Choosing a decking material for your patio can be a hard decision. While pressure treated pine has been a common choice across the country for many years, composite materials and plantation grown hardwoods have steadily risen in popularity as outdoor decking material. We'll discuss the benefits and features of the most popular solutions to help you choose the decking material that works best for you.
Pressure Treated Decking Material
Pressure treated wood has been a mainstay decking material product for almost 100 years. The wood is created by submerging wood timbers in an anti-fungal and anti-insect solution. The entire vat is then pressurized until the wood timbers are completely saturated with the mixture. This process is virtually permanent and protects the wood from fungus, decay, and insects without any special treatment.
Should you choose this decking material, it is important to note that the infusion uses a chemical called ACQ. This metallic compound promotes corrosion, so specially treated nails and fasteners will be required. Also, this wood is completely safe as a picnic table, but it is not recommended as a preparation surface for raw food. This decking material has the highest chance to warp but is the least expensive and great for DIY projects. Unfortunately, this decking material is not recyclable and is not safe to burn due to its chemical content.
Composite Decking Material
Composite decking material, usually comprised of wood and plastic fibers, is a high-end alternative to natural wood decking. One of the most desirable qualities of composite decking material is its source: Most manufacturers use 100% recycled material to create these planks. Sourced from shipping pallet waste and plastic grocer bags across our country, this material is ideal for the environmentally conscious furniture decorator. The resulting material looks and feels like wood, is impervious to insects and UV rays, and resists moisture and mildew.
One major downside to composite material is its cost. A deck project using composite decking material will generally cost twice what a pressure-treated deck would. This extra expense makes composite decking difficult for some homeowners to fit into their renovation budget and makes DIY appear extra daunting.
Tropical Hardwood Decking Material
Tropical hardwoods, often found in rain forest areas in South America, are naturally impervious to insects and moisture. This decking material has a warm color and great price point that is amazing for the quality you receive. With no further painting or staining, this natural wood product will last a century or longer and weather beautifully.
Unfortunately, the processes surrounding the logging of these woods, typically Brazilian Walnut, is not well supervised. It is likely that these timbers are harvested illegally from rain forests. When looking for decking material like this, be sure to ask if the material is plantation grown in a sustainable environment.
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