If you’re living in the Columbus area and you’re looking to renovate your current deck or build one for the first time, we can provide you with many different options! At the end of the day the material you make your deck out of is the most important part. Blueprints, plans, timing, and all the other cogs that come along with renovating an area of your home are important of course, but if the actual DNA of your deck is wrong for you then it’s all a waste.
Here’s Our Top Five Recommended Decking Materials
Many people are sometimes surprised to find out the different options there are for decking materials. What we wanted to do was given you a rundown on the main types of decking materials that most homeowners use and decking companies such as us recommend. It’s important to get an idea of what you’re getting yourself into and preparation is key!
Pressure Treated Lumber
Pressure Treated Lumber is the most widely used decking material option by homeowners and decking companies alike. This is because it’s affordable, readily available, and easy to cut and fasten. Pressure Treated Lumber is treated with chemicals that help it resist rot, fungus, and bugs that bore into the wood.
There is some upkeep required with pressure treated lumber. A responsible owner will power wash the lumber at least once a year as well as apply a coat of stain every two to three years.
Pressure treated lumber costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot.
Cedar
Cedar wood is a very popular choice amongst deck owners who opt for natural wood in their deck. It has natural oils and tannins that make the wood resistant to rot and insects. However it is still important to stain the wood and apply sealer in order to keep the wood healthy and free of cracks.
Just like with pressure treated lumber, cedar must be maintained on an annual basis. You need to power wash the wood and stain it every few years. If you don’t apply a stain to cedar it will turn a soft gray and lose its natural color.
Cedar wood costs $3.75 to $5 per square foot
Redwood
Redwood is a natural wood much like cedar that is typically more readily available in the West. It is also a little more pricier than Cedar. So depending on where you are in the country it may be a bit more expensive to get a hold of. Columbus isn’t exactly the West, so it may be more costly to get a redwood deck here than it would be if you were living in California.
Redwood requires the same maintenance requirements as cedar. Redwood will also lose its natural color and turn a soft gray if not stained, just like cedar wood.
Redwood costs $6 to $8 per square foot.
Composites
Composite decking is a material made from wood fibers and recycled plastics. The material doesn’t warp or splinter and it doesn’t rot or decay from insects. Composite decking also requires little to no maintenance at all. You won’t need to sand, refinish, or stain composite decking.
Brands that make composite decking are Trex, TimberTech, CorrectDeck, and Veranda. Most composite deck products are made from polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.
Composites cost $7 to $10 per square foot.
Tropical Hardwoods
Tropical hardwoods are woods that are extremely hard and dense which makes them very durable and naturally resistant to decay. However, their density also makes them very heavy and makes it hard to cut and drill the wood.
Just like cedar and redwood, most tropical hardwoods will turn a soft gray if not stained. The thing is that they don’t accept stains very well due to their density. Deck building professionals recommend allowing tropical hardwoods to weather for one to three months before applying finish. This allows excess oils to leak out so that the wood accepts the finish better. For staining, it is important to use an oil-based penetrating stain specifically made for hardwood decking.
Tropical Hardwoods cost $8 to $12 per square foot.
A good reputable decking company will be able to help you install any of these high quality materials! You really can’t go wrong, just pick what is right for you. If you’re in the Columbus area and you’re shopping around for a new deck, give us a call! We are trusted deck professionals with years and experience under our belt and we’d be happy help!