Natural Wood Decking
Nothing looks better or fits more seamlessly into your outdoor space than a natural wood deck! However, it has to be built correctly with a "vented" deck frame. All connection points must be able to drain through, allowing the deck to completely dry between rain events. If you do this, and you maintain it every other year, it will literally last a lifetime and beyond. We guarantee it!
Wood Decking continues to be the top choice for decking due to its versatility and longevity.
During the 1950's and 1960's the popularity of backyard decks grew as Americans sought to extend and improve the living spaces of their new suburban homes. But decks really came into their own in the 1980's when homeowners began to think of their outdoor decks as an extension of their indoor living space.
Most homes built from about 1980 to about 2010 are designed to have decks on them. As a matter of fact, it causes a problem if there isn't a deck because the back door is often times several feet off the ground. The architect designed the home to accept the deck and maybe even designed both at the same time. So, it's safe to say we Americans love having a space for outdoor living!
After around 2010, architects starting getting away from the "automatically includes a back deck" thing they had been doing. We started to see more creative designs that eliminated the need for a back deck. More doors being placed at ground level is one example. Simple stone patios like brick pavers and stamped concrete really gained in popularity.
Why the change?
Anyone who has owned a wood deck knows the answer to this question!
Maintenance!
But it doesn't have to be a nightmare. When you do it correctly, it's pretty simple really. Click here to find out how.
It turns out that we love having a deck, but we do not love taking care of it!
There are parallels to the composite decking movement and the cedar/redwood/treated wood decking movement of the 1980's. Here in Michigan, cedar decking really gained in popularity in the 1980's because it was marketed as being naturally rot and bug proof--just like today's wood plastic composites. The problem with natural wood decking is that it wasn't exactly true. Yes it is naturally resistant to water and insect damage, but you still have to maintain it. And eventually, if water collects and sits, it will rot. Mold and insect activity will eventually take hold. However, we are finding that the same is true for wood plastic composite decking. It also needs maintenance. If it stays wet, the freeze thaw cycle will degrade the material. If it isn't kept clean, mold will grow and insects will come. The longer it has been in use, the more we are seeing that it doesn't hold up quite as well as they said it would.
The 2020's have brought a much greater understanding of all the different materials. This has spawned the "Mass Timber" movement. Architects, designers, builders and homeowners are now seeing that there are some huge benefits of using natural wood materials (again). It's interesting to note that as Trex has gained popularity and decking has gravitated toward non-wood options, building construction is moving toward natural wood as a better option:
60 Minutes--Inside America's Mass Timber Movement
PBS--Mass Timber Ascent Project
Benefits of using wood decking
Renewable, Recyclable, and Sustainable, Biodegradable (Provides carbon sequestration when growing, helping mitigate greenhouse gas emissions--when harvested responsibly).
Tensile strength and flexibility (natural wood strands are much stronger and more flexible than pressed composite materials)
Durability and longevity (species used for outdoor decking is naturally resistant to growth, decay, insect damage)
Energy Efficiency (Resists heat and electricity, absorbs sound)
Lightweight and easy to work with (can be milled into different forms on-site, more adaptable)
Aesthetics (It looks better. Fits into the landscape more naturally)
Cost effective (No manufacturing process. Its light weight allows it to be moved easier)
Drawbacks of natural wood decking
Requires a more involved regular maintenance process (5 step power wash and stain process every other year)
Could be more prone to rot and insect damage (than plastic, steel or concrete--not pressed wood plastic composite)
Inconsistent (not completely straight, knots, grain patterns)
Scarcity and non sustainable logging practices present in the industry. Rainforest woods being used for decking.
Cost (becoming a factor--composite will eventually be cheaper than wood)
Natural wood decking continues to be the most popular decking choice--and for good reason...
Economical, Beautiful, Versatile, Long lasting, Recyclable, Biodegradable, and...
Maintainable! (Yes, that's a good thing! You can sand it, mill it, stain it, etc.)
What's not to like?
Picture taken summer 2024 of a cedar deck we built 17 years ago. The deck has been refinished every other year, no more and no less. Picture was taken in the middle of our 5 step refinishing process. Deck was stripped, washed, and brightened. I snapped the pic on the day I came to stain it with TWP Cedartone Natural (this is same stain it has had applied every other year since it was built in 2008).
