Ask a Lumber Store in Houston, TX: Which Wood Is Best for a New Deck?

It’s about to be that time of year again when sitting out on your deck at night with a refreshing drink in hand is the perfect way to end the day. But what if you don’t have a deck? You’ll never be able to experience that elated feeling! Thankfully, it’s never too late to add a deck to your home (or extend an existing one). First things first, though—before you start building your deck, you’ll have to visit a lumber store in Houston, TX to pick out the wood you’ll use to build it. Here are a few of the classic options:

  • Redwood: One of the all-time favorites when it comes to decking is redwood. It has little to no resins, so you can trust that it’ll retain its finish for years and years. It’s also very durable, so harsh summer storms will do little damage to it, and the wood is very resistant to rot. However, it is also pretty expensive, especially if you live far from California where they grow. Like a lot of wood species, supplies are dwindling. In fact, only about one percent of all old-growth redwood trees are still around today.
  • Cedar: If you’re trying to go for a classic look, cedar is another one of your best bets. This softwood has been used on decks for years. Cedar’s fragrance naturally repels insects, so it’s an obvious choice if you’re trying to keep bugs away. Like redwood, it also is resistant to rot. However, cedar can be fairly soft and has a tendency to split, so it might not be the best option for your whole deck. Craftsmen often like using it for vertical deck elements, like railings.
  • Mahogany: Mahogany is great for outdoors because it’s free of knots, doesn’t splinter very easily and looks beautiful when it’s stained. You may not see too many mahogany decks out there, though. Mahogany is extremely expensive to ship, so a lumber store in Houston, TX may have to charge a pretty penny for the wood. However, it’s well worth the price if you can afford it.
  • Don’t choose lumber alternatives: Nowadays, there are numerous options when it comes to choosing decking material. Aluminum and pressure-treated wood are two of the most popular alternatives, and for good reason—they’re usually cheaper, and require less maintenance than natural wood. But does that mean you should choose them? Probably not. Pressure-treated wood will eventually get full of moisture and shrink and twist once it dries. There’s no fixing that, either. An aluminum deck, meanwhile, will last for years and years, but will it look as pretty as a cedar, redwood or mahogany deck? Not a chance. Color options are limited when it comes to choosing aluminum, so you’d better make sure it matches your home perfectly!

The choice is ultimately yours when it comes to building a deck. Hopefully this post helped make that decision a little easier—and hopefully you choose to build your deck with wood! Remember, Houston Hardwoods Inc. offers delivery service for our customers, so there’s no need to worry about bringing a big truck to our lumber store in Houston, TX to haul your lumber away.