Which Deck Material Should You Choose?
Choices in Deck Materials
Below is straight forward guide to the choices you have in deck materials. Each of the 5 options for your deck material is listed in detail below but some opening words of wisdom from the guys that have made decks their specialty. Ray (the hardworking guy who handles all those pesky permits for you) says, “Nearly everyone has an opinion but at the end of the day it’s your deck and your decision. We try to teach folks what their choices are and try to make them real comfortable with whatever they choose. No matter who you are going with- make sure to interview the builder what their best recommendation is.
There are literally hundreds of decking products out there and we can work with any of them.
The decking materials we know, we like and we trust is a different story. We have limited our professional recommendations to the five listed below:
Solstice Decking is a low-maintenance cellular PVC (poly vinyl chloride) made of layers and layers of vinyl grooves. The dark colors in Solstice don’t get quite as hot as the other cellular decking in the sunshine.
Solstice Decking is available in these colors:
Brookstone Clay Ipe Ironwood Mahogany Sandstone Walnut
Azek Decking is a cellular PVC decking that requires little maintenance and is scratch and stain resistant. Decks R Us has been using Azek longer than other decking material. Azek was the first of the cellular PVC decking products.
Azek Decking comes in these colors:
Acacia Brownstone Clay Cobre Fawn Kona
Morado Redland Rose Sedona Silver Oak Slate Gray Tahoe
White
Ipe Decking
IPE –pronounced "ee-pay" is Brazilian Walnut. It is an extremely dense wood with tight grains, and has one of the highest ratings for being insect resistant. Any natural wood product will require more maintenance than cellular PVC decking.
Cumaru Decking
Cumaru Decking is Brazilian Teak with a beautiful grain and is extremely hard and durable. It offers a pronounced grain pattern. It is the 2nd hardest natural decking we sell after Ipe.
Pressure Treated Decking
Decks R Us uses a better grade of pressure treated wood than most deck builders. We found that Cox Lumber makes some of the best pressure treated wood available and for the Mid Atlantic climate; their "#1 Natural Select" is the wisest choice.
Insider advice from Sam: The difference between Composite and Cellular PVC decking:
Composite decking (i.e. Trex, Fiberon) was first introduced in the mid 1990s as an alternative to pressure treated wood decking. It is made of a mixture of finely ground wood, called wood flour, and ground up plastic. Trex was the first brand of composite decking on the market, and a lot of people still refer to all man-made synthetic decking as Trex when in fact Trex is only one the many brands of man -made synthetic decking available today."I'll bet 90% of the folks that call us talking about a Trex deck actually mean a composite" explains Sam at Decks R Us. "although they have come a long way I personally don't think composite decking is all that it's cracked up to be. Sure, it was a great alternative to wood at the time, but other types of man-made synthetic decking have really come a long way. Composite for example is not the most "maintenance free" material available to customers" Cellular PVC decking (i.e. Azek, Solstice) was introduced in 2004. It is extruded much like vinyl house siding, has a very hard outer shell and has no wood in it at all. “It’s really quite simple” says Ray at Decks R Us “ Composite is softer and because of that is more likely to scratch and allow some moisture to seep in over time which then increases your chances of having stains, mold, and mildew on your deck, and that will also make cleaning your deck more difficult. Cellular PVC with that hard outer shell doesn’t allow moisture to penetrate and that will greatly lower your chances of having any of those problems and makes it much easier to clean.” Most cellular PVC decking, including Azek and Solstice, offer a limited lifetime warranty while even the best composites only offer a 20 or 25 year warranty. Composite is still an option if you would like to save a few dollars and don’t mind the added maintenance
Ask the Experts: "Okay……So which material should I Choose?"
"I get asked a lot which material I would choose "says owner John. "But I really hate to answer that. I think it's my job to be sort of a 'deck teacher' and explain to my 'students' the differences between all the choices, then help them make the best decision."
In a nutshell:
IF…you really want as little maintenance as possible…
AND IF…you want one of the best warranties available….
THEN…..go with a Cellular PVC material like Azek or Solstice
OR,
IF…you don't mind a little more maintenance…
AND IF…you really like the look and feel of natural wood….
THEN….go with a natural wood like Ipe or Cumaru.
OR,
IF…you like the look and feel of natural wood…
AND IF…you want our most cost effective option….
THEN….go with our #1 grade of Pressure Treated wood.
Mel’s Eye on Trends …
We are starting to do more and more decks with 2 colors of deck boards. It makes for a unique look that you won't find on the deck next door. It sets your deck apart from the neighbors.
Another way to set your deck is apart is by using either PVC deck rails or wood deck railing in 2 tone color and maybe even decorator spindles. I'm starting to see customers go with a Morado colored deck, Morado colored rails then choosing black or bronze spindles.
I'm also seeing more innovative floor board layouts. Folks are considering diagonal layouts, herring bone styles, or even a diamond layout to give a real sharp look and a real custom feel.
On an average deck (400 square feet), consider 2 or 3 different directions in your floor boards.
So What do the Amish guys at Decks R Us recommend?
At the risk of sounding like braggarts, we do know a thing or two about decks. Here are some of the opinions of the deck experts:
"Hands down for the Synthetic materials. After about the 4th time you have to take a Saturday to clean, scrape, seal and re-stain your deck; you'll probably kick yourself for not going with a Synthetic material.
Foreman Joe: "I like Azek because unlike composite decking it won't fade into different colors over time…"
Gideon who manages the shop: "I like Solstice... it doesn't have the problems like composite decking where there are different shades on the very same skid. In the early years, we used to get some questions from homeowners because the boards don't match even though the material came in on the same truck- same delivery."
Foreman Elmer also likes Azekdeck. "With some of the composites, it comes with a stamped grain on it but after a year, that stamped grain goes away leaving with you an ugly board. Azek, for example doesn't do that."
But what matters most is your opinion!
“I really try to teach our customers the difference between the materials-answer all the questions and help them make a really informed decision. That's why it's important that I kind of "interview" people to find out important things like how they're using it, how much time they want to spend maintaining it, and what their budget is. Because once I know those things, I can help recommend something that's exactly what they want. I get a kick out of teaching people about decks. By the time I'm done, I think some of my past customers know more about decks that some of these deck builders do!"
Schedule your no-string, free consultation with us and we can first learn about what you are looking for, then give some free advice and –if you want- a customized proposal for the deck of your dreams. Click here to set one up or call us on 800-854-0269
Congratulations! You now know more about deck materials then some deck builders!
Now you're ready to start thinking about the different options you have for your deck…like what kind of rails….lighting….steps….click here to keep learning about the options you have.
