BOARDS

MATERIALS

LAYOUT

The board is about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thinner than the listed measurement. Therefore, a 5/4" board is not five-quarters thick but is rather closer to 1-inch thick.

Most often, decking boards are about 4-inches wide. However, it is not uncommon for them to be 3-inches to about 6-inches in width. If you want to mix up the look of your deck, it is possible to vary the width across the space to create a pattern.

The color/finish of your deck is one of the most important decisions you will make when it comes to the final product.

Natural wood is the most traditional decking. Generally, a rot-resistant type of wood, such as cedar, is preferred. This is because your deck is exposed to all the elements throughout the year.

Composite decking is, just like it sounds, a mix of plastic and wood fibers that are held together by glue and have chemical additives. This decking is expensive but long-lasting compared to wood and even pressure-treated wood.

Pressure-treated lumber is created by forcing rot-resistant liquid chemicals into natural wood.

This material is usually a dark brownish greenish color but can also be relatively light - it depends on the pressure treatment process.