Download A User`s Guide to Fencing & Decking Materials

General Deck Building
◊ What are your design and use goals? Which textures, colors and materials
will best compliment your home and yard? Figure out how you’d like to use your
deck and what message you want it to send.
◊ How long will this deck last? A well-built deck should last at least 15-20
years. At that point, you may need to revisit the deck’s foundation and shore up any
weak framing or posts. Decks made of pressure-treated wood may last 50 years
or more. High-quality cedar, with few knots and strong, tight grain, will also last
50 years or more. Exotic hardwoods, such as teak, are quite expensive, but they
will probably last longer than 40 years. Synthetic decks usually come with their
own warranties, which cover anywhere from 25-100 years. Of course, if you do not
maintain your deck properly, it will not meet these longevity estimates.
Cedar deck with built-in hot tub
A User’s Guide to Fencing and Decking Materials
◊ How much weight should
this deck hold? If you’re hiring a
contractor, he or she will take care
of the structural concerns for you.
A deck made primarily for walking
and standing on doesn’t need
extraordinary supports. However,
a deck with an inset hot tub is a
completely different story—when it’s
full of water and people, a hot tub can
weigh as much as a minivan.
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