The Material Selections & Price section is designed to help you compare popular material options for your project. All products have a list of pros and cons and also have a price scale to get a sense of the price differences between each material. There may be alternative material options other than the ones listed below, but they are not used as commonly in Southern Ontario. Familiarizing yourself with the different materials available will help you make important decisions on the design and budget of your deck.
Type Of Decking Materials
Brown Pressure Treated Wood
Pressure-treated wood is wood that has been infused with chemical preservatives to protect the wood from rot and insects. The wood is placed in a depressurized holding tank that removes the air and replaces it with a preservative. The most important thing to understand about this pressure treatment is that the process is, by far, the best way to avoid harmful rot and insects, but does not prevent weathering and corrosion. Brown Pressure Treated wood is fade resistant and gives the wood a more natural, almost cedar-like appearance and provides excellent quality for its price.
Cedar Wood
If rustic beauty is your look, Turkstra offers the best in Western Red cedar decking. Cedar decking is durable and doesn’t absorb moisture, so it lasts longer and doesn’t twist or split.
Exotic Woods
For a high end and low maintenance natural wood deck, we offer Ipe and other exotic wood decking. Ipe wood decking requires no staining or treating, and can last up to 4 times longer than regular pressured treated or cedar decking.
Composite Wood or PVC Decking
Composite lumber is a material that is a mixture of wood fiber, plastic, and some type of binding agent. These ingredients are put together to form a material that is denser, stronger, and heavier than wood alone, a wood-plastic composite.
Composite wood is an increasingly popular choice for people looking to build new decks because it requires very little cleaning and is virtually maintenance-free. With traditional wood decks, you can expect to spend 16-40 hours on maintenance from cleaning, to sanding, to staining, to replacing boards.
While the initial investment in composite wood is greater than traditional wood, the value you get out of it will more than make up for the initial expense. Over time, composite decks last longer and require significantly less effort to maintain, giving you more time to sit back and enjoy your backyard space.
PVC vinyl decking contains only one material. That material is polyvinyl chloride. It is the same stuff you find in vinyl fences and siding. It is a 100% recyclable material that looks like natural wood.
Because it is plastic, it is a maintenance-free decking material. It won’t build up mould or mildew. Over time, a PVC vinyl deck holds its colour. It cleans easily and doesn’t stain. Plus, a PVC vinyl deck is scratch resistant.
Railings
Railings can be made of the same wood as the decking boards. This allows for a good match to the decking at a lower price point than other railing options. However, similar maintenance will apply to the railings as it is the same material as the decking.
In addition to wood railings, there are aluminum railing options to choose from. Aluminum railings are the most customizable and come in a wide variety of colours and styles. Aluminum railings are strong, long lasting, and have limited maintenance. This is a more expensive option than wood but is worth the investment.
A mixture of wood posts and aluminum railings can be used to achieve a slightly lower price than aluminum railings. This combination still allows for a customized look with relatively low maintenance compared to a fully wooden railing system.
Composite railing options are also available but come at a higher price. Composite railings use a wooden post with a slide-over sleeve and have many colour options.
Glass deck railings are a beautiful option when wanting to add elegance to any property with a sleek finished look for that rooftop patio or a pool enclosure. Around the pool area or rooftop, a clear view becomes a matter of safety and importance. Since they feature a frame and top rail, these railing systems are also great for stairs and raised platforms, allowing guests to place their hands along the top rail for support or a sense of security. Glass railings are a very safe option for raised platforms. As glass doesn’t wear out, deteriorate, or rot, sturdy glass railings can be expected to remain safe and dependable throughout their entire lifetime. Glass railings also have 2 options: framed or frameless.
Other
Other materials are necessary for building a deck. Materials may include: joist boards, beams, concrete, footings, stairs, post caps, lights, gates, etc. For an extensive list and a pricing quote contact your Build-It-Better coach or refer to your deck’s structural design requirements. Specific tools that are required to build a deck and can be found in the FAQ section of the ”Meet your Coach” section.
Decking Material Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure Treated Wood | -Popular -Many stain options -Most cost effective | -Maintenance -Can rot or crack | $ |
| Cedar | -Traditional look -Looks nicer than pressure treated -smells good -can last longer than pressure treated | -Still requires maintenance -Can fade in colour | $$ |
| Composite | -Low to no maintenance -Many colour and texture options available -Easy to clean -Lasts the longest | -The price -Can eventually fade. | $$$$ |
The Material Selections & Price section is designed to help you compare popular material options for your project. All products have a list of pros and cons and also have a price scale to get a sense of the price differences between each material. There may be alternative material options other than the ones listed below, but they are not used as commonly in Southern Ontario. Familiarizing yourself with the different materials available will help you make important decisions on the design and budget of your deck.
