Materials we use

Wood is the original material used in decking. It is the least expensive product to use. The wood most often used is pressure treated pine. Other types of woods used may include cedar, Ipe* or some other hardwood. Pressure treated wood is chemically treated to resist rot, mildew and insects. The decking used on most decks is a # 1 grade, 5/4 board. All deck quotes should specify the #1 grade. A 2" by 6" deck board is also available but not widely used. Be wary of any quotes specifying anything other than a board meant for decking. Cardinal Construction also uses #1 grade wood for structural framing. Many other deck builders use a #2 grade wood which has more knots and imperfections. The decking is attached either by nail or by screw. Wood decks do need ongoing maintenance such as cleaning, staining and resealing. The wood deck will last a long time but weather and wear and tear over time will reduce its appearance.

* Ipe is a South American hardwood sometimes called Ironwood. It is very long lasting and pest resistant. Other wood products are usually more expensive than pressure treated pine.

Composite decking is most easily described as a product made using both wood and plastic. There are multiple brands available. There are brands sold by the big box retailers like Home Depot and Lowes made to their specifications. Other brands available in both big box stores and more widely are Trex, Fiberon and Timber Tech. When composite decking first entered the home improvement market it was hailed as a miracle product. Claims of lifelong durability, no fading, no staining and no maintenance were common. Time and experience has changed these expectations. Composite products are very durable, do resist staining and fading and are generally warranted for 20 to 25 years. They are insect and rot resistant. They do occasionally need some maintenance such as cleaning but in general, they involve much less time and effort on the homeowner's part than wood. Virtually all composite decking is now installed with some form of hidden fastener** system. They and PVC products are rapidly becoming the homeowners product of choice.

** Composite decking located close to a wall or a deck border are often screwed and plugged; ask us about your options.

Originally developed by a company called Procell, which is now owned by Azek, cellular PVC uses all PVC materials. A high end product, it often looks more like wood than composite decking. It requires very low maintenance, is extremely stain resistant and does not rot or decay. It is dimensionally stable and is very quiet (fewer squeaks or other noise when walked on) It may be nailed or screwed and most often uses a hidden fastener** system. The AZEK products include a lifetime limited warranty and other composite manufactures are now offering PVC alternatives to their original product lines in response to cellular PVC increasing popularity.

** Cellular PVC located close to a wall or a deck border are often screwed and plugged; ask us about your options.

There are many choices for railings to be used on decks, porches, steps and other uses. These include:

Wood
This tried and true choice can be fastened or built using screw or nail and can be anchored to framing, walls and concrete. It has all the inherent advantages as wood decking.

Vinyl or PVC
These systems provide a wide variety of choices from styles, colors and balusters too many to list. They are very low maintenance, often use hidden fastening systems and carry long warranties. There are various grades of railing and in addition to general quality, look for railing systems that use metal reinforcements for both rails and posts. Any railing used on a project must meet all applicable codes for its use. There are also porch columns and other decorative materials used with railing systems.

Other Types
There are many other types of material used in railings from aluminum, ornamental iron and even rope and wire. All must be installed to meet all applicable construction codes.

Pressure Treated Wood:
The Natural Handyman - www.naturalhandyman.com

Composite Decking:
TREX - www.trex.com
Fiberon - www.fiberondecking.com
Timber tech - www.timbertech.com

Cellular PVC Decking:
Azek - www.azek.com

Railing System:
Superior Plastic Products Inc. - www.superiorplasticproducts.com