- Deck building hint

What to use when building a deck is always the question!

Decks can be built to be maintenance friendly or sweat equity not so friendly... lets deal with the first one "maintenance friendly".

Consider using a composite product such as Timbertech -70% wood fibre and 30% polymar plastic. Looks like wood, feels like wood, greys like wood in the sunshine but requires no staining or painting and screws down using deck screws. It is tongue and groove and allows water to drain through its unique drain hole system. Sound interesting..you bet! Ask the building department for further information.

Now for the 2 nd not so friendly real wood. No, I am not anti natural wood fibre but it does have to be maintained every 2 - 4 years depending on exposure to the natural elements. If you insist on real wood use western red cedar or 5/4 x 4 treated pine or spruce applied to pressure treated joists. Use the deckster galvanized strips to give a nail less face to the deck surface. Finish with a natural deck oil after preparing the surface with mill glaze remover.

Article courtesy of: Shell Busey