Charlottesville Decks
Nothing says summertime like enjoying your morning coffee or a cook out on your new deck, and saving money when you build one with a Frugal DIY Pro by your side is a piece of cake!
Just as with most home improvements and remodeling projects, there are many choices to make when deciding on the design and
materials to use for a new deck. While treated lumber is a must for the supporting structural components, whatever you do DO NOT
use treated lumber for the decling itself or the handrails! Not only do you not want your skin to come in repeated contact with ACQ,
the fingicide / insecticide that is infused into the wood, but the wood doesn't fair well with long term exposure to the sun.
What is ACQ? ACQ is the replacement for CCA, Chromated Copper Arsenate, treated wood. ACQ is a water-based wood preservative that prevents decay from fungi and insects (i.e., it is a fungicide and insecticide). There are currently four AWPA (American Wood Preservers Association) standardized ACQ formulations, ACQ Types A, B, C, and D. The different formulations allow flexibility in achieving compatibility with different wood species and end use applications. All ACQ types contain 2 active ingredients which may vary within the following limits: copper oxide (62%-71%), which is the primary fungicide and insecticide, and a quaternary ammonium compound (29%-38%), which provides additional fungicide and insect resistance properties. Most wood-treating plants in the US generally use the ACQ-D formulation except for much of the west coast. Standardized by the AWPA in 1995, ACQ-D contains 66.7% copper oxide and 33.3% quat as DDAC. Type D differs from type B in that it uses an ethanolamine carrier solution rather than ammonia. Wood treated with ACQ-D has a lighter greenish-brown color with little odor.
When using treated lumber such as ACQ, it is critical to make sure that you are using fasteners specifically designed for use with ACQ. Using non-approved galvanized nails won't work, and they will corrode and potentially present a safety issue with your new deck. To read more about the use of ACQ and selecting the proper fasteners, review the Material Safety Data Sheet for ACQ treated lumber and the guide on ACQ Fasteners.
When it comes to choosing materials, there are dozens of choices, each one with its own pros and cons. Consider how often you want to spend a weekend washing and sealing your deck. Consider the colors you want for the decking and handrails, and consider the overall life expectancy of the materials. Materials range from treated wood, to exotic hardwoods like 'IPE (ee-pay) which is Brazillian Walnut (a very good choice), cedar, redwood and on to various synthetic or composite materials like Trex brand decking, PVC vinyl and others. We recommend and often use Trex and IPE. IPE in particular, if you will appreciate the silver-ish color it eventually turns to after a few years of weathering, is an exceptional product. In our experience, 'IPE is the closes thing to maintenance free, though there is no completely maintenance free product for decking. Even if you use Trex or PVC vinyl, you'll have to wash the deck surfaces from time to time if you want to maintain a new and clean appearance.
Give us a call at (434) 202-4198, or use the contact form to get started. Our initial consultation fee is only $88, and we credit that back to you in full when you hire us as your personal on-site deck building coach. When the deck is done, expect savings in the range of 40 to 50% off the prices you'll get from a contractor!