Wooden decks are a beautiful and useful
addition to any home. There are two main options for decking material: natural
wood or composite. While composite is more low-maintenance, most homeowners
prefer the look of natural wood. The most common types of wood used for decks
are:
- Pressure-treated pine and fir. This wood is long-lasting and affordable. Its grain patterns are prominent and it is honey-brown before turning grey.
- Western red cedar. Soft but durable, cedar is resistant to decay but quick to weather. It begins as a light brown or salmon pink, but turns silvery grey and then dark brown.
- Redwood. Another soft wood, redwood is beautiful, but can be costly.
- Ipe. This relatively obscure South American hardwood is becoming more well known. It’s bug- and rot-resistant and is almost as difficult to burn as concrete! However, it is found in the rainforest, so many eco-friendly builders won’t use it.
- Mahogany. Another pest- and rot-resistant hardwood, mahogany is a beautiful colour and very hardy. It is, however, pricey.