Adding a wood deck will increase your home’s value and provide you with countless hours of enjoyment.  Wood decks are great for entertaining, enjoying outdoor meals and just plain relaxing.  When planning your wood deck, there are a few things you should consider.

Before beginning construction of a wood deck, find out about building codes in your area.  Knowing the regulations for wood decks can save you lots of headaches down the road.

Many professional deck builders advertise the use of pressure-treated wood.  The wood is treated to repel insects and resist rot.  Due to the presence of toxic pesticides, pressure-treated wood should be avoided for the surface of your deck.  Stick with durable woods such as cedar and redwood for the deck surface and limit the use of pressure-treated wood to the deck supports.

Sealing a wood deck will help protect it from the damaging effects of sun and rain.  Without sealing, the deck will begin to warp and turn gray.  A new wood deck should be sealed shortly after completion.