Wood Deck Post
|Wood Deck Post – Part of the technique of building a deck is deciding which materials to use for the decking. Basically, you have two choices – wood or composite. In this article, I’ll share the pros and cons of each type to help you select the right one to your deck. The main difference between wood and composite decking will be the amount of maintenance required. Wood decking requires more upkeep than composite, but looks nicer. The companies who manufacture composite decking are going to do their utmost to make their product appear to be real wood, but thus far haven’t achieved it. I personally do not think they’ll ever be capable to match the advantage of real wood. Because of the an extension cord necessary to maintain wood decking, you need must yourself if you have the an extension cord needed to keep a wood deck sealed looking good. If you DO have enough time and they are willing to spend it on your deck, great! Go with wood.
If, however, you do not possess an extension cord or shouldn’t commit to sealing a wood deck a couple of times 12 months, composite may be the most suitable choice. Even though wood decks require more upkeep, you will find there’s form of wood that can be used for decking which requires almost no or no upkeep. That wood is cedar. I’ve actually laid wood decking and done absolutely NOTHING to it along it last a long time with no problems. Cedar is naturally proof against rain, snow, and sunlight. It doesn’t warp or twist, and have almost no tendency to check or cup.
The only drawback with cedar decking left unsealed is always that is will turn gray over time. If you are instead of this look, it is possible to prefer to seal it a couple of times each year. It may still “gray”, however it will require longer for this. Actually ALL wood decks will turn gray over time, if you do not apply sealer every few months, which is a lot of work. Composite decking, on the other hand, is virtually maintenance free. Once it’s laid down, it certainly can’t change much even through extreme weather. Some composite deck colors will fade over a few years, however the fading is uniform, which means you won’t really notice it happening.
There are several disadvantages to getting composite. First, composite decking is more expensive than wood. This may be an issue if you have financial constraints. If you take into account the cost savings of not buying sealer for a long time, it may balance out the cost increase somewhat. Another drawback to using composite decking will be the chance for the merchandise failing. Just like any man-made product, composite decking may be faulty. A few years ago, one major composite decking manufacturer created some defective material. This ended in many decks going bad which made a class action lawsuit. Even with compensation directed at consumers, many were bound to high replacement costs. This doesn’t mean every composite deck strategy is gonna have problems, it’s just a reminder that it COULD happen.
Overall, wood or composite decks are great. You just need to decide from your gray deck, a wood deck that requires maintenance, or perhaps a composite deck which requires no upkeep, but is more expensive and possesses the possibility to visit awry.