Why You Need Pressure-Treated Wood For Your Deck
Planning to add a deck to your home? From the aesthetics to the extra outdoor living space and entertainment area for your guests, the benefits of decking are unlimited. However, this requires proper planning, material selection and installation. Choosing the wrong decking materials, for instance, can significantly impact the costs, durability, strength and efficiency of your deck. With several material options to choose from, finding the right one can be overwhelming for first-time deck owners. For this reason, you will need to assess several options like durability, maintenance and aesthetics. Generally, wood is one of the most sought-after options. But it also comes in several variations with different pros and cons. For instance, here are three reasons why pressure-treated wood may be your best option.
Excellent Durability
Durability is critical when choosing your decking materials. You will want to invest in long-lasting solutions, and pressure-treated wood is an excellent place to start. It's resistant to several elements that would otherwise compromise the longevity of natural wood. For instance, pressure-treated wood has excellent moisture-resistant properties. Generally, natural wood is highly susceptible to moisture damage. It can soften quickly with continued exposure to moisture, allowing the growth of fungi and bacteria, and consequently may decompose before the end of its service life. However, pressure-treated wood contains chemical compounds that prevent fungal growth, allowing your deck to last longer.
Insects like termites and carpenter ants can wreak havoc on your wooden decking if left unchecked. They can compromise your deck's structural integrity by boring through the wood and weakening it. And while you can use a range of insect-proofing solutions to keep them away, you will need to do this frequently, which could be costly in the long term. Pressure-treated wood can be a better solution. The chemical compounds used to treat the wood improve its insect repellence.
Fire damage is always a threat to the longevity of wooden structures, especially if you live in an area prone to bushfires. The treatment of this material typically entails injecting fire-retardant chemicals, allowing it to resist fire damage up to a certain extent.
Cost Efficiency
Cost is another reason to consider pressure-treated wood. Compared to other decking materials like stone, concrete, metals like steel or aluminium, and even other wood types like redwood and cedar, pressure-treated wood is typically less expensive, making it ideal if you are on a tight budget.
Low-Level Maintenance
Pressure-treated wood decking also comes with relatively fewer maintenance demands. For instance, it's resistant to water damage, rot, and insects that would otherwise call for regular preventive maintenance.
Contact a deck builder for more information.