What is the best wood for building a deck?

Overall, our experts at Patio Productions recommend Cedar or Redwood as the best wood choice for outdoor decks. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, pressure treated wood is your next best option.

Should I use deck boards or 2×6?

2×6 is thicker and is stronger, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions. The primary function is to drain water from the deck. Gaps that are narrow (1/8”), can catch debris, specifically on top of the joists, and can be difficult to clean out.

Should you use pressure treated wood for a deck?

Pressure-treated lumber is the logical choice for the structural part of your deck—the posts, joists, beams and other members you normally don’t see. Pressure-treated lumber can support more weight and span longer distances than cedar, redwood or other woods commonly used for building decks.

How thick should deck boards be?

Common deck board thickness. The most commonly used thickness for deck construction is 1-1/4”. But you can also get boards 2” thick, while there are boards only ¾” thick.

How much does it cost to build a 20×20 deck?

The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10×10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14×20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20×20 deck. The cost to build a deck with pressure-treated wood, hardwood, or composite is about $25 per square foot, for both materials and installation.

Should you leave a gap between deck boards?

Proper wood deck board spacing should have at least a 1/8 inch gap after the decking has dried out. If you install your wood or treated deck boards while they are still wet boards, then they should be attached without a gap between them.

What size lumber is needed for a deck?

Commonly used joist sizes are 2-by-6, 2-by-8 and 2-by-10. For example, when you space joists 16″ apart — which is standard for residential decks — a deck spanning 9 1/2′ would require 2-by-6 joists, a 13′ deck would need 2-by-8 joists and a 16′ deck calls for 2-by-10 joists.

Is it cheaper to build your own deck?

For basic deck designs using the least expensive lumber, you can expect to pay from about $8 to $10 per square foot (depending on the material) of deck area if you do the work yourself or pay about $30 per square foot if the material is professionally installed.

Mahogany Wood Decking is the best long-term choice based on the exceptional lifespan of Mahogany lumber, and, even when neglected for years, a professional deck restoration company can refinish these exotic hardwoods to their original beauty.

What is the cheapest wood for a deck?

Pressure-treated wood is generally the cheapest decking material you can find, but it’s usually made from inferior-grades of wood. $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot. Cedar is widely available and makes for beautiful decking.

What kind of wood is needed to build a deck?

The three common choices when it comes to wood decks are redwood, cedar and pressure-treated wood that can be made of various types of wood species. Redwood and cedar are both naturally insect and rot resistant and have a natural look, but each has its own inherent issues.

What is the best lumber for decks?

When using natural wood for a deck, the top choice among homeowners in 2017 is red cedar. Many people choose cedar wood for decks because it is a solid softwood that is strong, durable and innately resistant to fire and rot. In addition, cedar is a great lumber to use in deck planks because it is inexpensive and easy to use.