What Material Should I Use?

WOOD

Cedar Handrail & Decking

Pressure Treated Pine  Pressure treated Pine begins with Southern Yellow Pine, which is then treated with chemicals. The chemicals are forced into the wood by putting the wood under very high pressure. Pressure treated Pine makes a poor choice for the surface materials for a deck because of its tendency to crack, cup, and warp. When it is exposed to the sun and weather, it ages rather poorly. Despite all of this it is a very durable material, and all of these cracking and cupping issues are strictly cosmetic. This makes it ideal for use as a framing material for decks, where durability matters and appearance does not. So every deck is built on a framework of pressure treated Pine, no matter what material is chosen for the exposed surfaces.

Cedar  Cedar is an attractive, somewhat aromatic wood. It contains no added chemicals, and is naturally resistant to insects. Cedar is vulnerable to rot and decay if not protected. It needs to be protected with a high quality deck stain, which should be re-applied every year or so. Cedar has become more expensive in recent years, and building a deck with Cedar will add about 20-30% to the cost of a deck compared to pressure treated Pine. The upside is that a 5 or 10 year old Cedar deck looks much nicer than a 5 or 10 year old pressure treated Pine deck.

Close-Up of Ipe Wood

Ipe (pronounced ee-pay)  Ipe is the most widely used of the “exotic hardwoods”. Ipe is incredibly dense and heavy. In fact, it is so heavy that is does not float! Ipe is very similar to Teak; in fact if left in it's natural state, weathered Ipe looks similar to weathered Teak. The U. S. Forest Service has determined that Ipe wood has a projected life of 45+ years, their highest rating. Ipe also has a class 1 fire rating. Ipe is extremely weather resistant and bug resistant. It is also resistant to cracking the way other woods do; although it can develop small checking (checking is similar to very fine cracking). It is a beautiful wood, and is a great choice for homeowners that have an appreciation for real wood.

COMPOSITES
Composite materials are the fastest growing segment of the decking industry. Technically, the term composite means any mixture of two or more materials, but in the decking business composite refers to a mixture of wood and plastic. There are a few different types of plastic and a few different types of wood that are generally used in composite decking.

Privacy Screen Made with Composite Materials

First, let's start with the plastics. The very first composite decking was made with low density polyethylene, or LDPE. This produces a composite material that is a little softer than most. These LDPE composites cannot span as far as other composites. LDPE can also creates pits and pockets which allow dirt and water to gather, which can allow mold to develop.

This is why most composites are now made with high density polyethylene, or HDPE. HDPE is a little more difficult to work with, but it produces a much higher quality composite decking that is also stronger than LDPE.

At least one manufacturer uses Polypropylene. Polypropylene is even harder than the HDPE and it is more expensive to produce.

Now let's talk about the woods. There are different ways of preparing the wood and different species of wood that are used in composites. The first composites and some of the cheaper composites use wood that is ground into wood fiber, or small splinters of wood. The higher end composites now process the wood into what is called wood flour. Wood flour is essentially wood dust. Not only does the wood flour produce a finer looking composite, it also creates a higher quality composite for one simple reason. Wood flour mixes with the plastic better, which results in better encapsulation of the wood. This is important, because wood is still the weak link in composite decking. Wood fibers that become exposed can wick moisture into the composite decking.

The two most common species of wood used in composites are Oak and Maple. Early on, everyone used Oak when making composites. The problem with Oak is that it contains a high level of naturally occurring acids, or Tannins. High levels of Tannin can cause the composites to appear to stain the first few times they get wet. While this is a temporary problem, it looks bad and it scares new owners of composite decks. Tannins may also affect the production process, specifically the bond between the plastic and the wood. Maple wood has a much lower level of Tannin than Oak, and for this reason it is better suited for use in composites.

Some composites also contain an anti microbial. Not all composites that use an anti microbial are the same. The type of anti microbial is not the issue; rather, how it is applied makes the difference. The best manufacturers mix the anti microbial in with the wood and plastic when they extrude the material. This results in a longer lasting protection. Other manufacturers apply the anti microbial to the outside of the finished product. The problem with this method is that the protective layer of the anti microbial is compromised as soon as the product is cut, or even when it is scratched.

There is an unbelievable selection of composite materials available today. They look and perform great. There are no splinters, splitting or cracking to worry about. They never need to be sealed or stained, and they look great year after year. Many composites use a hidden fastener system now, and most have 25 year warranties. While composites are thought of as maintenance free, they should be cleaned periodically. The easiest method is to spray on regular deck cleaner, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and then hose the deck off with water. No scrubbing or power washing is generally required.

CO-EXTRUDED COMPOSITES
Some manufacturers have taken composites one step further. They start with a basic composite board, then they apply a plastic cap stock, or coating over the composite board. This is a process called co-extrusion. Some of the composite flooring is made this way, and many railings are made this way. This co-extrusion process protects the composite, and completely eliminates the need for periodic cleaning. It is more expensive to produce a co-extruded product, and this process results in a product that looks more like plastic. This is fine for railings, which tend to have a fresh painted look, but it can be a concern with the flooring. If you use co-extruded flooring you will get better performance, but you will have to settle for flooring that looks more like plastic.

PVC
Some manufacturers make a solid PVC deck board that has some great characteristics. PVC is nearly impossible to stain, extremely scratch resistant, and it is lightweight and easy to work with. PVC is a little more expensive than the composite products, but it performs better and it does not need to be cleaned like the composites do. The colors of PVC decking are not quite as vivid as the composites, but it performs better and generally has a better warranty.

PLASTIC
While the thought of plastic decking sounds awful, plastic decking is actually the best looking decking product on the market. Ironically, it looks more like wood than any of the composites. This product is installed with a clip system, so it is a nice clean looking installation. They make privacy screens, fencing, and lattice to match the plastic decking. Plastic decking expands and contracts a lot, so care must be taken when designing and installing your deck to accommodate this movement. Because of this, installation costs are a little higher with plastic decking. Plastic decking also sounds slightly different when you walk on it, although this seems to bother old carpenters more than it bothers our clients.

GRANITE / STONE
Believe it or not, there is granite decking for your deck. Real Granite tiles are bonded to a fiberglass base which can then be applied to a standard deck frame. The result is a stunning deck that looks more like an elevated patio than a deck. This is a high end product, but you will have a deck like no other. Another use for these granite tiles is for accents in a composite deck; and they also make a great fire proof base for fire pits to sit on.

ALUMINUM
Aluminum decking is also available now. Not only is Aluminum decking light and extremely strong; it also creates a water proof barrier. This allows the space below your deck to be used regardless of the weather. Aluminum decking does not look anything like wood or composite decking, so it is not for every style of house.