Many people prefer real wood for their decks because of its natural, warm appearance. It just feels good.
But there’s wood…and then there’s wood. The type of lumber you choose for a wooden deck is critically important to the longevity and level of maintenance of your deck.
A common and inexpensive option is to go with treated lumber, also called PT for pressure-treated. PT wood is made of fir soaked in anti-rot and insecticide agents. Its natural colour is a somewhat brown-green, but you can stain it for a more attractive colour or a colour that suits your garden.
But there’s a reason that this is the most inexpensive option for decking: it’s susceptible to warping, splitting and cracking, so it requires regular maintenance.
Deck Maintenance
All decks, including composite, require some maintenance. Natural wood decks are the most demanding, requiring annual refinishing, which sometimes means sanding, removal of last year’s finish, and application of a new finish. If you love the look of natural wood and you’re up for the upkeep, it’s definitely worth it.
Pressure-treated wood requires refinishing with a clear sealer or stain every other year, just half the maintenance of a natural wood deck.
Construction
The deck of a house is generally a wooden platform can be built above the ground or level at ground level and can be connected to the main building. You can have the are enclosed by a railing for safety.
Access may be from the house through doors and from the ground via a stairway. Residential decks can be constructed over steep areas or rough ground that is otherwise unusable.
Decks can also be covered by a canopy or pergola to control sunlight.
Typical construction is either of a post and beam architecture, or a cantilever construction. The post and beam construction relies on posts anchored to piers in the ground. Typically, these types of structural decks are engineered and require an experienced construction company that specializes in structural decks. Cantilever decks rely on floor joists that protrude out further than the wall of the house. While this type of construction is common, it raises significant safety issues if the decks are not properly waterproofed and flashed.
Typical railing assemblies must meet structural strength requirements of 200lbs of load force per foot. In short, decks are complex load bearing structures that most often require structural engineering, plans, and permits.
