Decking Buying Guide

Building a deck is a key investment in your home. A deck can become a center of outdoor activity for years of fun with family and friends and is a great way to increase your house’s value.

When starting a deck building project, it’s important to have some basic information on materials and options for deck construction. If you would like to do the project yourself, getting educated up front will let you know whether it is feasible, where to begin, and in what areas you may need help. If you are hiring a builder, background knowledge will help you make a good decision in choosing your contractor and materials and help you ask the right questions during the job.

In starting a deck building project, you need to consider your house, your property, design, permits and codes, and material. Always keep in mind that with building projects, being organized up front can save a lot of time and trouble later. Building a sound structure that will support the weight of furniture, people, and more, as well as last for years, is of course most important. Beyond that, there are other specific considerations covered below.

Your Property

Will the project involve leveling uneven land, clearing bushes and other growth, cutting down trees, or anything else? Any landscaping issues will add to the scope of the project and may require additional permits, such as in the case of clearing in designated wetlands. Also consider the size of the deck in relation to your property. You should find a balance between the size of the deck and the size of lawn or other landscaped area. Though this balance should work for your family’s needs, also consider what may be appealing to future buyers.

Your House

Will the deck addition involve adding sliding glass doors or other changes to your house? These changes add to the cost and scope of the project. In addition, the deck should be in a size and style that suits your house and won't look out of place. It should fit seamlessly into your house’s proportions and aesthetics.

Location and Use

Consider your deck location. A deck off of a kitchen or living room is generally used more often and is more central to living than a balcony off of a bedroom. Likewise, a deck around or adjoining a pool will have high traffic. Also consider what will be on the deck, such as furniture, a hot tub, or a barbeque grill. These factors will affect your design and material decisions.

Design Specifics

In addition to the above considerations, further define what you are looking for in a deck. Specifically, are you building a raised deck, a deck on a ground floor, a roof deck, or a small balcony? Will you want access from multiple floors? How large and what shape would you like your deck to be? Consider rails, gates, stairs, and more, as well as add-ons such as awnings or canopies. Design issues should be considered and planned for carefully.

Permits and Codes

What building permits are required in your area? You should find out in advance since building codes and permits can greatly influence your planning and design.

Beyond design planning and sound construction, material is the most important influence on a deck’s quality, longevity, and beauty. Even if you are just updating or repairing an existing deck, you should use top grade materials to add to the deck’s life. Try to coordinate your deck material with the appearance of your house. Other key considerations are maintenance needs and cost.

Keep in mind that the materials discussed here are for the flooring, railings, and other highly visible portions of the deck. In almost all cases, pressure treated wood will be used for the structural supporting elements.

Pressure-Treated Wood

Pressure-treated wood has been the most common decking material for many years, due to its low cost, ease of use in building, fairly good longevity, and resistance to mold and insect damage. One major drawback in the past was that the preservatives used to treat the wood contained arsenic, a potential health and environmental hazard. However, pressure-treated wood is now treated with EPA-approved materials, such as copper and borates, which are environmentally sound choices.

Sealing is important, since pressure-treated wood can be prone to splintering. Sealing it about every other year will help prevent this. Many people choose a sealant with a natural looking stain, such as a honey oak or red cedar hue. Without a tinted stain, the wood will fade to grey over the years. Other maintenance needs include sanding and cleaning with soap and water as necessary.

Pressure-treated wood is installed by nailing down each plank.

Bottom Line: Pressure-treated wood is a popular, cost-effective, basic decking choice that will give you the look of wood with a longer life than natural wood. Maintenance needs are higher than for non-wood options.

Natural Wood

A beautiful choice, natural wood is the highest maintenance option and also tends to have the shortest life span of other materials. However, for attractive grains and colors and the most natural look, it can't be beat. You'll also have the option of choosing a wood that is sustainably harvested. Always pick a hard wood for decking, since these will have the best longevity.

Two top hard wood choices include cedar and ipe. Cedar, an attractive wood in reddish hues and pleasing grains, is naturally resistant to UV rays, moisture, and termites. It will fade to grey over time. Ipe is very hard, resistant to decay and insect damage, and has a dark hue with tight grain patterns.

All wood decks will need to be sealed about every other year and sanded as needed. Cleaning can be done with soap and water.

You can purchase wood planks that are nailed down for installation, or tongue and groove boards.

Bottom Line: Natural wood is an attractive and upscale option, but the type of wood should be chosen carefully based on its strength and suitability for decking.

Plastic/Vinyl

Plastic is a long lasting and low maintenance option. Mold, rot, insects, and splintering are not a concern with plastic. Available in various colors, plastic is a versatile pick. However, since colors can fade over time, choose a brand that includes UV protection. Also keep in mind that it can not be stained. Plastic can be more slippery and has a different feel than wood, and is also usually more expensive than pressure-treated or natural wood.

Maintenance is simple and generally includes cleaning with soap and water as needed.

Plastic decking is generally available in tongue and grove boards; hidden fasteners should be used in installation.

Bottom Line: If you aren't set on the look and feel of wood, plastic is a great choice for durability and easy care.

Composite

Made of recycled plastics and other materials including wood fiber and rice hulls, composite is a great choice for combining the low maintenance properties of plastic with a more wood-like appearance. Composite won't splinter or rot. It is most often available in earth tones which, like plastic, will fade over time. UV protection is a good feature to look for when purchasing composite. Some brands are waterproof, which is another useful feature. Keep in mind that it is usually heavier than wood, which can make it a poor choice for some applications, such as roof decks. Its price range is similar to that of plastic.

Typical maintenance includes cleaning with soap and water. Staining is an option for renewing the look of composite.

You can buy either planks to nail down or tongue and groove pieces, which should have hidden fasteners, for construction.

Bottom Line: Composite lets you combine the easy to care for properties of plastic with an appearance more like wood.

Aluminum

The lowest maintenance and highest priced option, aluminum is a great choice for a more contemporary look. It is typically available in neutral colors and has good slip-resistance. This material won't rot, mold, splinter, or rust. It is lightweight and works well for roof decks. However, keep in mind that it is hollow and will sound hollow as it is walked upon.

Occasional soap and water cleaning is generally all the maintenance necessary.

Aluminum decking is available in tongue and groove planks with hidden fasteners. One factor to note is that it can not be used next to copper, since the two metals react to each other. Because pressure-treated wood typically includes some copper, the aluminum planks will need to be separated from the pressure-treated framing wood by plastic pieces. This is workable but can increase labor time and costs.

Bottom Line: Aluminum decking is the easiest choice to care for and offers top longevity, but if you want the look and feel of wood, this high priced option may not be for you.

Deck post caps can add a nice accent to your deck posts. Available in a variety of materials and designs, these are worth exploring as a way to individualize and add a creative element to your new or existing deck.

If you decide on a wood deck, you'll probably want to choose a deck sealer. A sealer will offer protection from weather damage. They also come in different hues to add beauty to your deck. Popular stains include honey toned, reddish cedar tints, and more. Clear is always an option as well, especially for a natural wood deck that already has a great color. When choosing a sealing stain, review its weather proofing properties, and consider doing a small color test on your deck before committing to your choice.

The best hardware to use is stainless steel. If not, hardware should be hot-dipped galvanized. Pressure-treated wood often contains copper, and if hardware is not hot-dipped, it could lead to corrosion.

The cost of decking varies based on the kind of material you choose, as well as the material's quality and manufacturer. It is best to set your budget, figure out how much material you need to buy, and then explore your options to find the right product to suit your needs. Prices can vary based on the quantity you are purchasing.

Cedar West, Lang, Quadra, Yakima, Universal Forest Products