Back to Blog Apr 27 2021

Decking Materials 101

It’s deck building season so we thought let's take a closer look and with so many options for decking materials now it’s hard to know which is the best choice for a deck. Some materials are very low maintenance but may not have the look while others break the bank and burn your toes on hot summer days. So, let's take a look at a few options and why one may be better than others.

Pressure Treated-Most popular yet also some of the most maintenance but with a price as low as $4 per square foot we can understand why people are ok with replacing a board every now and then as well as restaining every couple of years.

Cedar- Great for rainy regions, easily available, more expensive at $6-$9 per square foot. That goes up with the clarity of the wood aka how many knots and how close to heartwood you get. Cedar will also need restaining every couple of years to stop the weathering which turns the wood a silver colour.

Concrete- This can be on the inexpensive side but you’ll have to watch out for burning toes on hot days. If you want stamping or coloured stains it can cost a bit more anywhere from $8-$18 per square foot.

Composite Board- Made of mostly recycled wood and plastic these are wonderfully low maintenance because they can resist bugs and weather but costs about $12-$18 per square foot.

Tropical Hardwood- These beautiful woods will cost more at around $10-$16 per square foot and they will also need to have some treatments done to them even if stains don’t take very well. On the bright side, these woods like tigerwood and Ipe are great weather and bug resisters due to the density of the wood. Just remember pilot holes for drilling are a must!

Stone- These hotcakes can burn the feet and the bank with a price range of anywhere from $8-$30 per square foot depending on the stone you use as well as the design. If you’re looking to keep your toe cool there is travertine which is known to keep its cool.

For more on Decking Material check out these links:

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-decking-material/