At a certain point in time, people only had a single home decking option, which was wood. But now, this has changed as there are several materials that a homeowner can choose from. Every residential home needs a wooden deck. Wood decks are perfect for outdoor entertainment and increase your home’s value whenever you want to sell it.
One of the most significant decisions to make when planning to get an outdoor deck is choosing the material for deck flooring. This is why you must consider insider tips on selecting the best material for your deck. Let’s find out what these tips are.
Tropical Hardwoods
Tropical hardwoods speak of grandeur and are very impressive to every homeowner. Therefore, professionals and many homeowners consider tropical hardwood the best wood for home decking.
Several species of tropical hardwood can be used for decking. They include tigerwood, red tauari, cumaru, massaranduba, garapa, ipe, and teak.
However, for high-end decking, teak and Ipe usually come to mind, but Ipe decking usually produces the best results. Tropical hardwoods are pretty dense, making them more durable than other types of wood, but they still need care in the form of surface treatments.
Pressure-treated wood
Pressure-treated wood ranks among the popular wood materials used for home decking. Pressure-treated wood is usually made of pine (softwood) and is preserved through a chemical treatment to ensure insects and moisture resistance.
Pressure treated wood treatment process makes it best for several applications, including wood decking, fencing, and foundations. In addition, homeowners who need sturdy decks without breaking their banks can opt for pressure-treated wood.
Redwood and Cedars
Redwood and cedars are a scale-up from pressure-treated woods. Though both kinds of wood present a natural, beautiful, and classic look and are usually categorized together, they have their differences.
Redwood and cedar need higher maintenance, and though they have rot resistance, several elements can affect the wood. This is why professionals do not recommend sealing and annual cleaning. Additionally, Redwood and cedar usually have availability issues which increase the price.
Modified wood
As a technological advancement, modified wood has proven to be worth its value. Many professionals, like architects and even homeowners, love modified wood for its reduced maintenance requirements, high durability, beauty, and environmental-friendly nature.
Some modified woods usually take a softwood species and use nontoxic liquids, which will change the wood’s cell structure to make it very dense. This makes the wood perform like tropical hardwood. Modified woods are different from pressure-treated woods because they don’t use harsh chemicals, making them safe for every family.
Final thoughts
There are several materials that a homeowner can use for home decking. However, there might not be a definite answer as to which material is the best since that would depend on your preferences and the available budget. Most times, stunning decks like oak decks might be very costly but worth the cost.
If you are working on a tight budget, it might be better to choose pressure-treated wood. But, if you want durability, beauty, easy maintenance, water resistance, and longevity, professionals recommend Ipe wood as the best material for decking.
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