Spring time and taxes. Spring brings us out of the winter doldrums all pale and pasty and gently forces us into the sunny light and warm weather. This time of the year also brings an increase, however slight to construction and building projects around Colorado and the Front Range. Which brings us to another of life’s predictabilities; taxes. For some lucky folks this tax year bring refunds and many use this cash for remodeling projects for their homes. A good project might be building that deck you’ve always wanted. There are generally three options when it comes to decking materials; composite, non-wood and wood. This article will address common wood products used for decking in Colorado.
Currently, there are more choices for decking than ever before and wood is no longer the only option. Yet, wood decks are quite popular in Denver and across the Front Range despite the maintenance and cost. Redwood decks are some of the most common decks in Colorado, but redwood has its issues as does any wood decking product. Much of redwood for decking is now no longer from old growth but from new growth forests. This makes for a lower quality grade and decays faster, plus it’s getting more and more costly to use any redwood as decking material. Redwood is beautiful but it does need maintenance to be kept in its attractive redwood state. It should be power washed, stained, and some type of water repellent should be applied. How often depends on where the deck is situated. In an environment such as Colorado where the state receives about 300 days of sunshine plus extreme weather temperatures in summer and winter maintenance must be done regularly to keep redwood or any wood deck looking great.
Other popular types of wood used for decking are cedar. Cedar is a softwood like redwood and is comparable in price. Specialty Wood Products carries a wide variety of cedar and other specialty woods. Pressure treated lumber is the most economical of wood products but is not very stable. Any wood that is picked for decking comes with its own pros and cons so be sure to check with your contractor to pick the right one for your needs.
Looking for something exotic to use for your deck? There are tropical woods such as teak, mahogany and massaranduba to name a few. These woods are extremely hard and because of that bring their own set of problems, like simply hammering in a nail. Exotic woods are no doubt beautiful but it is critical that if you use exotic woods for your deck to find a contractor that has experience in building with this type of wood. Using exotic woods can be incredibly expensive too. If exotic woods are a must for your project check your sources carefully to be sure that they are harvested sustainably.
Decking choices for Colorado will continue with other non wood decking options that are great for Denver's unique climate.
Local lumber yards in Denver and the Front Range area
Alpine Lumber
ProBuild
Home Depot
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