Have you been thinking about expanding your living space? By adding a deck or patio to your backyard, you create a great place to share meals and cocktails with family and friends, and a relaxing place to unwind after a long day’s work. Best of all, by engaging in this American tradition, you increase your home’s equity in a stylish and practical way.
At Weather-Tite Exterior, we believe that nothing is more rewarding than helping homeowners create the backyard for their dreams. One that allows them to extend their entertaining and living space from their home into their backyard. We understand that the ideal deck should fit the esthetic style and structure of the house and the preferences, personality, and needs of the owner. It should be constructed with easy-to-maintain materials, and allow use year-round, whenever possible. And of course, it should be built to the highest of standards for years of worry-free use.
Natural Redwood Decking
We have found that the best materials to withstand various climates are either Redwood natural wood or TREX composite products. We like Redwood natural wood because we feel that it is a remarkable deck material in almost every way.
Redwood natural wood gets its name from its fragrant, earthy reddish-brown color. It is harvested from new growth trees that are 30 to 50 years old, from forests that are sustainably maintained and replanted. They are grown and harvested following the world’s highest environmental standards. They are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or Sustainable Forestry Initiative as sources of environmentally-sound building material and use 97% less energy to produce than plastic.
Benefits of Natural Redwood Decking
If you love the natural finish of wood so much you don’t want to entertain any other material, that’s understandable! It is a stylish look for South Dakota homes, not only does it look great it also has many other benefits.
Durability: Redwood can last up to about 30 years on a well-maintained deck under appropriate circumstances. It is incredibly stable and straight due to its longlasting hardwood properties prevent it from warping or cupping. Also, due to its low shrinkage rate, splitting is minimized.
Aesthetics: One of the main reasons homeowners like Redwood is aesthetics. Redwood possesses a rich character and natural beauty that enhances the exterior of any home. It creates an aura of warmth and luxury, adding value while also providing an ecologically sound alternative.
Resilience: It has natural resistants to wood-boring insects and weathering without the use of preservative chemicals. Redwood is also the most fire-resistant decking material on the market.
Drawbacks of Natural Redwood Decking
Unfortunately, like all materials, Redwood natural wood can have its flaws as no material is perfect.
Maintenance: As beautiful as it is, Redwood is still wood and can only withstand so much. With any wood deck, you will have to prepare for the upkeep. Typically, homeowners will stain and treat their deck once a year to protect it all year round. This upkeep can be costly, and if you don’t keep up with it, your deck will succumb to the elements faster.
Susceptibility: Because Redwood is more soft and porous then composite, it is more susceptible to scratches and can stain easily.
Where to Start
Starting a home remodeling project can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help. Once you contact Weather-Tite Exteriors, our first step will be to schedule a meeting with you to understand your needs and expectations. We will discuss any budgetary concerns or past projects/ideas that have caught your eye. If it’s important to you, we want to make sure it’s important to us! Once we have a clear understanding of your project’s size and scope, we will work with you throughout the process to make sure there are no surprises, and you get the deck you have always wanted.
Natural Redwood Decking Frequently Asked Questions
Cleaning Natural Redwood decking can be simple and easy. Usually, a simple soap and water solution will do the trick. If you are dealing with a situation where the dirt and grime have collected a deep build-up, you can scrub the area with a stiff-bristled brush and a bucket of warm water, and a mild detergent.
It’s not a very frequent occurrence but every once in a while, especially in damper climates, you might notice a patch of mildew on your redwood. In this situation, the best way to remove the mildew is to mix a solution that consists of one cup bleach and one cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) that is diluted in one gallon on the warm water. Next, scrub the area with a stiff-bristled brush and rinse thoroughly afterward. For more information on how to get rid of mildew click here!
