Construction

1:14 AM

Once you’ve made some basic decisions about your deck design, it’s time to think about the more technical aspects of your deck.

 Wood or Composite?

 Most contractors consider cedar to be the best organic material for decking. On the other hand, today’s composite materials are durable and require less maintenance than genuine wood decking. (Because composite decking has low tensile strength, you should use pressure-treated wood for the footings.)

 The Importance of Fasteners

 Most experts recommend using screws to hold decks in place. They have a high draw strength, which is the amount of pull required to tug the fastener out of the decking material. Nails have much lower draw strength than screws, which are also easier to take out than nails; however, screws are more costly and time-consuming. To prevent stain wood stains, use galvanized and corrosion-resistant fasteners.
Alternatively, many contractors recommend using deck clips to secure the deck boards to the framework. Deck clips fasten from beneath the boards, which means unlike screws, they remain hidden. They also don’t require you to drill into the deck boards, eliminating issues such as splitting or seepage of water into the wood. You can typically choose to have your deck built with deck clips for an extra fee.