Page 569 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 450

If you build or remodel a deck that's under a window, and the deck floor is less than 18 inches below the
bottom edge of the window, that window may now be considered a hazardous location by the building
code. If it is, the window must be special safety glass. Check for this when you estimate the job so if it
applies, you can include the cost in your bid.

Choices in Porch and Deck Floor Plank

Western red cedar and redwood are naturally decay- and insect-resistant. The cost is higher than
pressure-treated lumber, especially in areas remote from the west coast of the U.S. and Canada, where
western red cedar and redwood are milled. For decks, use either construction common or construction
heart redwood. "Merch" redwood is a lower grade ("merchantable") and has more knots and sapwood.
Heart redwood is cinnamon-red and has more natural decay-resistance. The sapwood is creamy yellow.
The most common widths are 4 inches and 6 inches. Lengths are usually 8, 12 and 16 feet. Both 5/4
inch and nominal 2 inch thickness are available. When left unfinished, both redwood and cedar turn a
rustic gray after a few years. Apply water-repellent or stain to retard the color change. We don't
recommend varnishes and other film-forming coatings, which will crack and peel on a walking surface.
Both western red cedar and redwood are relatively soft and can be abraded under foot traffic.

Pressure-treated lumber makes sturdy and durable deck material. Most treated lumber sold for decking
measures 5/4 inches (1-1/4 inches) or nominal 2 inches thick and from 4 inches to 6 inches wide.
Lengths are from 8 feet to 16 feet. Shorter lengths and narrower widths cost less per square foot of
deck. Longer and wider pieces cost more but require less labor for installation. Pressure-treated wood
decking costs less than other decking materials but should be fastened with galvanized nails or screws.
All hangers and fasteners should be hot-dipped galvanized, such as Simpson Zmax. For 2-inch lumber,
use 12d nails or 3-inch screws. For 5/4-inch decking, use 10d nails or 2-1/2-inch screws. Most
pressure-treated lumber isn't pretty. It comes from the lumber yard tinted green from the residue of the
ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) or CA (copper azol) treatment. Soft areas in the wood absorb more
stain than the harder portions. The result is a mottled appearance that won't win any prizes. Exposure
to the sun and rain will fade the deck from green to honey to gray after a few years. Unless deck lumber
has been coated already (Thompsonized), apply a water-repellant top coat immediately after installation.