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There is plenty going on in the housing and construction industry and we want to share some fantastic, cool, groovy and helpful information with you. We are going to use our insight and local expertise to help you save time, money and surmount obstacles of all kinds. So, settle in and enjoy.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la la la la la,
‘Tis the season to be jolly
… and take care of your decks, build decks and enjoy decks.
Sandy: Tom, that is not an easy task taking care of decks, deciding on what material to use since not all decks are created equal.
Tom: In our climate, outdoor living is almost a requirement and given our mountainous terrain, we often need to construct an area for outdoor enjoyment well above the ground: the deck!
Sandy: If a homeowner does not have a deck, where does he or she start? Material selection? Site and layout design? Is there a basic rule of thumb?
Tom: Start with a few basics as you contemplate your deck design. Typically, when a deck is constructed, the surface is about 30” from the surrounding ground. This can vary to some extent and the distance is generated by building codes. The clearance from the bottom of the deck joists to the ground needs to be 18” if constructed with Douglas fir standard dimensional lumber. Treated lumber will allow you to get closer to the ground. It is standard to either paint or seal the deck frame prior to applying the surface deck material.
Sandy: When does the requirement and building code for railing come into play? I would think that the design of the railing is an important function of your view shed when seated on the deck. I have seen very cool railings that are made from clear glass, plastic and even wrought iron to add to the design of the deck.
Tom: If you do build 30” or higher from the ground, you will need a railing – that is code. The real decisions, aside from orientation, dimensions and shape are what type of material to use for the decking itself. Let’s look at three popular choices.
Sandy: With the section of deck materials the homeowner must also be aware of and consider maintenance. I would guess, Tom, that the most popular of desk materials would be wood. Probably, cedar and redwood because they are naturally resistant to insects and rot.
Tom: Yes, cedar and redwood are the number one choices for deck material. These products need to be sealed with a deck sealer that provides protection from the sun’s UV rays. Typically, this should be done every two years.
Sandy: I would think other choices for decking surface material are composites. For our readers, composites are generally products that are composed of predominately recycled material.
Tom: Composite decking is typically manufactured from wood, reclaimed wood, sawdust and chips, bound together in a plastic material. Decking is now more than a $9 billion industry and is growing daily.
Sandy: Now we have evolved into a greener society and today, if cost is not a factor, the greenest decking is a plantation-grown wood product that is naturally resistant to rot and bugs and does not need further preservative treatment. Eco-friendly decking includes black locust or tamarack or domestic and tropical woods (redwood and teak) and all are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Nowadays, we all want our decking to last for many years without maintenance and that alone is a big challenge.
Tom: If homeowners are weary of maintenance, and we are becoming a “greener society,” I am all for composite deck materials. The great things about composites is they look and act like wood. Popular manufacturers known for sustainable products are TREX, NEXWOOD and TIMBERTECH. These products have been known to last for up to 20 years with little maintenance; however, you must keep in mind that all of these products will weather and some warping may occur. Composite decking is as strong as wood; it looks and feels like wood. When selecting this type of decking, it is important to verify how well this product holds fasteners, so discuss this with your contractor.
Sandy: There are also plastic deck products, vinyl or PVC decking and all of these products are considered “green.” Again, eco-friendly composite decks made from a blend of recycled wood and plastic and processed with earth-friendly manufacturing processes, reclaiming factory waste and eliminating the use of harmful chemicals are the wave of the future.
Tom: It is not easy being green and the good thing is that locally sourced reclaimed wood that would otherwise end up in a landfill finds its way into many high-performance composite decks. By using reclaimed sawdust, “green decking” companies never have to cut down a tree to make their products.
Sandy: The recycled wood in TREX decks is combined with recycled plastic film from a variety of sources ranging from the overwrap on paper towels to dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves and grocery and shopping bags. The average 500-square foot composite TREX deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags! That makes TREX one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S. As one of the largest plastic film recyclers in the U.S., TREX saves 400 million pounds of plastic film and wood from landfills each year.
Tom: It is important to note that a deck is like the space inside your residence. It needs regular cleaning and maintenance to remain habitable and safe. Decks made of composites require less maintenance than wooden decks, but there’s no such thing as a self-cleaning deck or a deck that lasts forever. By doing what’s good for the wood and avoiding what’s not, however, you’ll get more life from your outdoor living space.
Sandy: Here are some DOs and DONTs for deck cleaning.
Sandy: DO CLEAN. Decks need exfoliation so protective sealers can seep deeper into the wood. When it’s dry and moderately warm – 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit – apply an appropriate deck-cleaning solution with a roller or sprayer to kill mold and bacteria. Use a utility brush to scrub the deck where it’s especially dirty and where mold or mildew might lurk. (Power washers and pressure washers are the quickest way to clear residue, but you risk gouging the wood. A garden hose outfitted with any nozzle that has a hard-stream setting will work; a “fireman” nozzle, found in auto-parts stores, delivers an intense spray without the risks associated with a pressure washer.)
Tom: DON’T CLEAN THE DECK WITH CHLORINE BLEACH. Unless, of course, you don’t mind stripping the wood of its natural color and damaging its cellular structure. Oxygen bleach is an all-purpose alternative that won’t wash out colors or harm plants, but it’s still not appropriate for redwood.
Sandy: DO SAND your deck before sealing. It can take up to 48 hours for the deck to fully dry. At that point, lightly sand the surface to remove splintery or fuzzy patches caused by pressure-washing the deck. A pole sander with 80-grit sandpaper will suffice; a power sander is overkill. Then seal the deck to protect from cracking, cupping, and warping. A clear sealer lasts longer; a tinted stain or sealant fades quickly with lots of foot traffic. Paint looks nice when it’s first applied, but it looks downright distressed before long. If you then decide to refinish the deck with an alternative sealant, you’ll need to first remove all the paint with a stripper or sander.
Tom: DON’T ASSUME that pressure-treated wood is maintenance-free. It might resist rot and insect infestation, but pressure-treated wood still needs to be cleaned and sealed to withstand water and solar damage. Use products made for pressure-treated wood.
Sandy: DO BE VIGILANT ABOUT DAMAGE. This is an important issue. Inspect periodically for soft or splintered spots, loose nails and deck attachments, and split or rotten planks.
Tom: DON’T USE NATURAL MATERIALS UNDER DECK FURNITURE. Protect the wood deck from scrapes inflicted by chair and table legs, but don’t use natural fiber rugs such as jute and bamboo. These absorb moisture and promote mildew. Rugs made of recycled plastics won’t cause these problems, and they’ll last longer.
So, with this information, you are now better prepared to concentrate on the fun part of designing your deck, selecting the material and determining how to care for your deck to make your outdoor living go from good to GREAT!
Thanks for stopping in “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. See you next month. QCBN
Welcome to At Home With Tom and Sandy!
Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com
Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040.
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