Your Top 6 Wood Options For Decks In Central MA
The Best Wood Options For A Beautiful And Sturdy Home Deck.
When it comes to the deck on your Central MA home, you’ve got several wood options to choose from. As a result, it can be tough to pick the type of wood that A) looks best and B) will perform based on your needs.
We’re here to help. Below, you’ll find info about six of the most popular types of wood for decks in Central MA. This will help you choose the right solution for your decking project. Knowing what the best option is for your home is going to ensure that you get to enjoy your deck for years to come.
1. Mahogany
This is a tropical hardwood that is known for being resistant to pests and rot. If this is treated with oil, it can appear to be more teak-like, while letting it go naturally gives the silver hue to the wood.
Keep in mind this is also a tropical wood, so many find that this is not as environmentally friendly as they would have hoped.
2. Ipe Wood
Ipe wood is a South American hardwood. It has a top rating for bug and rot resistance. In addition, this wood is so hard it is almost like concrete, meaning that it does not burn easily. It has a hickory-like look to the wood and often pairs well with stones in the deck.
However, with this wood being so hard, it can be rather difficult to work with. Thus, the design of the outdoor deck will have to be taken into consideration.
Another huge obstacle with this wood is that it is found in the rainforest. Therefore, it is important that decks using this wood ensure that it carries the Forest Stewardship Council trademark showing it was harvested responsibly.
3. Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar wood is reddish-brown in color, and as it ages, it often turns into the silver-gray that is seen with weathered wood. Cedarwood is known for holding up well to rain, sun, heat, and colder temperatures.
This is a softer wood than other choices, so it does splinter easier. In addition, many people end up using a penetrating stain or paint on this every few years to keep it looking good.
4. Redwood
This is a very popular option for those looking to have an outdoor deck built. Redwood starts off with the reddish-brown color but ages to a weathered gray. It is considered softwood yet is durable.
While this is resistant to rot, prolonged moisture often makes the wood turn black. Thus, a clear sealer is often used on the deck and has to be reapplied every few years, depending upon the weather.
5. Tigerwood
This is a South American wood that can be a variety of colors, allowing it to create a stunning look on any deck. This can be a difficult wood to work with for those who want a deck that has a uniform color to it. In addition, there may be pieces of this wood that are soft, while others are hard.
Due to the nature of this wood, given that it can have several variables in several different pieces, many deck installers do have a more difficult time creating a cohesive design.
6. Composite Decking
One of the newer methods for deck installation is using composite decking. This is not really wood at all but gives the appearance of wood without the maintenance that typical wood decks have.
The benefits of this deck material are numerous! It has a wide range of colors to choose from, is mold and moisture resistant, this will not splinter, rot or crack, it resists fading and scratches, and it is even cooler in temperature when compared to wood decking.
In addition, you are going to find that composite decking is more environmentally friendly as this is made from recycled PVC.
How To Choose The Best Wood For Your Deck Installation
Now that you understand all the wood options that you have available to you, just how can you decide on which wood to use for your deck installation? Here are a few considerations to make:
- What type of color of wood do you want to use?
- Are you wanting something that is more environmentally friendly?
- Do you want something that is going to be maintenance-free?
- What will work best with the deck design that you want on your home? Consider looking at pictures of decks to get a good idea of what you may want.
- Do you want to use wood that is hard or soft?
- What is the weather like, and how will this affect the wood you choose?
These are all questions that you need to think about seriously in order to help you choose the best wood for the deck of your dreams!
Why Choose Composite Wood For Your Decks?
While many people still go the traditional route with wood decks, composite decking is becoming more popular. It offers the options that everyone wants to ensure that everyone gets the deck they have always wanted. No arguing over doing this or that…as it offers tons of options.
As mentioned before, this is an environmentally friendly option that is available in numerous colors, woodgrains, and the like to ensure you get the look you want while being maintenance-free.
Deck installation with composite decking is not limited, meaning that it can be cut to size to fit any sort of layout that is in mind. There really are no limits on how this can be used to create a custom-designed deck that will be beautiful and functional.
Let Professionals Handle Your Deck Installation
Before you start to think that deck installation is an easy DIY project over the weekend, think again. Decks are a staple of many backyards, and countless parties and bouts of relaxation are had on these decks.
Therefore, you want these decks to be installed properly while also looking great. We are the professionals to contact when you want a new deck for your home.
We can give you a deck solution that will look amazing while not requiring hours of care every season with our composite deck options.