Deck Board Materials

Softwood

• Redwood ranges in color from brilliant pink to red. It is stable with minimal shrinkage and is resistant to rot. Stain redwood every couple of years to maintain the color. Cedar is light tan to to dark pink, and resistant to decay. Stain and seal cedar as soon as possible if you do not want it to weather. Yellow pine naturally is pale yellow to light honey in color, but yellow pine decking boards are greenish because of chemical preservatives commonly used in pine decking boards. Yellow pine is a common, economical lumber for decks.

Hardwood and Exotic Wood

• Mahogany is dark red to brown. It is a dense, tight-grained wood resistant to rot. It is particularly valuable for use in moist climates. Ipe, also called Brazilian ebony, is dark olive brown. It is extremely durable and is naturally resistant to rot and insects. Teak is dark golden yellow to rich brown, and is suitable for moist climates and marine environments. It is naturally resistant to insects and rot.

Additional Facts About Wood Decking

• Softwoods often are pressure-treated with a chemical preservative to extend the life of the wood. Knowing the safety data on treated wood is important; safety data may be obtained from the retailer if wood is not directly labeled.

  Hardwoods are more expensive than softwoods, but they last longer and are more dimensionally stable and resistant to rot and insects. Kiln-dried wood is resistant to shrinking, warping and twisting.

  Decking wood is labeled with a tag on the end to indicate the board's suitable usage. Some wood is suitable for direct ground contact while others are not.

Composite Wood

• Composite wood decking is available as an alternative to solid wood. Composite wood is a mixture of wood with resin or plastic. Manufacturers claim composite decking requires low maintenance. Boards made from composite wood are dimensionally stable and do not warp or splinter. Some of the problems with composite wood are fading, scratching and mildew. Manufacturers of composite decks have addressed many of the problems with specialty products for maintenance, staining and sealing.