Ipe: Pronounced "eepay". Ipe is an extremely dense tight-grained tropical hardwood, possessing incredible natural resistance to rot, decay and insect damage. Properly maintained Ipe offers a life span of nearly 100 years. Even without preservatives this amazing species will provide over 25 years of serviceable use. Ipe's appearance is a dark yellow to olive brown. Ipe carries a Class 1-A fire rating, the same as steel and conrete.
Western Red Cedar: Cedar decking has been a standard in the Northwest for generations. Natually resistant to rot and decay, cedar is an attractive and affordable decking option. Because it is relatively soft, cedar is prone to damage and wear in high traffic areas, though sanding and refinishing is a fairly simple process. Left unfinished cedar will soon weather to gray and typically lasts around 10-15 years. A regular application of a quality wood preservative is recommended for maintaining a "wet" appearance and prolonging the life span of the product.
Mahogany: Mahogany is a dark red hardwood commonly used in boat building and cabinetry. Though not as durable as Ipe, Mahogany offers a fair level of natural decay resistance and a sleeker more finished look than cedar. Preservatives are recommended for attaining maximum life expectancy, about 30 years.
Teak and other hardwoods: Many other species of hardwoods are available for use as decking. Their properties range between those of Mahogany and Ipe. The exotic appearance of these woods will make your project truly one of a kind. Talk to DEXPERTS to find out what is currently available.
Composite decking: Recently the popularity of wood/plastic compostie decking has exploded. Touted as "maintenance free" these materials still require seasonal cleaning (fall and spring) to look and perform their best. With the proliferation of new composite deckng choices, choosing one can be difficult. DEXPERTS recommends Timbertech™ brand composite decking.
Framing
Pressure Treated Lumber: Wood, as a building material, is often treated by forcing preservatives into wood cells. Since the 1940's Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) has been the most common preservative. Recent health concerns about the presence of arsenic have led to the phasing out of CCA. Alkaline Copper Quatenary (ACQ) and Copper Azoles (CA) are the most common alternatives. DEXPERTS uses ACQ or CA treated wood for all posts, beams and joists in the decks we construct. While safter for human contact, these alternative treatments have been found to be significantly more corrosive to metals than CCA treatments.
Fasteners and Hardware
Hot-dipped Galvanized and Stainless Steel: Because the new pressure treated wood causes faster corrosion in metals, DEXPERTS uses only hot-dipped galvanized and stainless steel hardware and fasteners.
Preservatives and Finishes
TWP 100™: Total Wood Preservative (TWP™) protects and enhances the warmth and natural beauty of wood. TWP penetrates dense wood grains, such as Ipe, assuring even and long-lasting coverage. The best thing about TWP is that a good cleaning is all that is necessary prior to refinishing, eliminating the time consuming process of stripping and sanding a deck. TWP™ is available in nine different colors.
