Types of Wood

8. TYPES of WOOD

Decks may be made from dozens of different kinds and types of woods and non-woods.  These non-woods include various kinds and types of composites. To be sure, there are pros and cons about virtually everything, including how to build a deck.  Only a few will be discussed here.  Please don’t get wrapped up in the technical aspects.  The best decision-making tool is simply what makes the most sense.  Then ask yourself what will give you the best bang for your buck?

Deckster does not condone eco-terrorism or clear cutting.  Eco-terrorism is the premeditated and sometimes violent guerilla tactics used to prevent the harvesting of timber.  Clear cutting is an outdated method of harvesting still used occasionally where several acres of land are stripped bare and left open to the elements.  Both the United States and Canada impose heavy fines and other penalties on lumber companies that ignore their responsibility of maintaining a home for forest-dwelling animals and don’t reseed cut areas.  Currently more trees are being planted than are being cut for use and export. That’s a fact, Jack!

Let’s get a few generalities out of the way first.  Synthetic wood is not structurally stable.  Do not use it in any structural capacity.  You may use it for the decking only, and even then you need to compensate by adjusting the spacing of the supporting joists.   You can check online for the manufacture’s guidelines or your local lumberyard or the Building Codes office of your local government.  Unfortunately, there is no independent body that can provide unbiased information on span ratings or structural analysis.  The information herein provided is taken from product literature. Composite woods have not been around for very long. Trex was the first on the market about 1990. One inherent problem with synthetic woods is when a traffic pattern is worn into the textured surface, it can never be repaired.  Unbiased analysis and comparisons are available with wood since it has been around a little longer (as in a few thousand years).  Your substructure can be any hardwood; Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir are the most common.  All wood is categorized as being either “softwood” or “hardwood”.   What’s the difference?   The simplest answer is if the tree has needles, (called a conifer) it’s a softwood.  If a tree has leaves, (called a deciduous) it’s a hardwood.  Please keep in mind these are generalities.  Besides needles and leaves, the difference has to do with structural integrity.  Hardwoods have a tighter grain pattern, thus they can support greater weights and stresses.  Softwoods are easier to cut and shape for decorative accents.  The grading of woods is based on only one “face”, not the entire piece.  This is all about aesthetics.

Cypress is a softwood that usually is classified with hardwoods.  Its natural oils make it highly resistant to moisture that can cause decay.  The #2 and Better grading usually has a more rustic appearance due to its larger tight knots.  The Select grade is clear and must be special ordered.  No special fasteners or nails are necessary.   The coloring can vary from a pale yellow white to reddish brown.   It is considered superior as far as durability, cracking, weathering, resistant to decay, rot and mildew.  It’s also easy to work with.

Redwood is a softwood that is graded from the best, Clear All Heart, to the lowest, Construction Common.   There are five different grades. No special fasteners or nails are required.  Its natural oils make it highly resistant to bugs.  Its coloration can vary from a light cherry coloring to nearly as dark as mahogany.  It’s easy to work with, almost never warps and is relatively lightweight.   Like Cedar, it holds stains and sealers quite well.  It will weather to a grayish color quickly.

Treated lumber comes in several flavors.   It always has a greenish tint.  It is usually pressure-treated.  It can be either Yellow Pine or Douglas Fir because these two species of wood accept the pressure treatment process the easiest.  They are at the bottom end of the hardness scale.  White Pine, by the way, is at the top end of the softwood scale.  As mentioned earlier, the calendar year 2004 marks a transition from wood treated with arsenic to kill bugs to wood treated with another type of fungicide called Quat, which is arsenic-free.  However, the old stuff, Chromated Copper Arsenate may still be used in non-residential applications.  It has been in use since the 1940’s.  The EPA is not recommending that neither existing structures nor the surrounding soil be removed or replaced.  C.C.A. may still be legally sold until supplies run out.  In residential applications and using the new Alkaline Copper Quat treated lumber, different nails and fasteners must be used.  The chemical makeup of this new combination is highly corrosive on metals.  Remember to ask about the hardware coating when you buy ACQ lumber.  The ACQ-treated lumber will fade to a brownish-gray in about five years.  Do not burn or bury any treated wood.  Don’t grind it up for use as animal bedding.   Don’t use it around beehives where it may come in contact with the honey.  Don’t make a habit of inhaling the sawdust.  Dimensional lumber has nine different grades ranging from Dense Select Structural to #2 Non-Dense.

