We here at Decks R Us are big fans of the latest versions of Vinyl decking, especially the Azek brand. We began using Azek back in 2005 when it was still sold under the Procell brand. This decking is made much like the older composite type, but is 100% plastic. It is available in many colors and sizes.
Pros & Cons of Composite Decking
Traditional Composite decking, such as Trex, is a mixture of wood dust and plastic. It is extruded in a machine with lots of heat allowing the wood, plastic, coloring, and UV protectant to melt and mold together. This technology was first introduced to the decking industry in the 1990s. Today there are dozens of different brands of it available. The color selection has expanded considerably, but the technology has not changed much.
In this second part of our five part series on the pros and cons of different types of decking, we will look at the more traditional wood deck boards.
Wood Decking
There are two species of wood traditionally used by deck builders. Cedar has been a staple of deck builders for a long time due to it’s high acid content and natural weather resistance. On the East Coast, Pressure Treated Pine is the #1 type of wood used for decks.
Finding the right decking for your new deck can be a bit overwhelming. Hardwood or Pressure Treated wood? Composite or Vinyl? And if you decide to go with something man-made, there are dozens of options and hundreds of opinions out there. Decking can be be put into 5 simple categories, Hardwood, Traditional Wood, Vinyl, Composite, or Vinyl-Capped Composite. So this post is the first in a 5-part series that I will share with you over the next few months. Hopefully I can shed some light on the pros and cons of each type of decking.
There are 3 common species of hardwood decking, Ipe, Cumuru, and Mahogany. Ipe and Cumuru are Brazilian wood species but are readily available here, Mahogany is an American species.
Low-voltage deck lights are becoming popular for some very good reasons. They provide a nice gentle glow to your deck and they also can also provide additional safety for steps and pathways. In Pennsylvania, for example, it is required by code that any outdoor steps are illuminated. If you don't have an outdoor light in your house near the deck steps, you may be required to install riser lights on your new deck steps.
If you are looking for something to set your deck apart from the other decks in your neighborhood a pergola is a great choice. They can also provide a fair amount of shade depending on their configuration. If your new pergola will get a lot of sun, you may want to consider maximising your shade by adding a canopy underneath.
Decks R Us custom deck benches are made to fit, whether you want a small 4-foot long bench to fit in a corner, or a 30-foot curved bench. We'll make it.
As I sit inside today looking out at the frozen world around me, sipping on my cup of coffee I can’t help but get a little excited.
Over the years I have heard the familiar question often, so what do you do for work? My answer, I build
decks, is almost always followed by another question, what do you do in winter time? To which I answer, I build decks. Here at Decks R Us we believe that building decks in winter is a great idea, we have been doing it since 2003. Despite its challenges, it has some advantages for us the builder as well as you the customer.
This time of year we get a lot of questions about ice and snow from our customers. Will it damage my deck if I leave the snow on it? What can I use to get the snow off my deck without damaging the floor boards? I will attempt to answer some of the more common questions for you guys.