Treated Pine
We work with only
the new Micro ACQ Treated Southern Yellow Pine when
using treated
lumber. I have found it to be more stable than the other treated pine products.
There were many
problems with the old ACQ variety [dark green lumber] including warping,
checking, and
cracking. That said, pine does crack and warp more than cedar or redwood.
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 & Garapa
Ipe and Garapa
are both hardwood varieties in the Brazilian rain forest. They are among
the hardest woods
on the planet. Impervious to moisture [won't even float in water], insects
cannot eat either
one, 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. Both these woods carry 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
Garapa or Ipe
now can save you thousands in the future and the cost is less than most
composites on the market.
Composites
Due to extensive
litigation pending on the top brands of composite decking I have decided
not to feature
or install any
of the composite decking brands. 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.
We feel that
real wood is a better choice, even for those who want a low maintenance
deck. Both
the Brazilian
hardwoods never need anything in the way of maintenance if you don't
mind a silver
or brown patina on the wood after the frist two years.