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There are many types of wood to choose from when building a deck. There are also composite materials that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Mahogany, ipe, and cedar are a few of the woods that can make beautiful decks. Different hardwoods and exotic woods can be quite expensive but if protected, can last for many years. The most popular choice for a wooden deck is pressure treated wood. It is less expensive than some of the other woods but still makes for a durable and beautiful deck. Pressure treated wood will also last a very long time if correctly maintained and protected. Cleaning decks and waterproofing them with a deck sealer is important to the longevity of the deck no matter what type of wood it is. Contrary to what a lot of people think, pressure treated lumber does need to be protected with a deck sealer. There is some confusion because it is called pressure “treated” lumber. Many people believe that it is already treated or protected from the elements. The chemical that pressure treated lumber is treated with at the lumber mill is to deter bugs and insects from eating the wood. The chemical treatment does not protect against the sun or water damage, it is still necessary to protect the wood with a sealer. Another popular choice for decks in recent years is composite man-made material. This material can make a nice deck but it also needs to be maintained on a regular basis. Many companies actually sell this composite material as “maintenance free” and have homeowners that are sick of maintaining their wooden decks buying into it. Many homeowners have actually had their wooden decks tore down to have a composite deck built in its place. Unfortunately, this material is not maintenance free and there are many lawsuits and cases of homeowners suing these companies because of it. Composite decking is about 50% plastic and 50% wood. Both of these materials are susceptible to the elements. Because of the wood that is present, this material will turn grey just like a wooden deck, and the plastic will collect mold, mildew, and algae just like vinyl siding, and vinyl fencing. Composite deck cleaning and maintenance is not as involved as cleaning wood decks, but it is still necessary. There are even composite deck sealers on the market to protect the material. The fact that these materials are sold as maintenance free is a shame and should be considered false advertising. Many of these companies have filed bankruptcy and closed the doors only to start up under a different name. This isn’t to say that composite material does not make a nice deck because it does, just do not be fooled into thinking it does not have to be maintained as does a wooden deck. As mentioned earlier, plastic will also collect green mold and mildew, so a 100% vinyl deck or fence is not going to get you away from maintenance either. The vinyl will not have to be sealed but it will need to be cleaned and maintained in order to keep it free of mold and mildew.
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