Pressure-treated lumber is easily available throughout the country, it is sturdy and stands up throughout many different weather conditions.
Decking material has come a long way in the last few decades. At one time, wood was the only material available for decks, and while it is a beautiful option, it does have its drawbacks. Since then, composites have become more and more popular (and accessible) and other decking materials have come to market as well. If you’re considering adding or replacing a deck in the near future, this is the time to be researching the available deck material and deciding which one works best for your needs. Read on for some helpful tips.
Pressure Treated Lumber
This is, without a doubt, the most common decking material in use today. Pressure treated lumber is easily available throughout the country, it is sturdy and stands up to weather. You don’t have to worry about wood-boring insects, rot, or fungus with pressure treated wood, because the wood itself is embedded with chemicals to prevent all of those types of damage. The one downside of pressure treated lumber is that it will swell and warp if it is not protected from moisture. To prevent this, pressure treated lumber needs to be painted or stained yearly to protect it, and that yearly maintenance is not something you can afford to forget about and still have a nice deck.
Composites
Composite decking combines wood byproduct with plastic to create a wood-look alternative that will not rot, decay, warp, or succumb to insect damage. Composite, and similar PVC decking, are virtually maintenance free and require very little work. They are also fairly easy to install (though PVC decking is lighter and easier to work with than composite), and most companies also sell perfectly matching handrails and fascias. Composite is also usually more expensive than pressure treated lumber.
Natural Alternatives
There are several species of hardwoods that are on the market that can be a better alternative to tradition pressure treated wood or composites. If you want a natural wood that will resist insect damage and rot, Redwood and Cedar are excellent choices. They are naturally beautiful woods as well, but they do tend to be more expensive, and the best grades may be harder to come by in quantity for decking. There are also exotic hardwoods that are coming on to the market, but those tend to be expensive also.
Depend on Leland Fisher Lumber For Your Lumber and Hardware Needs!
Leland Fisher Lumber is a full-service lumber and hardware supplier. We’ve serviced homeowners and professional contractors in Montgomery County, Howard County, and Frederick County since 1894! Whether you want to remodel your home or upgrade your business, we have the professionalism and expertise to make any architectural vision come to life.
Be sure to visit Fisher Lumber’s Designer Showroom featuring displays of Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru entry doors, Simpson and Masonite exterior doors, as well as a wide selection of interior doors featuringSimpson, Masonite, Lemieux, and JELD-WEN. Our knowledgeable experts are ready to assist you! Contact us at 301-424-6500 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.