Whether it’s a venue for intimate family gatherings or large social events, decks are a great way to enjoy nature while sharing food and drink or just hanging out. Your deck must be sturdy, durable, and safe, as well as complement your home’s decor. In the Pacific Northwest, decks are traditionally built with either lumber or composite materials. The best decking material for you will depend on the expected life of the deck, color selection, and maintenance requirements.
Parr carries a selection of decking materials, all built and engineered to withstand the Pacific Northwest climate.
Wood
Natural wood lumber is affordable, renewable, and natural. It provides a beautiful aesthetic for any deck design. Lumber is a natural resource that renews itself, ensuring that it will be available for generations to come. It is also a durable material, providing over 20 years of service in outdoor applications when properly installed and maintained.
In the Pacific Northwest, we recommend Western Red Cedar or pressure-treated Douglas Fir.
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar makes a good decking material because of its natural resistance to decay and rot. Natural preservatives within the wood protect it without the need for chemicals. It also resists splintering, ensuring a long-lasting deck that is safe for children and bare feet.
Other benefits include its rich, earthy color, which weathers to a soft gray, and its ability to remain cool to the touch even in the heat. With regular maintenance, your deck will look and feel good, well into the future.
Cedar trees are a sustainable resource that help remove carbon and other pollutants from the air, providing us with fresh, clean air to breathe. Cedar heartwood is cut from the center of the tree and is more resistant to environmental decay.
Pressure treated (Elite decking)
In the Northwest we use pressure-treated Douglas Fir, or Elite decking, for its structural integrity and durability. The lumber is stained and treated with wolmanized CAC, which helps it last 10 times longer than nontreated lumber. The treatment protects the wood from rotting and termites and is safe for the environment and wildlife.
Our Elite decking provides a lifetime guarantee against fungal decay and termites. This ensures that you never have to worry about your deck’s structural integrity. The product is easy to cut and work with and can be stained to more closely match your decor. Regular maintenance, including power washing, sanding, and re-staining, will help maintain the look of your deck.
Composite lumber
Composite lumber is made up of wood pulp and recycled plastic that is mixed and molded to create a material that looks and feels like real lumber. Capped decking includes an additional polymer shell that provides additional protection.
Composite is available in a wide variety of colors and multiple sizes to fit your design needs. It requires little to no maintenance and is a durable material, offering protection for up to 50 years.
TimberTech
TimberTech composite wood mimics the look of real lumber with the durability of plastic. However, unlike lumber, it resists fading, scratches, or stains. It provides a consistent look and feels, ensuring that your deck will last for years to come. Its 25-to-50-year warranties ensure that you have the protection you need.
The composite lumber manufacturing process helps save trees by using waste wood. It diverts waste from landfills and helps keep our world green.
Azek PVC composite lumber is a capped cellular product. It has an additional layer of protection that helps protect it from weather, UV light, scratching, and color fading. This additional protection allows us to provide a 50-year limited warranty against fading and staining. It is available in a variety of color options to help match your décor.
Trex
Trex is the original and leading brand for composite lumber. It’s made up of 95% post-consumer plastic film and reclaimed sawdust. The product is made without harvesting any additional trees. Plastic from plastic bags and other sources is used to protect the wood product. A 500-square-foot deck built from Trex recycles approximately 140,000 plastic bags.
The plastic protects the product from damage and moisture, ensuring that you don’t have to paint, stain, or seal your deck again.
Here to help
With our mild weather pattern, decks provide a great way to enjoy nature for most of the year. Materials like wood and composite lumber provide durable products that resist wear and tear and will keep your deck looking nice for years to come.
If you need expert advice on the best material for your deck, find your local Parr store and we’ll help you make a selection. You can also use our deck design planner to help you create a plan for your build.
