A well-built deck gives your home added curb appeal and increases your home’s value, but deciding the best wood for your home can be tough. Softwood, hardwood, and composite woods all have their distinct benefits and drawbacks. This guide touches on these three types of wood to help you decide which is best for your home.

3 Types of Wood for Decks

1. Softwood

Softwood comes from cone-bearing trees, such as fir, cedar, and pine. These species are fast-growing and easy to find.  This wood is versatile and beautiful and is often-pressure treated or chemically treated to add to its longevity. These woods are usually less expensive, but they also have higher maintenance requirements per year and have a shorter lifespan even after treatment.

2. Hardwood

Hardwood includes cherry, oak, redwood, and exotic trees like Brazilian walnut and Patagonian rosewood. Hardwoods are slow-growing and are very dense and difficult to cut or drill. These trees can be used for decks, but extra joints and supports should be added to replace the use of screws or nails. Exotic woods are very expensive and are rarely found at local suppliers, so there’s the added expense of the shipping cost as well. They don’t have to be treated, but a finish should be maintained yearly to extend their color and durability.

3. Composite Wood

Composite wood is becoming more popular and is considered the best wood for many projects. Composed of softwood particles and high-density polyethylene, they don’t have splinters, are insect and moisture resistant, and require minimal maintenance. Softwoods and some hardwoods are less expensive, but they require high maintenance costs compared to composite wood.

If you’re looking to build a new deck or repair an old one, then contact Jack The Carpenter in St. Paul, MN. For over 30 years this team has built garages and decks, and installed or repaired flooring, roofing, and many other carpentry projects all over the Twin Cities area. They’ll help you customize your home with the additions you’ve always wanted at some of the lowest rates in the industry. Visit their website to see some of their past projects, and call (651) 644-8896 to schedule a free estimate.