How to Choose a Decking Material For DIY Enthusiasts

The beauty of natural wood decking is undeniable, but so is the fact that beauty comes with some drawbacks. In most climates, cedar and redwood decking must be refinished every two years or so to retain the desirable coloring and delay the natural decay of the material. This typically involves cleaning the wood with bleach and/or applying a chemical brightener, followed by a heavy coating of exterior stain. Most conventional stains are solvent-based and contain mildewcide and other chemicals that can pollute the air, your landscape, and your home.

Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant species. Higher grades of decking are cut from the heartwood at the center of the tree and are more resistant to rot than lower grades cut from the outer sapwood. This means that the better stuff comes from more mature trees and places greater stress on old-growth forests. The other type of decking is pressure-treated lumber, which comes from pine, fir, and other species of trees and must be chemically treated to withstand outdoor exposure.

If you're using cedar and redwood decking, the only green options are materials from FSC-certified sources or reclaimed lumber. You can also choose a low-toxicity, low-VOC stain/protectant for the decking. However, durability is still an issue, as wood decking often lasts only eight to ten years in many climates. That's why many green builders and homeowners are switching from solid wood decking to products made with recycled plastics. Many of these materials require no stain or sealer and can last 25 years or longer. But once again proving that there is no perfect solution, once composite decking is no longer usable it cannot be further recycled and degrades very slowly.

Wood composite decking is the most popular alternative to solid wood. It's typically made with recycled plastic and recycled or virgin wood fibers. The plastic gives the decking rot resistance, while the wood gives it strength, UV-protection, and a pleasing texture and appearance. Both plastic and wood composite decking can be cut, milled, and fastened just like wood decking. They're also highly resistant to cracking, splitting, and fading, unlike solid wood. Some decking products are made with vinyl and offer similar durability to other plastic decking, but the potential health risks of PVC make it undesirable as a decking material.

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