Did you know that adding a deck to the back of your house is the perfect home improvement project if you enjoy entertaining during the spring, summer and even fall? Decks are also a cost effective way to add useful square footage to your property. Hiring a professional to build a deck certainly varies in price depending on the size, and materials that are being utilized. You should also be aware that the deck building project can take a few weeks or longer to complete, so you need to get the planning phase started soon if you want to take advantage of having your deck this summer.
Although you’re hiring a professional contracting company to build the deck for you, it’s always a smart idea to at least become familiar with the main deck components. That way you can make an impact with your input during the deck design phase. So, without further ado, here is some useful information that’s all about residential decks. First and foremost, there are a few different types of deck materials that you need to choose from. Ultimately, your choice will affect the look, feel, and cost of the structure. For example, many decks across New England are built with pressure treated lumber.
Although pressure treated lumber isn’t the prettiest material, it’s structurally sound, and designed to last for long periods of time. In fact, the standard wood is treated with special chemicals that protect it from the weather, water and insect infiltration. Pressure treated lumber looks like normal wood but has a greenish, yellowish hue to it. The good news is that you can and should paint or stain pressure treated lumber every few years. You can choose whatever color or colors that you’d like. If you want to step up your game, you can choose to go with cedar wood, It’s a higher quality material then pressure treated lumber.
The natural wood weathers into a soft gray tone through the years. It’s lightweight and easy to work with. Cedar also contains natural tannins, which make it resistant to decay, infestation, and rot. Much like pressure-treated wood, cedar requires staining or seal coating every few years. If you really want to get fancy with wood, you can choose an exotic hardwoods such as Tigerwood, which is another good decking material option. The advantage of hardwoods is that they not only look amazing, they’re durable as well. In fact, the dense composition of hardwood makes them resistant to both infestation and rot.
Exotic hardwoods also contain natural tannins that work just like the chemicals that are added to pressure-treated lumber. Last, but certainly not least is composite decking. There are many types, but all are composed of various materials that are combined together to make a finished product. The material stands up well to environmental conditions and is available in many colors. Although the material isn’t as rich or deep as wood, it is incredibly low maintenance. For example, you don’t need to re-paint or re-stain it. Simply wash it off with a garden hose when the deck gets dirty.
For more information about our deck design and build services, or to schedule an initial consultation in Connecticut or Massachusetts please contact us today at 860-341-6373. DBC Solutions takes great pride in providing the highest quality custom carpentry and contracting services in the home improvement industry. Our business model has been the same for 17 years. Doing things the right way the first time every time is the only way to do it.
