Every detail of your log or timber home should reflect what matters to you, right down to the deck that surrounds your home. Luckily, today’s decking materials offer solutions for every style and budget, whether your priority is aesthetics, low maintenance or even sustainability — or mix of all three. From the front porch, where it can set the tone of your home, to the rear, where family and friends love to gather, this selection of underfoot options, ranging from classic to cutting edge, will help your home puts its best foot forward.
Wood You Rather
You can’t go wrong with a classic. Responsibly sourced wood, particularly tropical hardwoods like tigerwood, will always be a top option in the world of decking. They can be harvested sustainably, and many species earn high marks for being extremely durable and therefore cost effective over time. Get the details: advantagelumber.com
Luxe Lookalike
Composite products have held the edge in the low-maintenance decking category for years, requiring almost zero upkeep. The downside? You could spot a composite deck a mile away. But not so with Trex’s line of premium deck boards, Transcend. With realistic grain patterns and multi-tonal colors, this line precisely mimics the look of real wood. Get the details: trex.com
Coastal Creation
The trifecta of sun, salt and sea is a wood deck’s ultimate nemesis, so leave it to a coastal native to create a decking solution impervious to the elements. Ocean Decks’ boards combine carbon fibers with PVC in a unique design that makes them ultra-durable and negates the need for added under-decking. The teak-like appearance and bare-foot friendly factors are an extra bonus. Get the details: oceandecks.com
Cool Off
If you’ve ever stepped barefoot onto a composite deck in the heat of the summer, chances are you didn’t stay there for long. Composite decking has been known for retaining heat, but industry innovations are changing that. Timbertech’s line of Advanced PVC with Cool Touch technology stays up to 30 degrees cooler than similar products, helping everyone in the family (including the four-legged members!) stay safe and comfortable outdoors. Get the details: timbertech.com
All Fired Up
If you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you’re likely familiar with kiln-dried logs and timbers. Thermally modified decking products apply a similar strategy but rely on much higher temperatures to modify the chemical makeup of the wood. The resulting boards are stable against warping and cracking and are resistant to decay from water and pests. Get the details: thermoryusa.com
Pickled Pine
Accoya wood is a real wood product, but don’t be surprised that you’ve never heard of an “Accoya” tree. It starts with traditional pine boards that are treated with a specialized vinegar solution. Through the process, the wood’s cellular structure is altered, making it resistant to moisture, rot and insects. Get the details: accoya.com
