Thursday 17 February 2011

The Best Kind of Patio Deck

Every one knows that the best kind of patio deck is the kind that will not require a whole lot of maintenance that has to be constantly executed on a routine basis. In the world of today, this points to a composite wood patio deck. Most patio decks are currently being constructed out of the usual natural wood. This is probably because it is the cheapest and also the most readily available construction material that is on the market today. In the olden days, before weather proofing materials were available, the typical wood structure was much less durable. Therefore, the homeowner knew that after years of attacks by the unrelenting termites, coupled with the absence of any kind of routine maintenance in order to preserve the wood, it was inevitable that the patio decks would eventually crumble and have to be replaced.

Platforms that had been constructed out of one hundred percent wood, whether it has been treated or not, still needed to be protected from any kind of extreme weather conditions. Excessive heat and intense cold temperatures would make the timber warp and snap along any of the weak points that may be there. However, with the advancement in technology and the invention of modern timber treatment techniques, natural wood has been able to match the durability of stone and concrete in the construction of patio decks.

On the other hand, composite wood is one material that you should not overlook while searching for a decking material. This product is only half natural wood. The other half of composite wood is a polymer material. Due to the fact that it is not all natural wood, and it is half plastic, the composite wood is immune to cracks and warps that are usually created by any kind of extreme weather conditions. It will not absorb water and therefore will not be attacked by mold spores. This automatically extends the life span of the composite wood deck. Nevertheless, the combination of wood and plastic still results in a very pleasing appearance because they have maintained the natural grains of the wood.

One of the major advantages that most homeowners have been very attractive to is that there is a lot less maintenance that is required with this new composite material. These magnificent decks simply refuse to fade; even after being constantly exposed to the natural sunlight and extreme freezing temperatures of winter for several years. This means that a whole lot less time has to be expended on worrying about any kind of monthly upkeep that should be going on. Imagine enjoying a whole summer season doing only the things that you absolutely want to do.