Dear AskMason:

My wife and I are planning to build a new deck soon. It seems like salt-treated wood is not used too much anymore. Why? We have heard about and seen Trex, as well as Ipe and other materials. We’re confused! Which is the best??

John in Goochland

John:

Advance congratulations on your upcoming improvements! A deck is a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoors in Central Virginia!

I love your question for two reasons: 1) Obviously, the deck material inquiry is one we deal-with regularly – there are SO many options. 2) The premise, “which is the best?” may apply to any of a number of selections one might make during remodeling, and I want to take that on in a general way.

To the latter interest, when one asks “which is the best?” whether it applies to picking a faucet, a brand / type of paint, or (yes, even) decking, there’s a long answer that I’ll try to spare you too much rambling…. “The best” depends on a balancing one’s personal interests and objectives. The basic interests might be purchase cost, quality of manufacture, beauty, and durability. Other concerns might include maintenance and lifecycle costs and effort, environmental friendliness, availability, ease of installation, ease of use and, oh you get it; I could go on and on.

So the determination of “the best” is usually up to you to determine what’s important to you. A knowledgeable professional regarding the subject should be able to help you decide the best “fit” in any product. For instance, internet shopping for a refrigerator will typically yield a picture, perhaps some technical specs (hey, what does THIS mean??) and price. A seasoned consultant in an appliance store might be able to talk about and demonstrate the finer aspects of various units – energy consumption, storage features, etc. Finding the best value for YOU will come from the receipt of great advice.

Regarding your deck material…. Yes, preservative treated wood is “on the outs”. While it’s still available as one of the less-costly options, life cycle and maintenance is nowhere near as great as some of the new synthetic – composites. Nor is it as beautiful as some of the fine exotic hardwoods that have become much more commonly available.

Composites (such as market-leader Trex) are typically low maintenance and now come in a variety of profiles and colors. They offer soft feel underfoot, and no splinters! Depending on product, they might be 2 – 6 times the cost of preservative-treated pine. There are also synthetics (plastics, mostly) that while even costlier, have a very “clean” look, and are less-susceptible to mildew that might plague a composite under certain conditions.

Lastly, there are also a variety of hardwoods, such as Ipe and mahogany. These may be left to weather naturally (typically turning silver-grey) or might be finished with a sealer / protectant. These can be quite beautiful, particularly when installed with a concealed fastener system. Usually these are high-dollar investments (the price of Ipe has more than doubled in recent years, as foreign interests buy it up). As well, environmentally-aware consumers should research whether the source is from rainforest harvest, as many of them are.

Research your options by viewing a variety of decking products at a full-service lumber yard in our area, such as Siewers or Massey Builders Supply. They should be very helpful in making your best choice.

Assuming that I’ve been of assistance, I look forward to your invitation over for a cold drink on your new deck this summer!

Mason