Every deck we build starts with the same question: what should it be made of? Here's how we explain the options to homeowners in Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess, Fairfield and Litchfield counties, where decks take a beating from snow, ice, sun and humidity.
Pressure-treated pine
The least expensive option and still the most common. Treated Southern yellow pine resists rot and insects because of the chemicals forced into it, and a well-maintained deck lasts about 15 years. The catch is maintenance: it will check, splinter and turn grey unless it's cleaned and sealed every two to three years. Use stainless or coated fasteners, since the treatment is corrosive to plain steel, and never burn the offcuts.
Cedar and redwood
Cedar costs roughly three times what treated pine does. It has natural oils that resist rot and bugs, it's light and stable, and it takes stain well. It is soft, though, so it dents under furniture and heavy traffic, and it needs the same wash-and-reseal routine as pine to keep its color. Redwood is similar but harder to get on the East Coast and more expensive. Figure on 20 years with care.
Tropical hardwoods
Ipe, cumaru and similar woods are dense, heavy and beautiful, and they last 25 years or more. They're also expensive and hard to work: every screw needs a pre-drilled hole. Dark hardwoods get very hot in full sun, which matters on a south-facing deck. If you want a deck that looks like fine furniture and you have the budget, this is it.
Composite and PVC
Composite boards blend plastic with wood fiber; PVC boards are all plastic. Neither splinters, rots or needs staining, and both come in realistic wood-grain colors with built-in UV resistance. They cost more up front than treated pine and they need a scrub now and then to keep mildew off, but over the life of the deck the cost is comparable once you count the staining you didn't have to do. This is what most of our customers choose today.
What we recommend
For a budget deck you're willing to maintain, pressure-treated frame and decking. For most homeowners, a pressure-treated frame with composite decking and railings: the structure is cheap and strong, the surface is low-maintenance. For a showpiece, hardwood. Whatever you choose, the frame, footings and flashing matter more than the boards. Those are what keep a deck safe for twenty years.
Thinking about a new deck or a rebuild? See our deck construction page or request a free estimate.