Your porch (and deck) is a unique place where you can relax after a long day, eat a meal outside or spend time with your loved ones. However, this special space must be skillfully designed and well-constructed, so it lasts for years. Spacious, solid and easy to maintain – this is what every porch and deck should be like. Choosing the right material and understanding which structural elements will be suitable for your lifestyle as well as the climate and weather conditions is very important.
Wood and composite are the most popular ones. See what types of products are currently available and what are their advantages and disadvantages, so that you choose well.
What To Consider When Choosing The Right Material For Your Porch or Deck
The choice of material for your outdoor living space should depend on two main factors:
1. Location
The choice of material for a deck or porch, of course, is associated with the aesthetics and your budget. The appearance of the deck usually depends on its location. When the deck is located right next to the house, you can use more original materials, allowing yourself to choose sophisticated forms and colors. When designing the space you can maintain the style of the interior, or match the material with your house’s windows or floors. This way, choosing the right material for the porch or deck will in some way become an extension of your living space.
If you have a deck in your backyard its character is usually more natural, where traditional, or even plant-based terrace materials should be used more often to give it a nice, organic look. The financial side of choosing a material for a deck or porch is related to its quality, exotic origin or unique design. However, sophisticated raw materials are not always prepared for our Chicago climate, so it is also worth taking into account their hardness and durability. It’s not just the appearance that matters.
2. Resistance to weather conditions
The location of the outdoor living space is also important as the choice of material must be resistant to the factors to which it will be most exposed in a given place. The surface of the terrace must be able to withstand the destructive effects of wind, rain, snow and frost all year round. Water is most dangerous for wood, for materials such as stone and ceramics – the cutoff temperature is around 32 °F. It is worth remembering that resistance is a guarantee that your deck or porch is not damaged by the first frosts or rays of the sun. Read more in our “Deck or Porch” post.
Composite
Hard as stone, resistant to moisture and frost – a material used for a deck or porch construction should be just like that. Composite boards are an example of a product with these properties. Many manufacturers offer a material that, although not perceived as a traditional building material for decks and porches, exceeds known standards in terms of durability, and also impresses with its visual side. Composite porch boards are made of a composite of wood flour and plastics. This combination guarantees the production of a durable material that’s resistant to water and weather conditions and looks like wood. The durability and the price of this material are its main advantages.
By choosing high-quality composite boards for a deck or porch, you can enjoy it for many years. Composite boards are produced in several colors imitating wood – usually shades of brown and grey. Composite decking, however, has both its supporters and opponents. The disadvantages include, above all, the color change over the years and the composite’s lack of resistance to grease or wine stains. Composite boards also get very hot. When installing a deck made of composite boards, you can, unfortunately, forget about walking on it with your bare feet on hot days. They are also not suitable for use e.g. around a swimming pool.
Wood
Wood is a natural and very effective material for finishing deck and porch surfaces. It complements the front or backyard and its greenery and beautiful outdoor furniture. If you decide on using natural wood during your porch or deck construction, you should pay attention to the type of wood (the durability of the entire surface depends on it).
At the moment, there is a huge variety of materials on the market that can be used by your deck and porch builders during construction. If it is to be made of natural material that is durable, sturdy and has an attractive color, it is best to choose boards made of exotic wood – the most durable and, at the same time, the most expensive. This type of material has a long lifespan and can last for several dozen years without maintenance, even in our climate.
However, if you want your porch or deck to look its best, then, depending on the type of wood, the deck should be oiled once or twice a year. Otherwise, it will patinate naturally under the influence of sunlight – exotic wood slightly changes its color each year. This does not have any negative impact on its durability
A slightly cheaper solution is native wood (redwood, cedar, oak). If you invest in porch and deck power washing and staining every year, then it will be elegant and will last for a long time. Customers who choose impregnated wood often look for a cheap solution. It is a great option for people on a budget, but – like with all other purchases – you only get what you pay for.
Impregnated wood requires proper care. Even with chemical impregnations, it has a tendency to mold and attract moisture and requires regular cleaning. It is also recommended that owners of such terraces stain and varnish the wood every 2-3 years to maintain its appearance and integrity. This of course also leads to an increase in the cost of such a construction over the years. Impregnated wood will not be a good choice if you want a material that is easy to maintain.
Remember that softwoods (pine, spruce) are not suitable for decking. These types of wood absorb water quickly, discolor under the influence of UV rays and are susceptible to abrasion. The construction of a pine or spruce surface may be the most advantageous in terms of price, but it will certainly not be a permanent solution for many years.
Chicago Porches And Decks
Here at Branico Construction, we specialize in the design, construction and installation of various types of decks and porches in Chicago. We also offer porch and deck staining, maintaining and porch and deck repair works as well as other services, so you can rest assured that the same experienced contractors who tackled their construction or installation job can continue the work needed to achieve the overall desired goal.
Our years of experience and attention to detail allows us to perform complex and responsible projects.
We operate in the Chicagoland area and are incredibly proud to call Chicago home.
We are constantly expanding our knowledge and experience, by including new technologies and solutions.
Call today and hire the best Chicago deck builders today!
