Are you currently considering a new deck for your home? There are many excellent reasons for you to invest in a deck. Those of us that have decks can attest to how important they are.
A new deck can broaden your horizon in terms of what you can do with your home. It can also improve the value of your home when done right.
Anything worth doing is worth doing right, and today we will go over how to choose the best materials for your deck.
Table of Contents
Research
Admittedly, most of us are not construction experts or professional carpenters, but we believe strongly in doing research to get some ideas.
Gain a bit of knowledge about decking building, and its materials so that when you contact professionals, you will be better informed. Also, consider learning more about building restrictions where you live.
Contact a Professional
Building a deck for your home is no easy feat, and it is always a fantastic idea to reach out to deck building professionals for expertise.
For those of us in New South Wales, Newcastle’s Composite & Timber Decking Specialists can help you with designs that align with building regulations, sourcing the right materials, and professional expertise to deliver the perfect results for you.
Treated Decking
Treated decking is a popular option among Australian homeowners. When you take a more in-depth look, the reason for their popularity becomes apparent.
Treated decking is relatively affordable and durable, and it is made with a combination of natural materials and synthetic materials to get the best of both worlds.
A few selling points include the fact that it is low maintenance and chemically treated to resist insects.
Consider Durable Wood
Ensuring that the type of wood you choose for your deck is naturally durable is an important feature for you to consider.
If you choose the right wood, it will last a long time, and you will get your money’s worth. Tropical Hardwoods like ironwood, ipe, and balau are long-lasting and dense but can be expensive. Naturally, durable woods have their pros and cons, but they are reliable.
Naturally Superior
There is a reason why homeowners in Australia and from around the world love naturally superior wood for deck materials.
Wood decks made from Western red cedar and Redwood are unique because of their rich colour, natural beauty and the fact that they are not full of preservatives and chemicals.
Their lack of chemical preservatives does not mean that they are vulnerable because these types of wood have natural repellants.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is made from an ingenious mixture of wood dust and recycled plastic that is crafted into dense, longboards.
They are like Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), but the significant difference between these two materials is that PVC is entirely made of plastic with an absence of wood binders.
Composites are popular because they are easy to clean, weather-resistant, and require little-to-no maintenance.
Aluminium Decking
The vast majority of us have not seen aluminium being used as a deck material but trust us when we say that aluminium is an excellent deck material that’s been growing in popularity lately.
In many ways, aluminium is the ultimate deck material, when compared to composite, plastic lumber or wood, aluminium can be up to three times stronger while being three or four times lighter.
Never-Ending Maintenance
In conclusion, it does not matter the materials you choose for your deck, if you choose the perfect, most durable material and fail to maintain them properly, it is going to fall apart with time.
An excellent way for you to prevent the breakdown of your natural wood decks is to seal the wood immediately after construction.
Not just that, speak to a professional for maintenance tips for your deck material, and you will not be disappointed.
