You have probably watched several movies featuring modern houses with outdoor spaces. The thought of having the same decking in your own home would have crossed your mind. While this can make for a beautiful garden landscape, an extension to your home, or a patio, the complexities of building a deck require that you first get yourself acquainted with the basics.
Apart from the planning and layout, it will also be crucial to select the right material for your desired decking.
Mataverde Decking has been in the industry for more than 60 years, supplying materials to architects, builders, homeowners, and others. They provide a variety of materials ranging from decking to rain screens and many more. As with other construction projects, it will be crucial to select the right decking material for the design, cost, functionality, and sturdiness.
Softwood Decking
Softwood decking comes from wood that grows much faster, making it cheaper to produce and consequently cheaper to purchase as well. However, since softwood is less dense than hardwood, it may degrade quicker and has a higher tendency to splinter, warp, or crack. If you choose this material for your decking, it will be necessary to properly maintain it to ensure it lasts for a long time.
Pressure-treated wood is usually the preferred option for softwood decking as the preservatives treated into the wood to protect it from quickly deteriorating or decaying. Softwood decking is generally a common choice given that it’s more cost-efficient and is easier to install.
Hardwood Decking
Hardwood materials are denser than softwood materials but still vary in density, with some having medium density and others having high density. The nature of hardwood makes them more resistant to unfavorable conditions.
- IPE
IPE, a high-density hardwood native to South America, is known to be resistant to many of the things that deck builders try to avoid: insects, rot, unfavorable weather, and others.
Mataverde Decking, for instance, offers IPE decking that lasts longer than most hardwood given the natural durability and strength of the wood. IPE is commonly used for heavy-duty projects such as industrial flooring and railroad trails. Because of its desirable characteristics, IPE is more expensive and unfortunately also overharvested as they are rare in their natural environments.
- Garapa
Garapa is another high-density hardwood that is native to Brazil. It is less dense compared to IPE but still denser than most decking materials. It can resist most conditions, including termite attacks, which also makes it a more affordable option as a decking material. It does not require high maintenance and may be left to weather naturally, with the occasional cleaning-up of accumulated dirt.
There are certainly more softwood and hardwood decking materials available in the market, as well as a variety of materials not limited to wood. For example, plastic and aluminum are also used in building decks. In terms of beautifying your home, options are also not limited to merely building decks. For example, Mataverde Decking also offers rain screen systems that help you manage moisture in your homes.
Selecting the material you intend to use for your preferred decking is only one out of many factors that you must consider before the actual construction of your deck. Because of this, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the whole process of how decking works. If possible, it will also help to consult someone who specializes in the field or is well-versed with the different types of materials used.
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