Decks now come in myriad materials

Spring is prime time to hit the deck and create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living.

"Today's decks are far different from the 12-by-16-foot rectangles our fathers and grandfathers put up in the 1970s and '80s," said Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of the North American Deck and Railing Association in Quakertown. "Now, decks are built with multilevels to serve multipurposes, giving people easy access to outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, hot tubs, or pools."

Modern deck designs complement a house's architecture and are built around a homeowner's expectations for usage, privacy, and views of the surrounding landscape. The trade group projects that nearly four million new or replacement residential decks will be constructed this year in the United States.

More than 75 percent of decks built today are made of wood, but consumer interest in color choices and lower maintenance is driving the synthetic-lumber market. Beaudry says there are more than 100 wood-alternative decking materials, including vinyl or plastic planks and manufactured wood-composite lumber.

Dave Lombardo uses innovative wood-wannabes in his Baltimore-based business, American Deck.

"When I started designing and constructing decks 20 years ago, we only made them of wood. These synthetic products didn't even exist," Lombardo said. "Now, a homeowner has many decking-material choices, depending on preferences and lifestyle."

New innovations in pressure-treated lumber, such as micronized copper azole (MCA) and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), have replaced the once commonly used CCA, or chromated copper arsenate-treated wood.

"There's no hiding the natural beauty of a solid-wood deck," Lombardo said. "But one made with cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated lumber requires regular . . . sealing or staining."

Different types and grades of wood vary in performance and price. A pressure-treated wood deck is the least expensive option, with an estimated cost of $19 and up per square foot. Redwood and cedar have natural decay-resistant properties, with an estimated installed price range of $20 to $40 or more per square foot.

A tropical hardwood such as dense Brazilian ipe does not require regular staining and sealing, but the mahogany-colored wood weathers to a steel gray. Trained installers can charge $25 to $50 and up per square foot.

Synthetic, lower-maintenance wood-composite decking materials are high-tech timbers made of plastic and wood fiber. Some composites have water-resistant, wood-grain-embossed surfaces that hinder mold and bacteria growth, Lombardo said.

A wood-composite deck can be installed for $24 to $30 or more per square foot.

Plastic or vinyl decking can be embossed with a wood grain that comes in a variety of colors. A deck made of plastic or vinyl may run $25 to $35 per square foot or more.