Pressure-treated lumber
Do not be surprised if you see green-tinted wood on decks that you find almost everywhere. This is pressure-treated lumber which has grown popularly in recent times due to the fact that this option is affordable and is readily available almost everywhere all over the world. What makes it even a more fascinating choice is the fact that they can be easily cut then fastened to place using screws or nails.
As mentioned pressure-treated lumber can result to a wood that has a green tint. Do not be surprised to find out that this decking option is actually made from southern yellow pine. The green colour is then produced after chemically-treating the wood. As a result, the product will be able to resist fungus and rot. Commonly, pressure-treated lumber used for decking is available in different sizes. They can thus be used for small decks or railings. If there is anything wrong with investing on PT lumber, that will be the fact that it tends to split, warp or crack through time. In order to avoid this, regular maintenance of your decks will be necessary. This will include a yearly power wash and consequent stain application once every two years.
Tropical hardwood
There are a lot of varieties of tropical hardwood namely red tauari, Philippine mahogany, massaranduba, ipe, tigerwood and cumaru to name a few. Typically, these wood varieties have rich grains on them. Not to forget that they are durable and can resist insects and rot naturally, that is, without, using the aid of any chemicals to make it function as such. Since these wood versions are expected to be extremely hard, however, there can be some difficulty when it comes to cutting then eventually drilling holes over them. You cannot just get a nail or a screw to bore holes over the wood. In this case, hidden fasteners are needed to be able to screw or clip the edge of the board to the surface where it will be placed.
When compared to PT lumber, tropical hardwood can also be expensive but they can offer a competitive option when compared with redwood and cedar (which will be discussed later). The good thing about this modern decking material is that they produce a very beautiful hue that can complement well with your modern structure. In order to treat this material, you will need an oil-based stain specifically made for hardwood. For those of you who will rather not use a stain on the surface of the hardwood, you can make use of a clear wood preservative. Apply these over the material once every three years at the very least. Pick one that comes with a UV-blocking formulation.
Western softwood
When hearing the choice called western softwood, only two wood varieties will definitely come to mind. These are redwood and cedar. These two are highly-favoured by many simply because of its natural beauty and rich colour hue. They also naturally contain oils and tannings that allow them to resist rot, insects and possibilities of decaying. The resistance level varies depending on how much heartwood there is on the board though. This heartwood is the one you usually see on a tree’s centre part and is capable of making the wood resistant to decay.
Durable as softwood can be, they can somehow be more expensive than pressure-treated lumber. It will also require yearly power washes and recoating every three years. Applying clear, water-repellent preservative will ensure protection for the wood’s surface in any weather condition. This too can help reduce fine splits over the surface.
Board composites
Like PT lumber, board composites are becoming popular decking choices these days. This is because of the fact that there are a lot of companies producing these composite decking options. Board composites often come in a variety of colours and are made from plastic lumber or polyvinyl chloride. These are combined with wood fibres and because of that combination, the resulting deck is resistant to harsh weather elements, stain, warping, splintering and cracking.
These modern options can now be found in different stores selling decking in Edmonton. You can check our catalogue for all other options you have when it comes to building exterior decks. Feel free to ask us if you have any queries regarding these materials and which ones will work best for your project.
