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When building a wooden deck, it may be difficult to choose your materials. You want to make sure that you find a wood that will stand the test of time, but you also want one that looks as good as possible. So what is the best type of wood for decks? 1918 Preservation, a deck building company in Perry, Ohio, is here to tell you about the best type of wood for decks.

Best Type of Wood for Decks

As is the case with outdoor furniture, the materials that you choose for your wooden deck will make all the difference when it comes to your deck withstanding the test of time. That is why it is so important to choose the right wood for your deck. Here are some great options:

Cedar

One of the most popular wood types for outdoor decks is cedar. While cedar is considered a soft wood, it is actually much more durable and resistant to rotting and infestations than most of your other wood types. A great benefit of cedar is that its moisture content will change depending on the environment that it is in, perfectly matching the atmosphere of your home’s surrounding area. This means that if you live in a colder climate that often freezes in the winter, cedar will not warp or crack as easily. 

Cedar is also known for its natural beauty, but it is also surprisingly easy to stain. The average lifespan of a cedar deck is around 15-20 years. This is only if it is taken care of correctly, so be sure to regularly clean and inspect your deck. We recommend that you pressure wash your cedar deck once a year.

Redwood

Have you ever wished that you could bring the magical beauty of the Redwood forest to your backyard? Well, by using redwood for your new outdoor deck, you will be doing just that! Redwood is another very common type of wood used in outdoor decks that has a similar durability to cedar. The natural oils and tannins inside the redwood give it natural resistance to rot and infestations, and is also responsible for the redwood’s natural beauty. Redwood is a bit more expensive than cedar depending on where you live, with prices in the west coast typically being much cheaper. 

Pressure Treated Wood

For a great deck option that won’t break the bank, you cannot go wrong with pressure treated wood. The most economical wood type of wood for decks, pressure treated wood comes in two options: Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir. While pressure treated wood doesn’t typically have the natural beauty that you will find with cedar and redwood, it’s an easy thing to overlook when you compare prices and accessibility. Remember: the appearance of your wood deck should be fairly low on the priority list. You should be looking for a wood option that will work best overall, and pressure treated wood is a great, affordable option. 

Composite Wood

A type of wood that is quickly becoming a hot trend in the outdoor decking world is composite wood. These composites are typically made up of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, which makes this material a blend of recycled plastics and wood fibers. The benefit of composite wood is that there are a wide variety of color and finish options available. Another huge benefit of composite wood is that there is very little maintenance needed. That’s right: with composite wood, you will not need to worry about regular cleaning and staining. 

A drawback of composite wood is that it does get very hot in the sun, as well as slippery in the rain. However, with the price point and variety that composite wood decks provide, it’s no wonder at all why so many homeowners are opting for it. 

About 1918 Preservation

If you’re looking for home preservation help, junk removal services, deck installations or other home improvements, call 1918 Preservation LLC today. We’re an all-purpose deck builder that keeps local homes at their best. Our team has 25 years of combined experience in the property preservation industry. That means you’ll receive the highest quality work no matter what service you choose.

Hire our team today by calling 216-240-5053.

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