5 Essential Steps To Choose Quality Wooden Deck Materials

You might have done the best for the improvement inside your home but what about the outside area? If you live in a house which has space big enough, you can add a deck. Before you start your backyard recreational area project, there are a few things our Warrington experts consider you should know.

1. Choose The Right Materials

There are three main types of wooden material which can be used to build a deck. Naturally, they have their pros and cons.

1) Natural wooden materials have rich, pure colour. Unless you maintain them regularly, a few years after you’ve later though they’ll discolour. As they’re softer than other kinds of wooden deck materials there’s a fair chance they’ll get scratched when you move heavy furniture.

2) Chemically-treated – If you’re on a tight budget this is your best option. This type of wooden material is enduring but have one little problem. If they don’t have a KDAT (kiln dried after treatment) mark they’ll most probably shrink after the installation.

3) Composite Boards (often made of recycled materials) – They consist of wood and plastic and are highly resistant to decay and insect attack. They come in a variety of colours and have little defects which means there will be very little waste material. Their disadvantage is the very mix of plastic and wood which makes them look and feel less natural.

2. Types Of Wooden Boards

Buy pressure-treated wooden material. It is made to support more weight than traditional materials like redwood, cedar or other commonly used woods and is cheaper. The question would be how to choose the exact kind of lumber so it doesn’t rot? The answer is it’s divided into three categories according to the amount of preservative used per cubic foot of wood. Respectively, the higher the number its marked with, the more enduring it is to insects or fungi. The marks on the boards are respectively marked with the concentration and treating solution. According to this categorisation they can be used :

Above-ground ( .25 or .15) it’s used for decking or fences
Ground-contact – .40- used for beams, posts, decking and similar
The third kind is widely used for sustain below-grade supports or permanent wooden foundations.

3. Treated Material Should Not Contain Heartwood

Because of its higher density it is will accept less pressure treatment than the sapwood. If the pieces you’ll use are thinner it shouldn’t be a problem, as the preservatives will either way soak into the lumber. If they’re thicker however, the chemicals won’t penetrate deep enough, thus leave a part of your the material untreated and inclined to rot.

4. Purchase Dry Wood

Let’s assume you’ve bought wet wooden boards. They will eventually dry and shrink, thus leave gaps between each other. No matter if you’ll buy normal or treated wood the water it contains will make it twice as heavier and will also be considerably harder to work with. If you’re unsure if the wood you’ve chosen is wet compare it to the same size of treated wood. In case it feels damp and is double than the other one it’ll definitely need more time to dry.

5. Use Heavier Boards

To avoid an awkward structure of your wooden deck it would be better to use 6×6 wooden posts. They’re undoubtedly more solid and look better than the 4x4s. They’ll give your deck a better structure, support additional weight and are more durable.

Do you like this? Do you need more?
Check out our home and garden improvement ideas and make the most out of your home.