The beautiful, durable, and dense planks or tropical hardwoods are difficult to ignore. They may be pricey, but in the hands of an experienced craftsman, they can be transformed into a lovely deck you’d be proud to show off.
Now that you are prepared to invest on an expansion of your living space, what are the most important considerations for installing and maintaining a wooden deck?
Insect-Proofing
Hardwoods are quite reliable, and they can last for generations. Your grandchildren would be able to play on the surface you’d be laying out today. But there are certain measures to implement to ensure the longevity of certain timber species. Insects such as termites and other destructive pests can still do plenty of damage.
In order to protect the timber, companies that sell fir or Southern Pine lumber for wooden decking treat the wood with chemicals. When sealed adequately, the wood is more protected from insect damage. You can find affordable pressure-treated timber that lasts for as long as 30 years if you care for it properly. Ask the local lumber yard for the rating of pressure-treated timber. The rating determines the level of protection from insects and fungi,
Rot-Proofing
Another important consideration is rot. Although good quality wood retains its structural integrity for decades, they will decay eventually. When choosing wooden decking material, as for decay and rot-resistant species. Decay-resistant wood is more expensive, but you can rely on them to resist the flow of time for many years to come. Some of the most popular rot-resistant wood species are cypress and redwood. Cedar is commonly used for decking because of its desirable qualities. Your choices include Alaska cedar, western red cedar, yellow cedar, Port Orford Cedar, Northern White Cedar, and Atlantic white cedar.
For greater protection, choose planks of timber that are cut from the heartwood. Deck builders will be able to fabricate the wood from old-growth trees into a beautiful structure that will be part of your family for many generations.
Waterproofing
Water will reduce the glorious browns and reds of hardwood into a silver grey. That is inevitable. While heartwood is quite hard, sapwood is still vulnerable. You can preserve the original color of the deck with waterproofing methods available.
Wooden decks absorb moisture. Aside from the issue of its vibrant color fading into grey, wood that absorbs moisture will warp and given time swell. Mold and mildew might even find purchase. A number of waterproofing methods are available, including the use of coatings, liquid rubber products, solid sheets of waterproof membrane, and sealants.
The under-deck system is another popular measure for deck waterproofing in Utah. The wood is protected from the deleterious effects of excess moisture by physical systems designed catch water from under the deck and remove them from the space.
A great wooden deck can last a lifetime. They are beautiful to behold and useful as a living space at the same time. You must protect your investment by ensuring the structure is insect-proof, rot-resistant, and waterproof.
