Why Cedar Decking is the Ultimate Choice in Deck Design

The selection of materials that can be used to build custom decks is vast, to say the least. You can choose from a number of different types of lumbers (e.g. teak decking, cedar decking and mahogany decking), aluminum and even plastics or composite materials.
Yet, for some deck builders, the obvious choice to use is cedar. Some deck contractors even claim that it is their only choice and that they do not consider using anything else. Being a soft wood, cedar is an ideal material for deck design, as it possesses great aesthetic appeal in addition to serving as a very practical material for deck builders.

Use Cedar Decking for a Custom Deck With Great Deck Design and Appeal

One of the reasons why cedar wood is popular in deck and patio design is due to its stunning appearance. Deck contractors often use cedar wood because of its visual appeal – it has a natural rich color, usually a mature cinnamon reddish-brown.
While some woods age over time, turning into a rather ugly color that puts its deck contractors to shame, cedar wood does not; rather, cedar wood ages gracefully, slowly transitioning into a seasoned and distinguished shade of silver or gray, giving it a rustic beauty that is unparalleled.

Cedar Decking, Perfect for a Practical, Durable and Nature-resistant Deck Design

A popular choice for use in custom deck design, cedar wood has numerous natural properties that make it highly resistant to many of the forces and elements of nature that have the potential to damage other materials used in deck design.
For instance, cedar wood shows less evidence of wear and tear in response to prolonged periods of rain and shine as compared to other types of wood. Cedar wood is also not easily damaged by insects, nor does it rot or decay easily. Due to these attractive properties, cedar has shot up in popularity to become a preferred choice in exterior structuring, particularly in patio design and deck design.

The Upkeep of Cedar Decking in Custom Decks

If you, or your deck contractor, do decide to use cedar wood in your patio or deck design, you have to be prepared to put in effort to maintain it. To preserve it in its prime condition, cedar wood requires annual power washing. It also needs a new coat of finish every three to four years. You can also choose to invest in and apply some water-repellent wood preservative to your custom deck in order to ensure that it remains preserved for an even longer time.
As for the appearance of the wood, cedar does require some amount of maintenance as well. To prevent the color of the wood from aging and changing into an undesirable color, you can choose to stain the wood. There are semi-transparent stains available for this purpose (contact your deck builder or deck contractor to discuss which stain is ideal for your particular deck design).
In any case, the principle ‘more is always better’ does not apply to the staining process. Using an excess of finish could result in your custom deck having a horrible-looking, uneven surface. To be safe, always leave such delicate processes to a professional deck builder or deck contractor.
However, even if you choose not to apply a stain, cedar wood usually ages to a beautiful shade of silver. However, deciding not to add a stain will also have implications on the durability of your custom deck since the stain is an integral addition to the defenses against the damaging elements of nature, such as ultra violet rays from the sun as well as moisture.

The Deck Builder’s Average Prices of Cedar Decking for Custom Decks

As you have probably guessed by now, cedar wood does not come cheap. So you’re probably wondering, “How much will it cost for me to use cedar wood in my custom deck?” The cost of cedar decking is usually broken down into two parts – cost of materials and the cost of installation. Cost also varies over different quality cedar wood.

Inferior quality cedar costs about $3.50 per square foot for the material cost alone, and another $5.25 per square foot for installation cost, bringing it to a grand total of $8.70 per square foot.
Average quality cedar costs about $5.95 per square foot for the material cost alone, and another $6.35 per square foot for installation cost, bringing it to a grand total of $12.30 per square foot.
High quality cedar costs about $6.35 per square foot for the material cost alone, and another $7.25 per square foot for the installation cost, bringing it to a grand total of $13.60 per square foot.

This means that a 300 square foot deck could cost up to $4080! After all, good quality comes at a high price and you almost certainly always get what you pay for. Most deck contractors would tell you that it is definitely a good investment. It is definitely better than scrimping and saving, only to have your deck builders build you a low quality custom deck that will have enormous amounts of wear and tear (and additional deck repair costs) in the near future.

The Final Decision – Cedar Decking, Or No Cedar Decking, for Your Custom Deck?

No matter what your deck building plans, let’s be honest – all of us want value for money as customers. No one wants to spend a ton of money only to realize that it was the wrong decision. So, to put your mind at ease, here are some of the benefits of using cedar wood for your custom deck.
Cedar wood is ideal for your custom deck because it is:

One of the most aesthetically pleasing wood types out there, not only when it has just been harvested and installed, but even when it has aged
One of the most durable wood types out there, with natural properties that protects itself from the elements
One of the most practical wood types out there, with benefits such as dimensional stability, heat insulation, good sound absorption
Definitely great value for your money as it will last for a long time to come