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SELECTING A MATERIAL FOR YOUR DECK

Courtesy Of Eastward Companies

The warmer weather ushers in the season of outdoor living here on Cape Cod. If you are considering building a deck to take advantage of the Cape's cooling summer breezes, you're probably pondering which materials to use. Wood remains the most popular decking material. However, wood-plastic composites are gaining in popularity because of low maintenance. "You see a lot more synthetics and mahogany on the Cape," notes Tony Shepley, president of Shepley Wood Products. "The best bang for the buck is mahogany." On his own enclosed porch, Shepley used cambara mahogany and on his weather-beaten widow's walk, a composite material. Before building your deck, consider its size, use and location, as well as the climate. Consult your contractor to determine which material is right for you. Here's a look at the properties of the most commonly used materials for decks:

PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD

Pressure-treated wood is made mostly of southern yellow pine. Before 2004, the wood was treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). The federal government has banned wood with CCA for home use, citing the potential risks of arsenic in the environment. Now organic copper-based preservatives are used on pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated lumber is a greenish color that will turn gray over time. Durable and resistant to rot and insects, it is strong enough to be used to build the entire deck. It should be finished with a water-repellent sealer. Certain grades of pressure-treated lumber should be used for different purposes. Grade No. 1 is used for railings, benches and joists. Premium is used for decking. At about $1.50 per square foot, pressure-treated lumber is by far the least expensive material to use on a deck, but it is known for splintering and cupping.

EXOTIC WOODS

Exotic woods, such as mahogany and ipe are quickly gaining in popularity. All are durable and rot resistant, but they vary in price. Cambara, a Brazilian mahogany, has become widely requested for decking on the Cape, according to local sources. Ranging between $2.50 and $4 per square foot, Cambara is fairly affordable. Although not termite resistant, it is durable. It is easy to cut and glue. On the other hand, South American ipe, also known as ironwood or pau lope, is fairly expensive at around $5.50 per square foot. It is very dense and difficult to cut. It does not splinter. Sealing will retain its natural color. If left to weather, it will turn a silver gray. Mahogany can range from white and yellow to light and dark red, depending on the species. Ask for the species name and research the wood before buying.

FIR

Once standard material for decking, fir is seldom used now. However, it remains a good material for decking because it is rot resistant and hard. Fir has an attractive vertical grain and reddish-brown color, which will weather to gray if left untreated. It costs about $4 per square foot.

WESTERN RED CEDAR

Naturally resistant to decay and insect damage, red cedar needs no further treatment unless in direct contact with ground. Cedar is a golden-brown color. When left untreated, it will turn gray. A clear wood finish will preserve the golden-brown color. Cedar is weaker than pressure-treated lumber. Difficult to obtain, red cedar is relatively expensive at more than $5 per square foot.

PLASTIC-WOOD

COMPOSITES AND VINYL

These new materials are fast gaining in popularity because of their low-maintenance features. Plastic-wood composite lumber is manufactured from a blend of recycled plastic (such as grocery bags) and wood fibers. Trex is an example. Vinyl, typically used for home siding, is now available as deck lumber. Vulnerable to temperature changes, vinyl may chip or crack. Composites and vinyl are durable and impervious to rot and insects. They don't splinter. Neither has the look of true wood, however, and they are expensive. Composites run from about $4.50 to $6.50 a square foot.

Information on properties of decking materials courtesy of the University of Minnesota Horticultural Department.