Decking Out Your House

Decks are used just as much as indoor living space in Southern California. Not only are they practical, but also a good financial investment. As I stated in my last column, building either a wooden deck or a composite deck will give you a great return on your money. However, navigating through the process of building a deck can be overwhelming, since homeowners have so many options for decking material.

The first step is proper planning and design. It is important to make sure the design compliments the house.

Part of the design process is choosing the decking material. In the past, it was a choice between kinds of wood. Today, there are many composite deck options as well. Composite decks are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastics. Strands of fiberglass are pulled through polyester resins to coat the fibers and then through a dye to give the product the desired color. Some manufacturers even incorporate wood byproducts such as wood chips and sawdust into their manufacturing process.

Be wary. Heralded as being low maintenance, long lasting and environmentally friendly, composite decking materials also claim to be termite- and water-resistant and able to withstand the sun with no cracking and splintering. Sound too good to be true? Probably because it is.

Composite decks do need to be cleaned a couple of times a year to keep them looking good. What's more, the types of composite decking that use wood in their manufacturing process have a tendency to grow mold, since the woods that are typically used in the composite are not durable for outdoor use. The wood will absorb moisture and over time mold will start to grow and will be virtually impossible to get rid of. Bleach or a non-bleach alternative can clean it, but the mold will reappear with time.

Another issue with composite decking is scratching and staining. Unlike wood, it can't be refinished. So, even though it's long lasting, homeowners may consider replacing it after the wear and tear of a few years. And since composite cannot be recycled, the deck material you throw away will last forever in a landfill.Doesn't sound too environmentally friendly, does it?

Among the many options for building a durable and beautiful wooden deck is red cedar, which is a reddish brown wood that turns silvery gray when it ages. It endures all types of weather quite well, though it can splinter because it is a soft wood. Using a good penetrating stain will enhance both the durability and the beauty of red cedar.

Similar to cedar, redwood is a soft wood that will also turn gray as it ages. While excessive moisture will cause redwood to blacken, it is a great material to use for a Southern California deck since we don't get much rain. Generally, a redwood deck will resist rot, but it will look even more beautiful if you protect the wood with a sealer. Find an older redwood that has a deep color, as the white parts of young redwood contain sapwood, which is not resistant to termites or rot.

Another option for a beautiful wooden deck is Philippine mahogany, a tight-grained hardwood that will withstand insects and rot. Mahogany will age to a silvery color, or you can treat it with marine oil so it looks like teak.

Mangaris wood is another popular choice for decking. It is reddish brown and dense grained. Untreated, mangaris will age to a gray color like teak. When stained it will resemble the rich color of mahogany. It is a very durable wood with a price tag to match - typically 10 to 20 percent more expensive than cedar or redwood.

As with all woods, check for a Forest Stewardship Certified label to ensure your choice of wood has been harvested with sustainable methods. Remember that wooden decks need maintenance to preserve their beauty and durability. Refinishing and restaining decks helps to expand the lifespan of a deck.

Although composite decks seem great in theory, in actuality they are just an imitation of a wooden deck. Imitation may be a form of flattery, but it is certainly not a form of functionality.

Jared Boudreaux owns Artisan Restorations, a construction business specializing in construction management, historical preservation and eco-building. Send questions to artisanrestorations@cox.net.