Pressure-Treated Lumber
Even though there are many different types of materials to use, pressure-treated wood is used in approximately 75 percent of all new decks. The reason PT lumber is popular isn't a mystery: it's readily available, affordable, and easy to cut for use with nails or screws. PT lumber starts out by being milled from Southern Yellow Pine and then chemically treated to resist fungus, bugs, and rot. Most people buy PT wood in two by six and and one-and-a-quarter by six inch dimensions. You might be wondering why wouldn't purchase pressure-treated lumber, but the reason being is it isn't dimensionally stable. That means that it has a tendency to split, warp, and crack. Additionally, if your deck is made from pressure-treated wood, it will need routine maintenance in the form of power washing and applying a wood-stain to preserve the deck every two to three years.

Redwood and Cedar
If you're someone who wants to stay away from as many chemicals and preservatives as possible, these natural woods are perfect for you. Redwood and other Cedars are both sought after for their deep, rich color and natural look without the use of chemicals. Natural woods are able to stay healthy due to their oils and resistant properties. However, these resistant properties are related to how much heartwood is involved in your deck. Heartwood comes from the inner section of the tree and is very resistant to rot and decay. As stated by the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, the four best grades of cedar for decking are architect clear, custom cedar, architect knotty, and custom knotty.

Tropical Hardwoods
These woods get their name because they are typically from exotic locations and dense. They are naturally durable and resist both rot and wood-destroying insects. Tropical Hardwoods such as Philippine Mahogany, Cumaru, and Tigerwood are very heavy and difficult to drill, which is why they aren't a more popular choice. They can also be expensive when compared to the pressure-treated lumber mentioned above.

For any questions on which material to build your deck from, or if you're interested in a synthetic material, please contact us or call 541.767.1611 and we'll be happy to help.

As the rains begin to move behind us, it is the perfect time to begin thinking about how to enjoy your home, from the outside. By adding a new deck to your home, you not only enhance the look and feel, and the warmth and the ambience of it, but you can also enjoy that new deck you just added for years to come. As you can tell from the above picture adding a deck really does wonders for enhancing an otherwise seemingly normal residence. Now the homeowner has a place that can be enjoyed during all seasons of the year.

As if that weren't reason enough, here are 10 more reasons why you should consider adding a deck to your home:

1. You can easily design your own customized and beautiful deck by contacting deck builders (such as Fort Rock Construction) in your area and getting started on your project.
2. Thanks to state-of-the-art computer software, in some cases you can even design how you envision your deck to look using your home computer; then you just print the plans and hire a deck builder to take it from there and make your project a reality.
3. Imagine having that extra place in your home where you can sunbathe (we know, a rare occasion in Oregon), watch the sunrise or sunset, or even just escape to your favorite book on your days off from work.
4. In most cases, by adding a deck to your home you can actually increase the value of your home, or add to the amount of equity you have in it.
5. Some people like to build decks that have hot tubs on them for additional relaxation or therapy. Can you imagine having friends over and enjoying their company while getting a great soak?
6. Barbequing taken to the next level. Nothing screams a good barbeque better than a well built deck and your own gas grill. Ducks/Beavers games will never be the same again.
7. Outdoor meals. Sure, it's great to dine in the kitchen or in the dinner room, but what about enjoying that fine spring evening breeze with a meal on your brand new deck?
8. Decks don't take that long to build or construct, and you can easily get a solid estimate on the project timeline. In a matter of weeks you could be enjoying your brand new deck, and for many years to come, too.
9. Most deck builders will provide you with a free quote (see below).
10. While a deck doesn't add countable square footage to your home, it adds personal space that you can enjoy whenever you feel like it.
    
    

Want to get started? Let us know! We'd be happy to provide an estimate and get you on your way to enjoying the outdoors on a new deck.