Three highly rated deck builders discuss eco-friendly decking materials.
Do you use environmentally friendly decking products? What type(s) of wood do you use?
Ron Stevens: We use treated cedar products that don’t use arsenic in the treatment process. It lasts 20 years. It doesn’t really warp as much as treated pine.
Bill Bunch: We use Trex. It’s recycled plastic along with wood by-products. It’s splinter-free and friendly to the environment. For wood, we primarily use pressure-treated pine for longevity and durability.
Jimmy Turner: We use composite materials and also the seeded pine treatment doesn’t have any arsenic in it as it did in the past. Treated pine is all I use. That’s more cost-effective for my residential clients. It’s going to last 15 to 20 years even if you don’t keep it up.
What is the minimum price per square foot for a new deck installation?
Ron Stevens: I can build you a deck for about $10 to $12 a square foot on average. That’s a plain Jane, simple deck.
Bill Bunch: Someone could expect to spend $14 to $15 per square foot. It can range from $14 to $35.
Jimmy Turner: My basic deck is $12.50 a square foot. My rail system on it is $15 a foot. It’s treated for rot and termites and stuff like that.
What are common problems and/or pests in the Houston area with wood decks, patio covers or pergolas?
Ron Stevens: The moisture. It mildews in a wet year. It gets too dry or too hot, it fades. It’s a favored home for possums or rats.
Bill Bunch: We have extremes. It’s raining one day and then 90- or 100-degree sun the next day. It does tend to make for more expansion and contraction on a wood deck.
Jimmy Turner: A lot of people complain about critters getting underneath the deck, but I build it all the way to the bottom so it’s closed all the way to the ground.
What are the differences between a wood deck and a composite deck?
Ron Stevens: A composite deck is plastic, but it’s framed in wood. It runs like $20 a square foot.
Bill Bunch: Composite can almost double in cost compared to wood. You don’t have to stain and seal it. In 10 years, it may be a break-even proposition.
Jimmy Turner: Composite decking is man-made material. It doesn’t splinter. It’s about double the cost of wood.
