With the introduction and availability of pressure-treated lumber, wood decks have become more popular than ever. Pressure-treated lumber is impregnated with various types of salts which prevent wood decay. This type of lumber is available in various grades; from lumber that can be in contact with the ground, to appearance-trade lumber which can be used for the portion of the structure most visible.

The use of pressure-treated lumber by itself is not enough to guarantee the quality of the deck. Well-built decks are characterized by the following:

• A deck may not need a foundation as hefty as that of a house, but it does need a good foundation. The best foundations for decks tend to be poured concrete footings with metal post saddles. Small decks or those low to the ground can be built on concrete pier blocks.

• If the deck is fastened to the house, it must be flashed in a way that will prevent water entry to the house.
• Nails and other fasteners, as well as flashing, joist hangers and hardware must be resistant to water and weather. Under normal conditions, hot-dipped galvanized material is a good choice. If your deck is near salt water, you may want to use stainless steel.
• Some pressure-treated lumber has the capacity of withstanding soil contact for 40 years and more, but it will most likely last longer if it is kept out of the soil.
• Pressure-treated lumber will tend to crack if not coated with a water sealer. The water sealer should be applied at the time of construction,
  and subsequently every 3 years.

Decks built with non pressure-treated lumber, including decks built with cedar, require periodic treatment with a wood preservative. Old growth cedar "heartwood" lumber has a relatively high resistance to rot. But most of the cedar we find in the lumber yard is relatively young "sapwood" and will start to rot in a few years unless it is treated at construction time and every 3-5 years hence. Even if you find and can afford top-quality cedar, the application of a wood preservative will help protect your investment, and a quickly disappearing wood product.

Materials avaialble at Dunn Lumber.

Wood preservatives and pressure-treated lumber may contain toxic substances. Instructions must be read carefully. Pressure-treated lumber should never be burned. Gloves and protective clothing and disposal of excess material and debris according to regulations is mandatory. For folks in the Seattle area, the Seattle/King County Health Department can answer any specific questions.

The Household Hazards Information Line telephone number is (206) 296-4692. Similar services are provided by local agencies in many other parts of the country.

Among the deck products with lowest maintenance costs are concrete, concrete paver and ceramic paver decks and patios. The material itself will withstand most weather conditions, does not rot, and burning pieces of charcoal will not cause it to burn.

A good concrete or tile deck will last if:

• It is built on a solid foundation. The soil around a newly built house will tend to settle unless it has been compacted. Even when built on compacted soil, a patio will tend to settle differently than the house. It may be necessary to connect the patio or deck to the foundation.

• Expansion joints of wood, rubber, or asphalt must be built into the concrete in order to allow for controlled cracking. Old wood expansion joints tend to rot out, and may have to be replaced with treated lumber.
• Not all clay products are intended for outside use, some will absorb a great deal of moisture and crack or flake as the moisture freezes. Even
  masonry intended for outside use benefits from moisture proofing every few years.

Concrete does not have to look dull and gray. It may be colored by use of various additives, colored sand, and specialty aggregate. The top layer of the concrete can be "washed off" during installation, producing an "exposed aggregate." A good place to see some alternative uses of concrete is Chuck Greening's "gate" at the northwest corner of the Good Shepard Center on 50th North and Meredian in Seattle.

A deck may not require a building permit if it is less than eighteen inches off the ground. Most decks must comply with all zoning requirements, such as lot coverage, side yard and back yard setbacks; as well as structural and other building code considerations.

Planting areas on decks are a major cause of wood rot, but when properly built and maintained can be trouble free and add to the enjoyment of the deck. Year-round water and soil are a must in planter boxes, mandating even more careful selection of construction techniques. But planters also need to overcome some of the special challenges of deck gardening:

• The small volume of earth in most planters will tend to require frequent watering. Daily watering is usually required in mid-summer.

• Many gardeners recommend that you plant one pot inside of a larger pot with moss or other water-retaining material to keep more constant moisture levels.
• Drip irrigation systems make deck gardening less of a watering chore.
• Some plant cultivators are specifically selected for decks, including "patio" tomatoes, and other "bush" varieties.
• Herb gardens are ideal for decks near kitchens.
• Clematis, grapes and wisteria, as well as other climbers are ideal for "softening" deck structures and trellises. Treating the wood deck after the climber has grown for a few years could be difficult without damaging the plant.

Our decks will be in their full glory as company comes from out of town. We will try to assure our guests that not every summer morning allows for a
leisurely breakfast in the sun. And if a bald eagle or heron flies overhead, we will have a ready opportunity to talk about the fragile environment, Hershel and his friends, and the Puget Sound population explosion.