When considering the Best Deck Material for Your House, you need to be creative and independent. Maybe you want to host an al fresco dinner party out on a private deck. Or you might love to watch the sunset with a cocktail in tow after a long workday. Decks are a place for reflection as much as recreation. Maybe yours is surrounding an in-ground swimming pool. On the other hand, it can be a balcony extension in the front or backyard.
The options when embarking on a deck design, can feel overwhelming. From choosing the right decking materials to setting a strong foundation, both visually and functionally is a challenge. Similarly, from fiberglass to concrete, grass, and all types of woods, there are lots of great materials to choose between.
Moreover, a lot of factors come into play when picking the best decking material for your home. For example, affordability, regional restrictions, and climate. Below is a detailed look at the pros and cons of all the best decking materials. Whether you want to create a modern-looking deck or keep things traditional, you can have a look.
The Best Deck Material for Your House – Pressure-Treated Wood
Pros: This is by far the most popular option today. It is used on almost 75 percent of all new decks. The wood has been chemically treated to withstand rot, mold, and insects. Hence, people tend to gravitate toward it for longevity. In addition, its low price point ($1.50 to $2.50 per square foot) doesn’t hurt either. Further, it’s available pretty much everywhere, and easy to fasten.
Cons: Maintenance is definitely an issue with this kind of decking material. It has the tendency to crack or warp over time. In the past, pressure-treated wood was treated with chromate copper arsenate, which is a suspected carcinogen. In contrast, now, it’s treated with less toxic chemicals; hence making it relatively safe for the home.
Tropical Hardwood
Pros: Tropical hardwoods are everywhere. For example, ipe, cumaru, and tigerwood, just to name a few. It is a true luxury choice. In addition, tropical hardwoods are grainy, hard, and durable. Moreover, it is naturally resistant to issues like rotting and insects.
Cons: Similar to redwood and cedar, they come with a pretty high price tag (around $8 to $12 per square foot). They are fairly dense, making it hard to drill holes into them. They don’t really accept stains or finishes very well either. Therefore, if you’re determined to add one, it should be especially formulated for tropical hardwood. Like cedar and redwood, tropical hardwoods also weather to a silvery colour when they’re not stained. If you choose to not stain the deck, definitely apply a UV-blocking clear wood preservative. It should be done every three to four years. It’s also important to know where your tropical hardwood comes from. Make sure to look for those from sustainably harvested sources.
The Best Deck Material for Your House – Concrete
Pros: Concrete is versatile, practical, chic, and modern when well designed. At the same time, concrete is a surprisingly good deck material option. It’s super easy to clean. Therefore, you can use concrete tiles or opt for a seamless polished concrete slab for a sleeker impression.
Cons: Some may feel like it has less character than other options. Additionally, it can also get very hot in the sun.
Exposed Aggregate
Pros: This sub-version of concrete has a lot of similar pros. They include versatility and is easy to clean, as well as less expensive than other natural stone and wood types of decking materials. The difference is that aggregate concrete also offers texture and more traction. Hence, it reduces the risk of slips. It also spalls and cracks less than the former.
Cons: It’s not very easy to install yourself.
The Best Deck Material for Your House – Redwood
Pros: Redwood is another really nice natural option. It shares several characteristics with cedar wood. For example, the natural tannins, lightweight yet strong finish, and gorgeous color. However, redwood isn’t as easily available. This is particularly in the eastern regions of the country. (That might also be why it costs more than cedar: about $6 to $8 per square foot.)
Cons: It’s also important to note that both redwood and cedar require an annual power washing. In addition, they need a coat finish every three to four years. This isn’t too intense of a maintenance program to be sure. But, you definitely need to remember it!
Composites
Pros: Composite decking materials are made primarily from wood fibers and recycled plastics. They are among the fastest-growing decking options available today. Since they’ve been artificially created, they won’t warp or splinter. Furthermore, they don’t get affected by rot or insects. This makes them a really durable option, specifically since they don’t require too much maintenance.
Cons: Mold and mildew can grow in damp spaces. On the other hand, since they’re partially wood, some composites may end up showing signs of decay. They can be on the pricier side. This depends on the company you pick (around $7 to $10 per square foot) Anyway, you have to make sure that you choose a reputed, high-quality company.
Bluestone
Pros: Bluestone is rich color in color. It’s organic, and it integrates well with traditional architecture. Further, it’s also a great nonslip surface when wet. Thus, it is particularly well-suited for rainy regions or backyards with swimming pools.
The Best Deck Material for Your House – Cedar
Pros: Most purists love cedar and redwood decks. This is specially due to their gorgeous, rich color. Cedarwood has a lovely natural hue. Similarly, it is widely available throughout the US. It’s also extremely lightweight, yet strong, making it ideal for places with inclement weather conditions. It contains tannins and naturally occurring oils. Hence, it is resistant to rot and insects. But you can also treat it with a stain and sealer to prevent cracks or splinters. If you don’t use protectants, the color of your cedar will change to a soft grey over time.
Cons: The main issue is the price, averaging at about $3.75 to $5 per square foot. All types of cedar aren’t the same. There are four best grades of cedar to use for decking. They are architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty (listed from clearest to most knotty). The nicer you go, the more it’s going to cost you.
Grass
Pros: Grass is contemporary, natural, peaceful, and colorful. It can turn your deck into a grassy lawn. It’s also cheaper to install than others if you seed (8 to 30 cants per square foot)
Cons: Grass needs sun exposure to thrive. Therefore, if you use it as your decking material around a saltwater swimming pool, it can get brown spots when the water splashes it.
Aluminum
Pros: You might have never seen an aluminum deck before. But they do exist. They’re convenient in a lot of ways. For example, they won’t rust, warp, splinter, rot, or crack, and they’re weather and mold-resistant as well. Since you don’t have to worry about insects, it’s extremely easy to take care of them. In addition, they’ll never peel or blister. When compared with wood, composite, and plastic lumber, aluminum decking is three to four times lighter. But, it is two to three times stronger.
Cons: Aluminum comes in at an average of $11 per square foot. It is the most expensive out of the lot with some companies going even higher than that. It also doesn’t have the gorgeous color of hardwood. Therefore, be sure that’s a look you’re willing to sacrifice for convenience.
