The Advantages of Cedar Decks
Cedar is a great choice for decks because of its natural look and resistance to rot and insect damage. Cedar costs about twice as much as pressure-treated lumber, but it's a less expensive alternative to materials like redwood or cypress. Does this Spark an idea?
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Appearance
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Cedar has a warm, golden-brown to reddish-brown color when new. As opposed to the greenish appearance of pressure-treated wood, cedar looks more natural. With age, cedar turns to a silvery-gray; you can slow the by sealing the wood with clear finishes.
Durability
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Cedar has natural chemicals in the fibers that prevent rot and repel insects, very similar to redwood. The boards resist warping and twisting better than pressure-treated wood, even after being exposed to the weather for long periods of time.
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Workability
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Cedar resists splintering during sawing and drilling, but it is soft enough to cut easily with power tools. You can stain it in colors other than its natural tones. You should consider using cedar mainly on the parts of the deck you can see -- deck planks, rails and stairs -- instead of on structural components, where it does not perform as well as other materials.
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