn’t aluminum get sizzling hot in the sun? Interestingly aluminum decking actually stays cooler than most types of decking because of its superior heat-dissipation properties. Dense materials, such as wood and composites, tend to absorb and hold heat for extended periods, creating hot surfaces.
But aluminum is by far the most expensive of all decking options, typically costing about $10 per linear foot for a 1 x 6-in. plank.
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