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!

Natural Wood continues to be the top choice for decks due to its natural beauty, versatility and longevity.

During the 50's and 60'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.

Designs became more complex. These intricate designs required more trim. More ornate trims and mouldings created more areas for gunk to collect. These areas stayed wet, causing the deck to fail prematurely.

Construction methods should have been adjusted to allow for venting. Small debris must be able to pass through the deck. The deck has to dry completely between rain events. These considerations have been completely overlooked by nearly every deck builder! But not us! Our designs allow for these important considerations. That's why our decks outlast all others and we are able to offer a lifetime guarantee...

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!

As these more intricate yet improperly designed wood decks began having problems with wood rot, 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 became more prevalent. It was around this time that composite decking exploded in popularity as well. 

Any man-made outdoor structure or space will require some form of maintenance (including composite decking and brick pavers).

Maintaining a wood deck doesn't have to be a nightmare. Maintenance on a deck that was built correctly is pretty simple. The fact that natural wood is maintainable is actually a good thing!

Click here to find out how to maintain a wood deck.

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 resistant--just like today's wood plastic composites. The problem 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. (We are finding that the same is true for composite decking).

The key is to build a structure that dries between rain events and allows debris to pass through it. A deck that is properly vented will last decades longer than one that stays wet all the time, regardless of the material used to construct it. 

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 staining every other year. (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? 

This is a deck we built 2 years ago. It recently received its first biannual maintenance process and was stained with TWP1501 (pictured).