As a homeowner you will be most involved in discussions with your deck design expert regarding the form component of the deck design process. An expert in deck design will pay careful attention to your color preferences and personal taste. The information you share during this discussion will help determine what best deck materials to use for your deck project.
Deck building is an ever-expanding industry, and has seen much innovation over the past 55 years. Up until the 1960s decks were built from softwoods logged around the country. When we reached the 1960s, the supply of softwoods was in decline due to over-logging. The industry’s answer to meet the dwindling supply was pressure treated pine, and pressure treated decking became the primary material for deck building. Still today, with the huge growth in the deck materials industry, 75% of all decks are built using pressure treated decking manufactured from Southern Yellow pine.
As we entered the 1990s, environmental and durability concerns created a market for other types of decking material such as composite decking, PVC decking, and exotic wood decking. For instance, composite decking is made from recycled wood and plastic.
The decking industry has exploded over the last 20 years, and the quality of decking material has improved. There are many more choices on the market for the type of decking material and a multitude of colors and styles within each brand. Our job is to help you understand the pros and cons of using pressure treated decking, composite decking, PVC decking, and exotic wood decking materials for your new deck, and help you choose the one that best suits your personal needs and budget.