The best decks are always created with careful planning and design. Furthermore, where and how they are installed should reflect architectural elements of a house

1. Choosing Among the Best Decking Materials
If you are choosing among the numerous decking materials available in the market to
replace your existing deck or to build a new one, you should have a concrete idea on what
products you should choose and where you or your contractor should install them. The best
decks are always created with careful planning and design. Furthermore, where and how
they are installed should reflect architectural elements of a house. To make sure that no
part of your house is not in theme, make sure that multiple decks have touches of
uniformity in them.
It would be good to use one only one decking material and to have similar designs. You can
decide to design them on your own or ask for the help of your builder or designer. The costs
of having decks installed vary from contractor to contractor and are mainly based on the
decks’ height and construction; however, the costs average at around $25 to $35 per
square foot. If you are looking for something that aren’t too expensive, you can opt to use
pressure treated Pine, on the other hand, if you are willing to splurge, you can decide to
choose among the exotic hardwood species and top-end coated composite decking. Listed
below is a list of the decking materials available to make choosing much easier.
IPE – An IPE deck is usually made out of Brazilian rainforest lumber best known for its
qualities including durability and strength. It is a good choice for people who want to have
naturally dark decks. The cost of IPE mainly depends on thickness.
Redwood – This type of wood is classified as softwood and is damaged by hail easily. Since
it takes years for redwood to mature, it is thus, not a sustainable wood source and is not an
ideal deck to use for outdoors.
Tigerwood – It is made out of Brazilian or African rainforest lumber. Unlike IPE which has a
solid dark color, it has a light and dark color variation hence the name. Furthermore, it is
also known for being robust and sturdy.
Pressure treated pine – This kind of wood is made out of southern yellow pine. It needs
to be pressure treated to avoid rotting, decaying and insect damage. Before staining,
sealing or installing this wood, it is important that you let all the chemicals dry out to avoid
unwanted releasing of the chemicals. As mentioned earlier, pressure treated pine is the
cheapest decking material because it is prone to splitting and twisting and does not work
well in dry climates.
Cedar – Like redwood, cedar is classified as softwood and is also damaged by hail easily.
If you are deciding on whether to use real wood or composite decking, this might help you
out. Using real wood is a good option because you will be assured of a deck that is sturdy,
durable and a deck that will not be prone to splits and breakage; however, real wood can be
extremely expensive. On the other hand, composite decking materials are composed of
plastic and wood plys which rely on a specific type of adhesive or glue to stick them all
together. Composite decking materials can be much cheaper than real wood, but there are
some environmental concerns which involve them. The good news is, no matter which one
you choose, both types would last for about 25 years if they are properly maintained.

2. Deciding on which decking material you use would mainly depend on the purpose, the
location and on your budget. Make sure that you consider these three factors when choosing
among the decking materials available to make sure that you pick the one that best suits
your home best. Make sure to let me know if you have already chosen a decking material in
the comments below.