Construction & Contractors Blog
Starting construction on a wood deck means making some definite choices about design, material, and size. The choice regarding the type of material you want to use is as important as any other decision you will make during the construction planning process. Before you settle on a specific type of treated wood material, here are a few options and the considerations of each one.
Treated Pine
Pine wood is an inexpensive decking material for home owners on a budget. A common disadvantage of traditional pine is its vulnerability to fungus and damage from that fungus. If this is a concern, treated pine is something to consider. Treated pine is an option that has already been chemically treated to prevent fungus and to keep the wood from becoming infected and damaged. The benefit of treated pine is not only the ability to avoid fungus, but also the durability of the wood. Treated pine can be four times as strong as common plastic deck options.
Treated Cedar
Cedar offers the benefit of not warping or shrinking. This is ideal when you are considering the best type of wood for your outdoor deck project. Cedar is also easy to reproduce and can grow at a decently fast rate. This is something you should consider if earth friendly options are something you are leaning towards. A treated cedar options means the wood has been sealed to protect against water damage and cracking which may result in the wood splitting or getting wood rot within the cracks of the wood. Cedar also has several design options, can be stained to nearly any colour, and is easy to maintain.
Treated Timber
Treated timber can refer to any style of timber, including reclaimed and re-purposed barn timber. The key point that many home owners take into consideration when using treated timber is the ability to find reclaimed barn options that are stronger or have already held up to years of weather exposure. The treatment on this type of timber offers a barrier against water damage, much like the treatments used on cedar options. Timber offers more earth friendly options, like using older or reclaimed wood.
If you use a pre-treated option you may be able to skip certain steps initially, like water treatments or seals. You will still need to do routine treatment on the wood and have pressure cleaning at certain times to remove staining from age and exposure. If you have any questions regarding your wood deck choices, ask a contractor or lumber dealer (such as Australian Treated Pine).
Share16 April 2015
Hi, my name is Christine. As a lifelong lover of the Shel Silverstein book "The Giving Tree," I have always been interested in the many different relationships one can have with a tree. I own a relatively large property with several trees, and I have worked hard to make those trees an essential part of my life. Some of my trees provide me with food, others provide me with energy-efficient shade that reduces my air conditioning bill and others create recreation opportunities for my kids in the form of treehouses or swings attached to the trees. Still other trees boost my property values just by being beautiful. If you want ideas about using your trees for fun, form and function, please explore this blog.