Type Of Decking Materials
Brown Pressure Treated Wood
Pressure-treated wood is wood that has been infused with chemical preservatives to protect the wood from rot and insects. The wood is placed in a depressurized holding tank that removes the air and replaces it with a preservative. The most important thing to understand about this pressure treatment is that the process is, by far, the best way to avoid harmful rot and insects, but does not prevent weathering and corrosion. Brown Pressure Treated wood is fade resistant and gives the wood a more natural, almost cedar-like appearance and provides excellent quality for its price.
Cedar Wood
If rustic beauty is your look, Turkstra offers the best in Western Red cedar decking. Cedar decking is durable and doesn’t absorb moisture, so it lasts longer and doesn’t twist or split.
Exotic Woods
For a high end and low maintenance natural wood deck, we offer Ipe and other exotic wood decking. Ipe wood decking requires no staining or treating, and can last up to 4 times longer than regular pressured treated or cedar decking.
Composite Wood or PVC Decking
Composite lumber is a material that is a mixture of wood fiber, plastic, and some type of binding agent. These ingredients are put together to form a material that is denser, stronger, and heavier than wood alone, a wood-plastic composite.
Composite wood is an increasingly popular choice for people looking to build new decks because it requires very little cleaning and is virtually maintenance-free. With traditional wood decks, you can expect to spend 16-40 hours on maintenance from cleaning, to sanding, to staining, to replacing boards.
While the initial investment in composite wood is greater than traditional wood, the value you get out of it will more than make up for the initial expense. Over time, composite decks last longer and require significantly less effort to maintain, giving you more time to sit back and enjoy your backyard space.
PVC vinyl decking contains only one material. That material is polyvinyl chloride. It is the same stuff you find in vinyl fences and siding. It is a 100% recyclable material that looks like natural wood.
Because it is plastic, it is a maintenance-free decking material. It won’t build up mould or mildew. Over time, a PVC vinyl deck holds its colour. It cleans easily and doesn’t stain. Plus, a PVC vinyl deck is scratch resistant.
Railings
Railings can be made of the same wood as the decking boards. This allows for a good match to the decking at a lower price point than other railing options. However, similar maintenance will apply to the railings as it is the same material as the decking.
In addition to wood railings, there are aluminum railing options to choose from. Aluminum railings are the most customizable and come in a wide variety of colours and styles. Aluminum railings are strong, long lasting, and have limited maintenance. This is a more expensive option than wood but is worth the investment.
A mixture of wood posts and aluminum railings can be used to achieve a slightly lower price than aluminum railings. This combination still allows for a customized look with relatively low maintenance compared to a fully wooden railing system.
Composite railing options are also available but come at a higher price. Composite railings use a wooden post with a slide-over sleeve and have many colour options.
Glass deck railings are a beautiful option when wanting to add elegance to any property with a sleek finished look for that rooftop patio or a pool enclosure. Around the pool area or rooftop, a clear view becomes a matter of safety and importance. Since they feature a frame and top rail, these railing systems are also great for stairs and raised platforms, allowing guests to place their hands along the top rail for support or a sense of security. Glass railings are a very safe option for raised platforms. As glass doesn’t wear out, deteriorate, or rot, sturdy glass railings can be expected to remain safe and dependable throughout their entire lifetime. Glass railings also have 2 options: framed or frameless.
Other
Other materials are necessary for building a deck. Materials may include: joist boards, beams, concrete, footings, stairs, post caps, lights, gates, etc. For an extensive list and a pricing quote contact your Build-It-Better coach or refer to your deck’s structural design requirements. Specific tools that are required to build a deck and can be found in the FAQ section of the ”Meet your Coach” section.
Decking Material Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure Treated Wood | -Popular -Many stain options -Most cost effective | -Maintenance -Can rot or crack | $ |
| Cedar | -Traditional look -Looks nicer than pressure treated -smells good -can last longer than pressure treated | -Still requires maintenance -Can fade in colour | $$ |
| Composite | -Low to no maintenance -Many colour and texture options available -Easy to clean -Lasts the longest | -The price -Can eventually fade. | $$$$ |
Customer Service
1-855-561-1114
Copyright 2023 Turkstra Lumber Company Ltd. | Privacy Policy | All Rights Reserved
Customer Service
1-855-561-1114
Copyright 2023 Turkstra Lumber Company Ltd.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
