Building a Deck: Wood or Synthetic

Building a Deck: Wood or Synthetic

Spring is in the air, which means we will soon be firing up the grill and spending more time enjoying the great outdoors. One of the most popular outside areas we relax, entertain, and cook is on our decks. While the majority of decks in Minnesota are still built with traditional wood, synthetic materials are on the rise. In this article we will provide some basic information about your deck material options.Wood Deck MaterialsThe most popular types of wood used to build a deck are western red cedar and pressure treated wood such as southern pine. These woods are the most popular because they are durable and more resistant to decay than others. All of these woods will weather pretty quickly though, so it is important to preserve your investment by applying the proper sealing treatments. Our favorite type of wood to install is western red cedar because it looks great and is ideal for almost any type of finish.Synthetic Deck MaterialsThe main advantage that synthetic decking materials have over wood is that they require less maintenance. Most synthetic deck materials are made from reclaimed wood and plastic. They come in a variety of colors and do not need the yearly preservation treatments like traditional wood does – no sanding, painting or staining required. One brand we install quite often is Trex. We like this brand and think they have a good quality product with many options for surfaces and rails.

Designing and building a deck should be fun! Give us a call if you have any questions about your product options.

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