Deck Material Selection

When selecting the right material to use on your deck a number of factors are considered.

• How much maintenance is needed
• How durable is the product
• Will it outlast other decking
• Look of the material
• Final cost of the product

It is important to keep a few of these in mind when choosing the right decking material. The Deck & Door Company offers many different types of material including cedar, composites, exotic woods and pressure treated lumber. We are familiar with all of these and have a wide variety of each product. Currently, we stock several composite decking at our warehouse along with kiln dried Architectural Knotty western red cedar.

As a company who has been in this buisness for over 30 years, there are certain products we recommend over others. If you don’t see something you are looking for, we have the luxury of being able to have almost any product delivered directly to our store.

Maintenance becomes one of the most important elements once your decking has been laid. You want to keep that same look as when it was install for as long as possible. Some materials require more maintenance than others, therefore, you will spend more time working on your deck. The damage effects of weather to unprotected wood can begin immediately. Rain, melting snow, and morning dew are quickly absorbed by unprotected wood causing it to soften and swell. The sun’s heat causes drying, which makes the wood shrink. These cycles of wet and dry, swelling and shrinking, cause wood to warp, split, and crack. Add to that the damaging effects of moss and algae, which use the wood for their source of food. Without cleaning and sealing, these factors lead to shortened wood life and expensive repairs and replacement.