Western Red Cedar is the most common of all the cedar woods.  It has the same workability, weathering and stability characteristics as Redwood.  Its grading goes from Clear Vertical Grain to Standard and Better.  Its coloration is that of a rich, earthy red.  Different Cedar Associations grade their material differently thus there may be five or six different grades from top to bottom.  It is a softwood that’s easy to work with, is brittle, tends to split, almost never warps and is lightweight. It will scratch and dent very easily.  It also burns very easily. Cedar affords a high degree of insulation in roofing and wall applications.  Most cedar comes from Canada, which is currently at war with the USA over tariff restrictions concerning lumber imports.  Canada supplies the USA with about 1/3 of all its lumber requirements.  This website remains apolitical in this debate.

Ipe (pronounced ee-pay) has been used in the American construction industry about twenty years.  It is an import from Brazil.  It ranks near the top of the hardwood scale. It weighs 70 pounds per cubic foot.  Yellow Pine is about 35 pcf while Redwood and Cedar are about 28 pcf.  It is so dense, that mildew cannot grow on it.   The roots can’t penetrate the wood.  It is a rich dark reddish-brown.  Because of its density, all holes must be predrilled.  Cutting must be done with a carbide-tipped saw blade.  It is guaranteed, in writing, to last twenty years without replacement.  Go to the website www.ocfp.com, click on tropical decking, then click on warranty.  This can be printed and mailed after your Ipe deck is installed.  The Atlantic City boardwalk is made out of this stuff.  A 1x4 and a 1x6 can span at least 24”.  A 5/4 x 4 or 6” deck board can span 32” between supports.  2x4 and 2x6 boards can span 48” with a 100 pound live load upon it (100 psf).  Since most building codes only require a load factor of 40 psf, the span ratings can be greater between supports.  There are two “load” factors in construction.  “Live” loads are portable while “dead” loads are permanent.  The structure of your house is a dead load while the furniture in it is a live load.  These are always figured in pounds per square foot.  The fire rating of Ipe is A-1, the same as concrete.  This material is about the same price as the composites but more than other real woods.  There is very little shrinkage, twisting, warping or cupping.   Avoid breathing the sawdust and as with all woods, thoroughly wash exposed areas of your skin when you quit for the day.  Coat all of the cut ends with liquid wax sealer.

Trex was the first synthetic wood on the market.  It is made of approximately 50% oak chips and 50% recycled polyethylene plastic.  It is the only non-wood listed with the three major U.S. building code agencies.  It is available in six colors and two patterns. The patterns are wood-grain and smooth. Trex also offers a coordinated railing system. The reversible patterns are wood-grained and textured. The boards are only available in 12’0”, 16’0” and 20’0” lengths. Check out www.trex.com for more information. Trex can be shaped into curves also.

TimberTech is available in both hollow and solid forms. Its composition is 50% oak and maple chips while the rest is virgin polymers and talc. The tongue and groove hollow plank can actually span 24”. It is available in 12’0”, 16’0” and 20’0”. The regular 5/4 and 2x6 planks can span 16” on center. They also offer a reversible 5/4 decking. Included in their engineered deck system is a starter strip and end cap. TimberTech also offers a coordinating railing system. Check out www.timbertech.com for more information.

Crosstembers is a composite blend of hardwood and polypropylene which gives it greater strength.  It contains no recycled polyethylene products.  This product can span 24" between supports.  Its available in five colors.  It uses a concealed fastener system.  It's covered by a 20 year limited warranty.  It is available in 12', 16' and 20' lengths.

There is a new kid on the block. His name is PROCELL. He is different because he's 100% solid-core PVC. The initials are poly-vinyl-chloride. It's the same stuff as plumbing pipes. It's available in four colors and three lengths. It has a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. It doesn't stain; doesn't require predrilling; is bug resistant and cleans with soap and water. It's relatively lightweight also. There is no accompanying rail system. Check out www.procelldeck.com .

Section 9 - Fact or Fiction about C.C.A.