Pressure-treated wood is the strong and durable standard. Even specialty decks are built with pressure-treated wood with specialized wood varieties laid on top. Tip: Eakes cautions against using the extremely light or white-coloured woods. "It's like being on a boat all day -- the reflection of sun in your eyes can be blinding," he says. White railings may be a more attractive alternative.
Waterproofing and stains
Pressure-treated wood already has some waterproofing done at the factory. Eakes says you need to wait and let the wood weather before staining and waterproofing, the length of time depending on your wet or dry climate. He suggests sprinkling water onto the wood -- if the water soaks into the wood it's ready for staining and waterproofing (never waterproof then stain -- the stain won't stick.) Tip: If you're thinking of using an opaque stain, Eakes strongly advises reading the can first. "They all say 'Not for horizontal surfaces' because opaque stains are for fences and rails -- they can't stand the traffic [on a deck floor]," he says. If you want a splash of colour for on your deck, he recommends using a transparent stain.
Hardware
You will need either:
• Double-dipped galvanized nails - indicated for ACQ (Alkaline copper quaternary) lumber, or;
• Stainless steel nails if you live in a very wet climate
Why not regular nails? On January 1, 2004, Canada halted the distribution of CCA (Chromated copper arsenate) wood for residential construction due to the toxic arsenic and replaced it with ACQ lumber which contains no arsenic but much more copper. Though less toxic, ACQ lumber literally dissolves aluminum nails, making your deck unstable and hazardous within a couple of years. Eakes says if a contractor offers to build your deck for an unbelievable price, he or she is likely not using the more expensive but necessary hardware. In wet environments where the deck never truly dries out, stainless steel is your safest bet.
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