The warm days of summer are just around the corner. Are you ready to enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors on your deck? What, no deck? Then this could just be the perfect time to add one on. Outdoor living spaces are becoming more and more popular as homeowners are looking for close-to-home adventures and “stay-cations,” and backyard retreats and getaway spots do a lot for making a home more attractive, especially when it comes time to sell it since decks definitely add to a home’s value as well as appeal.
If you’re thinking about installing a deck, you have quite a few options, from treated pine to engineered and composite decking materials. But if you’re looking for a really good eco-friendly deck solution, consider redwood. Real wood has environmental benefits, and redwood is an exceptionally durable, strong wood. It’s popularity as a decking material is growing, as more and more homeowners are finding out just what a great deck it makes.
So how does redwood stack up against composite or plastic decking?
Recyclable: While plastic decking is made of recycled material, the end product can’t be recycled, unlike redwood. When plastic decking has reached the end of its useful life, it will end up in a landfill; redwood boards will most likely get re-used. Energy Required: Redwood trees simply consume sunlight to grow; plastic must be produced from ever-dwindling fossil fuels. Harvesting and milling wood requires much less energy than plastic decking production.
How does redwood compare to other woods for decking? Redwood yields lumber which has a high dimensional stability. What that means is that in climates such as we experience here in Minnesota, redwood decking is less prone to warping due to temperature and moisture fluctuations. Unlike some other woods, redwood is full of natural oils and substances that make it naturally insect- and rot-resistant. Redwood has a natural beauty to it that doesn’t require stain. You can allow it to naturally weather to a beautiful silver-gray, but some homeowners prefer to apply a sealer every couple of years to retain the original reddish color. And while redwood is more expensive than many other domestic woods, with proper care you can expect your redwood deck to outlive other wood decks by 10-20 years.
Iron River Construction is a full-service home remodeling contractor serving the Twin Cities and outlying Minnesota communities. Among our services, we install residential decks.
