The
thumbnails below are linked to the deck's page. I listed the Southern Yellow
Pine
decks
first, then the Cedar, Ipe, Redwood and Composite decks. The order is also
the cost
from
the least expensive to most expensive. The last category is an exception
to
that rule, I have included a few projects built with reclaimed lumber at
my own house
to
illustrate what we do with the old decks and fences we remove.
Southern
Yellow Pine
A
very hearty pine that stains well and holds up over time...
Western
Red Cedar
Excellent
variety of Cedar that resists bugs and decay....and it's beautiful!
Ipe
[Brazilian Walnut]
Absolutely
the best decking available and it's NOT the most expensive by a long shot!
The
Swiss Avenue Historical District's home show in Dallas last year featured
this home where we built a two story Ipe deck.
From
what we heard it was the hit of the show. I have been asked by a national
magazine to submit pictures
for
a short atricle...it should appear this spring!
California
Redwood
Beautiful
but expensive and soft as wood goes...
Composites
We're
not big fans of composites, Ipe is a much greener product and it's virtually
indestructible...and less expensive.
Recycled Materials
Where
did your old fence or deck go? More than likely all the good wood left
over after donating to the
Wildlife
Center went to my house. I collected over 30 fence panels from 4 jobs as
well as over a hundred
deckboards
that could be re-used to build the decks and fences at my house.
I
try not to waste anything whether it be new or old wood.
Most
of these pictures/links are the deck & fence modifications I
made at my house. I have since finished the three
decks
and installed a hot tub on one of them and an outdoor kitchen sink and
counter on another. The last pic is a friend's
deck
that I completed in the summer.
Here's
the Bobcat enclosure I framed at The Wildlife Center at Cross Timbers Ranch.
It has eight sides
and
a redwood center spire. Eventually the center will be a vertical stairwell
for the bobcats to get exercise
and
give them access to the top level of the enclosure.
