Advantages of Using Deck Lumber for Your Home
Whether you’re constructing a brand new deck or upgrading an existing one, this is an exciting home improvement project that can truly enhance the look and feel of your property. There are a few different materials to choose from, but you can’t go wrong with the many tried-and-true types of natural wood. Today, we’re going to go over the advantages of using deck lumber, three quick tips on how to choose the best type, and some examples of the kinds of wood available.
First, let’s take a look at a few advantages of using deck lumber for this exciting home improvement project:
- Reasonable Cost — There are several types of soft and hard woods to choose from when designing a deck and you’ll often spend less than you would on composite materials. This is great for a large deck or if you have a limited construction budget.
- Authentic Feel — While composite decking can mimic the look and feel of natural wood, many homeowners prefer the real thing. One reason is because different types of wood have an authentic and pleasant smell that can’t be duplicated with other types of lumber.
- Natural Material — It’s obvious that one advantage of natural wood decking is that it’s better equipped to match the nature around your home. A landscape designer can even help you match the right type of wood with the trees and vegetation in your backyard.
- Color Choices — Depending on the current appearance of your landscape, there’s a variety of colors you might want to choose for your deck. Wood makes this easy because it can be painted and stained to get just right the right color and hue.
3 Tips for Choosing the Best Lumber for Your Deck
To choose the best deck lumber for your home, we recommend that you follow these three simple tips:
Budget
The first thing you should probably consider when looking for the best deck lumber for your project is the price. With most natural wood, you won’t see a wide range of costs, but some high-end wood can get quite pricey. Before you get your hopes up on something that ends up being too expensive, you might want to figure out your budget before anything else.
Appearance
Next up, you’ll obviously want to consider the appearance of the wood, especially as it relates to how it would fit into your current landscape or future landscape plans. Each type of wood has a different look to it, including patterns that are often unique to a particular lumber. Plus, as mentioned above, you can choose from multiple colors and hues so you can achieve a specific appearance.
Climate
Depending on where you live, climate may be a determining factor when choosing the best deck lumber for your home. Some types of natural wood are best suited for warm climates because they don’t absorb as much heat whereas other types are better for cold climates because they don’t expand when temperatures drop. These differences are typically negligible, but it’s something you may want to consider.
Examples of the Best Types of Deck Lumber
There are several different types of deck lumber available and we’re put together a list of the most popular:
- Redwood — This strong natural wood won’t warp or split easily. It’s also naturally resistant to rot and insects.
- Cedar — Often notable due to its distinctively pleasant smell, cedar is resistant to moisture, decay, and insects. Its color turns silvery gray when untreated, but you can stain or seal it to keep that from happening.
- Douglas Fir — Known for its rugged nature and beautiful appearance, this wood is also easy to use with both hand or power tools. It may be treated to avoid decay, mold, and termites.
- Cypress — This wood is also known for being easy to work with using either hand or power tools. Cypress is a strong wood and has a natural resistance to decay.
- Hemlock — Like others on this list, it’s easy to work with and resistant to rot. It also has a uniform wood grain which gives Hemlock its own unique appearance.
- Southern Yellow Pine — This wood is best when pressure-treated, becoming both durable and environmentally friendly. It’s typically recommended to frame the deck with this particular wood, with the actual decking and railing consisting of a different type of wood.
- Exotic Wood — If you want to add some flair, you can choose an exotic type of wood such as Brazilian walnut, cambara, or meranti, among others. These tropical woods are very durable, but also difficult to work with and more expensive.
Contact Peninsular Lumber for Decking Lumber Options
Peninsular Lumber has best lumber yard in Tampa Bay. If you have any questions about deck lumber or any other building materials, reach out by calling (813) 875-8805 today or come visit our lumber store in Tampa today!
