Wooden decks are not as common as they once were. More and more people these days are opting for composite decking since composite is more durable and does not require staining or painting. But what if you like the look of natural wood? Are there ways to create a wooden deck that will last? Yes, there are—just follow these tips when choosing your deck and maintaining it.
1. Choose cedar or cypress wood.
You can make decking from almost any wood, from pine to particleboard. The sturdiest woods to choose, however, are cedar and cypress. These woods are naturally impervious to moisture; they don't swell like other woods when exposed to rain, so your decking will stay straight and will be less likely to mold or rot. Cedar has the added bonus of being unappealing to insects like termites and carpenter ants. If these bugs are common in your area, choosing cedar will save you from having to apply pesticides to the decking and will ensure your wood won't be crumbling from insect damage in a few years.
2. Have the deck stained, not painted.
You can leave cedar untreated, but if that's not the look you want to go for, you should opt to stain the deck rather than painting it. Paint has a tendency to chip off, and then the wood underneath the chips is susceptible to moisture damage. The stain may wear away gradually over time, but it won't chip away and leave chunks of wood completely susceptible like paint can. Choose a friction-resistant stain that is suitable for surfaces that get a lot of foot traffic. Your deck contractor should be able to recommend a good one.
3. Keep up with maintenance.
Once your deck is built, the key to preserving it will be to keep up with maintenance. Once a week, you will want to sweep debris from the deck to make sure it does not cling onto any moisture and stain the floorboards. Once a month, you will want to spray the deck off with a hose and use a coarse brush to loosen any dirt. Once a year, you will want to thoroughly power wash the deck and check the condition of the stain. If the stain is beginning to wear, you will want to have your decking company come apply another coat. Many homeowners find they need to do this every three to four years.
Wood decking is not as common as it once was, but it is not obsolete. To learn more about your options, visit websites such as www.decks-fences-posts.ca.
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