Treated Pine

We work with only the new Micro ACQ Treated Southern Yellow Pine when
using treated lumber. I have found it to be an extremely stable product. There
were many problems with the old ACQ variety [dark green lumber] including warping, checking,
and cracking. We also only buy from lumber yards, we don't pay the big box prices and
neither do you.

The new Micro ACQ is sold under the Pro-Wood & LifeWood labels and has light tone to it.
The wood dries quickly and stains very nicely. I consider it vastly superior to
the old green lumber and it actually costs less. For most decks, this lumber is the best choice.
It is very reasonably priced and is a very good product. All of our framework is built using this material.

Cedar

Cedar, the hearty Western Red variety, is milled in either
rough [pergolas and fences] or smooth [decking profiles]. It is naturally
resistant to insects and termites as it is to moisture. You can count on cedar lasting 20+ years
as long as it is maintained properly.

Redwood

Redwood has the same characteristics and like cedar it can be milled in either construction
heart or clear profiles [no knots]. Usually the higher of the two in cost because of the restrictions on cutting
redwoods, but arguably the prettiest of all the softwoods. Also resistant to rot and insects, redwood
can last as long as cedar.

 Ipe [eepay] & Garapa

Ipe is a hardwood in the Brazilian Walnut family. It is one of the hardest woods on the planet. It is
impervious to moisture and doesn't float in water. Insects cannot eat it, the wood has high silica
content which means it shares the same component as glass and sand. Each deck board has to be pre-drilled
to install screws and no nails can be used, the wood is too hard to nail through. This product carries a 50 year
warranty and is my absolute favorite choice for decking if you are planning to stay in your home a
long time. Maintenance is very minimal. Choosing Ipe now can save you thousands in the future
and the cost is less than 95% of all composites.

Speaking of Composites

We have built three composite decks to date, but you won't see pictures of them on the site.
Due to extensive litigation pending on the top brands of composite decking we have decided not to offer it as a
decking choice. The major lawsuits are concerning fading of the product in the first year, mold issues and
decomposing of the interior wood content [there are actual wood by-products in most composites]. Trex,
ChoiceDek and other popular brands are named in cases and more are pending.

While there are several brands that do not have any pending court cases, we tend to shy
away for two reasons. One is cost, the better composites are much more expensive than either Garapa
or Ipe. The second reason is their warranty. The best warranty on a composite is 25 years limited.
Ipe and Garapa carry a 50 year warranty!!

So we feel it's better to use a product that is real wood that is milled responsibly. The look and feel
of real wood is much nicer than any composite. Ipe and Garapa are both no-maintenance woods. You never
have to stain or seal either one. Once a year powerwashing is all that needs to be done.

So you spend less money, do less maintenance [composites need to be powerwashed once a month] and
get a better product that lasts longer. All that and the wood is harvested in a way that
doesn't negatively impact the environment.

Makes the choice easier doesn't it?