For homeowners who are thinking of adding a deck to their home, the most essential component to consider is the type of material being used in the construction of your home improvement project. This choice may be greatly influenced by the region of the country where the home is located.
Residences that see higher rates of precipitation or extended periods of freezing temperatures may want to utilize composite decking material instead of natural or pressure-treated wood. The reason being that these outdoor decks will be subjected to the impacts of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. If your deck isn’t prepared to withstand such types of abuse, you may find yourself with a deck that requires repair or even replacement when the summer months come around. Visit G&B Quality Cedar Products to see if your decking boards needs treating.
So how do you go about choosing the best deck materials for homes located in cold climates? There are are some essential factors to keep in mind:
Durability
As most deck contractors lake oswego and they will tell you that composite decking is your best option for building a deck to withstand cold climates. That’s because composite decking is a combination of wood and plastic, reducing the rate of expansion and contraction that is likely to occur through the various changes in temperature from one season to the next.
Moisture
Absorption Since most cold climates come with routine precipitation in the form of ice, snow, sleet and so on, you want to be sure your decking is resistant to the absorption of moisture. Too much of it in your decking materials can promote water damage, rot, and mold and mildew.
But not with composite decking. You need not worry about your deck drying faster and resisting moisture because composite materials won’t allow water to adhere to the surface or become absorbed into the boards.
Natural woods are much more vulnerable to the negative effects of water and moisture absorption, not to mention the impact that melting and re-freezing of ice and snow can have on the structural integrity of the decking material.
Mold Growth
The same factors that reduce moisture’s ability to permeate the deck are also very helpful in reducing the effects of mold and mildew growth. Choosing a composite decking material will ward off the possibility of mold and mildew developing inside or on the surface of the deck. Allowing moisture to get stuck underneath the various environmental contaminants that easily stick to most types of wood can result in mold growth.
But composite decking resists adherence of most anything to its surface, that includes water, dirt, dust, and other environmental debris that can dull the appearance of the material and promote moisture absorption and the growth of mildew.
Long-Lasting
Finally, when choosing a decking material for cold climates, you want something that will last for a long time. Composite is probably your best choice here as well, since many composite decking manufacturers offer limited warranties with their product that can last up to 25 years. Whichever type of decking you ultimately select, be sure it’s built to last for as long as you own your home.
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