| If you are like me, you have a handle on DIY home | | | | My research uncovered information that I would |
| maintenance and you haven't called a plumber or an | | | | never have considered prior to that TV virus |
| electrician since George Bush Sr. was in the White | | | | infecting my wife's database. As an example, I have |
| House. My shop is the envy of every guy in the | | | | never built a deck, fence or other outside project |
| neighborhood, and I know my way around just about | | | | with a preconceived notion of how long it would last. |
| any home repair or remodeling project. So, when my | | | | I would use what I thought was the best material |
| wife asked if we could build a deck on the back of | | | | for the job and know that in a couple years I would |
| our log home, I didn't give it a second thought. "A | | | | need to paint or stain again. |
| quick trip to the local lumber yard and I'll have us | | | | All wood grays over time and many people like a |
| grilling steaks on our new deck by Sunday, I told my | | | | gray weathered appearance. However, an oil-based |
| bride. | | | | sealer will help preserve Brazilian decking and help |
| When she hesitated after hearing my construction | | | | retain the original color if you desire. Regarding the |
| estimation, I knew there was more to this request | | | | remarkable lifespan of these woods, the estimates |
| than I had been told, and I was soon enlightened. | | | | are based on the "Janka hardness rating" (used to |
| Thanks to Oprah, or some other TV show I don't | | | | determine whether a species is suitable for use as |
| watch, my wife had learned that decks have | | | | flooring.) |
| changed. "Nobody builds decks like they used to", the | | | | - Cambara - 15 years |
| newly crowned deck expert told me, "now they use | | | | - Garapa - 25 years |
| composite materials or Brazilian woods that last | | | | - Tigerwood - 40 years |
| forever", I was informed. | | | | - Jatoba - 50 years |
| The gauntlet had been laid in front of me; my wife | | | | - Cumaru - 80 years |
| knew more about a construction matter than me. I | | | | - Ipe' - 100 years |
| did what any man will do when challenged in such a | | | | Clearly, weather and the elements play a critical part |
| manner, I fired-up the Internet and headed for | | | | in how long any material survives outdoors, so we |
| Google. Oprah was not going to lecture to my wife | | | | are talking averages here. The life expectancy of a |
| about building decks and construction materials - that | | | | conventional deck surface of pine can be as short as |
| was my job. | | | | 5 or 6 years unless you think navigating rot fractures |
| What began as a simple weekend project had now | | | | and loose boards constitutes a "stable" deck. |
| become a research operation worthy of a | | | | Redwood from the good old USA will last longer and |
| government grant. I could never admit this to my | | | | is an ideal substitute for pressure-treated pine, but it |
| wife, or Oprah, but I soon learned that nobody builds | | | | is exorbitantly expensive and almost impossible to |
| decks like they used to. The last deck I built was | | | | obtain. |
| constructed using those greenish pine | | | | Most composite decking manufacturers warrant |
| pressure-treated boards that oozed some kind of | | | | against just about everything but color fading. |
| fluid and weighed five times what they should. | | | | However, I learned that many people's experience is |
| Sometime during the last century we were told that | | | | that it will begin to sag and discolor after 5 to 8 |
| wood preservative caused cancer and those heavy | | | | years. I followed some interesting online forums and |
| green boards disappeared from lumber yards. | | | | blogs and discovered that composite decking has |
| Alternative choices for decking made of real wood | | | | "love it or hate-it" fan clubs, so you will want to do |
| became (and remain) slim. Because of the huge | | | | your own research and I'd recommend that you dig |
| demand and limited supply such wood requires special | | | | deep. Some of the horror stories involving $20,000 |
| orders for over-priced lumber that is never "in stock". | | | | deck fiascos could give you nightmares. |
| To address this market opportunity, composite | | | | Affordability is the ultimate decision maker (unless |
| materials appeared on the scene and are very | | | | you're Oprah). As with all things, the bottom line will |
| popular. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I like wood | | | | usually determine our ultimate choice, but I was in |
| and the thought of grilling my steak standing on a | | | | love with the beauty and structural soundness of the |
| plastic deck just rubs me the wrong way. | | | | Brazilian decking woods I discovered. My cost analysis |
| Fortunately, I discovered that I am not alone in my | | | | of using Brazilian hardwood versus pine or composite |
| wood lust and that there are companies who offer a | | | | decking was a surprising exercise. My research results |
| better, natural solution to the decking dilemma. Our | | | | showed that pressure treated pine costs |
| choices for decking materials other than composites | | | | approximately $.80 per linear foot (plf), and although |
| and pressure-treated ugly boards now include woods | | | | inexpensive, we're talking about incurring that same |
| from the forests of South America that last for | | | | expense many times over the lifetime of a house. |
| decades… many, many decades. I discovered | | | | Composite decking costs range from $2.00 to $4.00 |
| one such company named Brazilian Wood Depot | | | | plf, but again we're looking at a reoccurring expense. |
| located in Norcross, Georgia, that imports and | | | | Surprisingly enough, the Brazilian woods, which are |
| distributes several species of premium, real-wood | | | | the most beautiful and offer the longest lasting |
| decking. | | | | solution, cost approximately $2.20 plf. After you |
| I contacted the owner, Eric Hoover, and received a | | | | factor out maintenance and factor in a projected 15 |
| cram course on real wood decking alternatives. | | | | to 100 year lifespan, this was a no-brainer decision. In |
| These are beautiful woods that literally require no | | | | addition to being affordable and beautiful, Brazilian |
| maintenance and are more durable than composite | | | | decking wood is extremely durable, needs no |
| decking. What's better still is that lifetime estimates | | | | maintenance, is recyclable and biodegradable. I live in |
| range from 15 to 100 years depending on the | | | | a log home - I really like wood, and I just discovered |
| species. You read that correctly - 100 years! | | | | I could afford what I wanted. |