Decks are evolving, so make sure you’re aware of the best products on the market
Over the years, decks have evolved from structures that simply held a grill and maybe a few chairs for the occasional outdoor dining experience, to now, what we see as fully furnished outdoor rooms equipped with fireplaces, TVs, and many other amenities that are usually found indoors. Fortunately, the experts at GRAYCO have stayed on top of these ever-changing trends, and are equipped with the knowledge to guide homeowners through the maze of products available. Regardless of how one chooses to design their deck, there are a few key components that must be discussed before construction begins.
Sub-Structure: Just like a house, the bones of any deck start with the foundation and framing. Timbers, joists, and stair stringers are all vital to the sub-structure of a deck. There are certain factors that might influence what materials are chosen. For example, is it a second story deck? If joists are visible from a patio below, or an under decking system is to be installed, a homeowner might want to opt for a higher grade of framing to be used that provides four square edges. Prime grades of framing lumber from YellaWood® brand pressure treated pine provide for minimal bark edges, and will look better than a comparable grade of lumber without a prime designation. Another question to consider is airflow. Will skirting be used on a lowlevel deck? If so, framing and decking components will need to be treated at ground contact retention levels, since they will be subjected to high moisture levels with reduced airflow.
Good
Better
Best
Decking: Two choices: Wood or composite, right? Wrong. These days, there are many choices and even more confusion. The best way to navigate is to think “Good-Better-Best” in each respective category.
Wood: Wood is available in Standard (Good), Premium (Better), and C&Btr (Best) Grades of YellaWood®. Take your choice a step further by requesting that your decking material be KDAT, or Kiln-Dried After Treatment. Normally, treated decking arrives wet, since it has recently been treated with a preservative. With KDAT decking, the material is shipped dry, so one can paint, stain and seal immediately making it less susceptible to weathering.
Composite: “Composite” tends to be a catch-all term for the category, but in reality, some composites aren’t true composites at all. An example of a “Good” rating would be TimberTech EDGE® 3-Sided Capped Composite; Better would be TimberTech PRO® 4-Sided Capped Composite; and Best would be TimberTech AZEK® 4-Sided Capped Polymer.
We’ll use the brand TimberTech® as our example, since they have a product line-up that follows a “Good-Better-Best” guide for simplicity. When looking at a piece of decking, there is a cap and a core. The cap is a very thin layer that provides texture and protection for the core. When comparing a three-sided capped vs. four-sided capped, one will notice that the three-sided cap stops just below the shoulder of the board leaving the bottom open. In the best category, a product like TimberTech AZEK® actually has a core made of a full polymer. A polymer will be lighter and won’t absorb as much heat, making it an ideal choice for a deck in full sun or even a dock.
Fasteners: The days of nailing down a deck are coming to an end. Comparatively speaking, screws do a better job of holding tension, and they combat boards pulling-up with their spiral threads. As far as overall application, some screw materials will perform better than others. For example, a deck over saltwater will need stainless fasteners, while an inland deck might use epoxy coated. There’s also aesthetics to consider. Do you want screws visible, or not?
Railing: Arguably, railing has the most effect on curb appeal, as it is laterally visible to neighbors and passersby. In the traditional wood category, an option is to use various forms of balusters from YellaWood® with the top rail using their MasterDeck® product. MasterDeck® is a radius-edged 2×6 made from highgrade lumber, perfect for a drink-rail application. A simple upgrade might be using metal balusters on that same design. Maybe you want a composite railing to match your composite deck. TimberTech® has many options and colors from which to choose. Additionally, metal railing is available as a style. Railing is truly an area where you can customize several options to meet your desire.
Fascia/Trim: Similar to railing, fascia and trim boards are highly visible to onlookers. These are easy DIY upgrades that make a big impact on aesthetics. Whether it is high-grade architectural trim from YellaWood® or composite fascia from AZEK, the experts from GRAYCO can help you.
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