Although there are over a hundred different materials available for finishing decks, there are only a fraction of that number that you can practically consider because of distribution issues and availability.

Nevertheless, one type of deck building material that is always available is wood. Wood decks are extremely popular, and for good reasons.

Wood for decks is divided into two categories: native wood and tropical hardwood. The most common woods for decks in the early years of decking were redwood and cedar. These woods are popular because they are rot resistant. Other woods were added into the mix until pressure treated lumber made of soft, southern yellow pine became the primary type of wood used for decks.

Native woods, that is, wood that is harvested in North America, is valued because it looks good, is easy to stain and finish, and for its economical cost. It is still the most popular type of decking chosen, although other materials are making inroads into the market.

Pressure treated lumber is relatively low in cost, and extremely workable, besides being widely and inexpensively available. Even for those decks made out of different surface materials, the base posts and pillars will likely still be pressure treated lumber. Other types of materials are either prohibitively expensive for the purpose, or they don't perform adequately as support.

The advantages of treated softwood decks are: its relatively low cost, ease of staining, long life, wide availability in many different dimensions for the widest range of design styles, and there are a variety of different visible and invisible fasteners available for use with treated softwood.

Disadvantages include the weathering factor: without cleaning and staining or sealing, it weathers quickly. There is also shrinkage unless it is kiln treated, and it does require care in fitting the joints and fasteners to limit warps and cupping. Because of the softwood's versatility, there are thousands of wood deck designs, including those with latticework, carved finishes, specialty posts, and a variety of wood sizes.

It takes a deck professional to install pressure treated softwood decks well, since they can shrink significantly, and need to be installed tightly. It's also advisable to minimize miters for the same reason.

Redwood and cedar decks are still popular, especially for their looks. The redwood deck will often be the featured deck in a book or magazine about deck designs because the finished look is so nice. Cedar decks similarly attract compliments, particularly for the color variations found naturally in the wood. The quality redwood or cedar deck needs to be well designed and maintained, but if it is, the good looks last for years.

Redwood and cedar are both naturally rot resistant, accept stains and paint equally well, and there are a variety of sizes and styles of wood available in both, including lattice. They are more expensive options than softwood, with redwood coming in slightly higher than cedar. They do need maintenance and sealer, just as a softwood does.

Exotic hardwoods are pricey, but popular with those who can afford them. Some last for years with no splintering, and several require no staining. Get a professional contractor who knows how to select the grade of lumber and the types of fasteners to use with tropical hardwoods. They are different from softwood requirements.

Interested in a wood deck for your home? Get your project started by submitting a free BuyerZone request for deck price quotes.