Summer has drawn to a close, and with it, most of the outdoor entertaining you’ll do for the year – sounds like the perfect time to build a deck, right? To most, installing a deck in the fall sounds impractical, as we’re headed into the season when it will get the least use, but in fact, fall is the ideal time to build a deck for several reasons. Though it may not be used immediately, it will be ready for action the second the spring sun peaks through.
Don’t Break A Sweat
Whether you’re considering building the deck yourself or you plan to hire someone to do the job, fall is a great time to get to work because of the cooler temperatures. Although a deck is not the most difficult construction project, the reality is that lugging around 8-foot long posts at the height of summer can be dangerous if you don’t stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun. Do everyone involved a favor and wait for mild weather before erecting your deck.
Cool And Dry
One of the main reasons you should wait until fall to put up your new deck is because it will make it much easier to treat and stain. While you can also perform this task in late spring after most of the rains have passed, fall is almost always comparatively cooler and dryer. The combination of low humidity and cooler temperatures help ensure that your wood stain will dry well and be absorbed throughout the wood.
In summer, by comparison, humidity causes the stain to remain damp and sticky, which can result in wood that’s ill-prepared for winter weather. Proper staining is a key part of preventing wear and rot.
Materials Matter
Choosing a material for your deck is an important step, and while it isn’t directly related to the time of year you choose to build, you should consider local weather conditions when selecting a material. For instance, if you’re in the greater Minneapolis area, you’ll want to take long winters and lots of snow into account when deciding on a material for your deck.
There are three main types of wood that people use when building a deck, as well as two popular types of alternative material. Most people prefer the look of wood, which typically leads them to opt for the old standby – pressure-treated (PT) lumber, but we would recommend pricier redwood or cedar for a few reasons.
PT lumber is the standard choice for building a deck because it’s durable and inexpensive, but it’s also the most labor intensive option among wood decks because it requires annual power washing and a fresh coat of stain every two or three years. That’s not a lot in the scheme of things, but if you forget to seal it before the first snow, you could find your deck rotting in the yard in the spring.
We recommend cedar or redwood heartwood instead of PT lumber because the heartwood is naturally rot resistant. It’s also extremely attractive, though you will have to stain it to keep it looking bright. Still, you’ll likely get greater durability out of cedar or redwood than out of its PT counterpart.
The third wood option is imported exotic hardwoods, and while these woods are very strong, they’re also extremely heavy, making them somewhat impractical, especially for amateur builders. They’re also expensive and at a time when many are sourced unethically, we recommend homeowners steer clear of this option.
If you’d prefer to skip the priming and staining altogether, your deck-building options include aluminum and composite materials. Aluminum, for one, doesn’t have the charm of a wood deck, but it’s sturdy, light, and easy to clean – and it handles Minnesota winters with ease. You can also change the color of an aluminum deck regularly using widely available paints like Rustoleum.
As for composite boards, they offer similar durability to aluminum, though these boards have a little more aesthetic charm if you like the wood look with lower maintenance needs. Much like fiber cement siding, composite board deck is engineered to last in a way that gives it an edge over more traditional materials.
A Few Precautions
It’s important to start preparing your deck early for the winter weather, so if you’re going to put up a deck this fall, make sure you have a few weeks allotted to complete it. Not only does it take time to construct a deck correctly (especially if you plan to do it yourself), but also you need to make sure the deck has time to dry thoroughly after any treatments.
Take a look at the forecast before you start building a deck and make sure not to start any tasks such as staining when you’re expecting rain. Rain can cause your stain to spot and extend the drying time significantly. Additionally, even if you’re not expecting rain, pressure washing your completed deck is important and you won’t be able to stain the deck immediately. If you’re something of a weekend warrior, expect to pressure wash the deck one weekend and not stain it until the next.
Finally, if you choose to build you deck with PT lumber, you’ll need to make sure it has fully dried out from any chemical treatments it received before you purchased it. This may not be evident on the surface, so consider renting a moisture meter to check the wood before you stain it. If the wood is still damp inside and you stain it prematurely, it can begin to rot from within over the winter months as the moisture will be trapped inside.
Iron River Construction
At Iron River Construction, we understand the challenges of undertaking an outdoor project with a Minnesota winter around the corner – but a little cold weather can never stop us. Contact our team today to learn more about the many construction and renovation services we offer.
Iron River Construction comes recommended by the Better Business Bureau, Guild Quality, the Star Tribune, and more, so you know you’ll get only the best results. We guarantee only the best, from start to finish – it’s the Iron River way.
