Treated pine decking: Is it right for you? -

It’s easy to get inspired by the amazing, expansive hardwood decks you see in other homes, magazines and online articles. It's also easy to be turned off by a decking project once you learn how much it would cost. Good thing there’s treated pine decking.

Treated pine decking is a cost-effective alternative to some of the more expensive hardwoods. Once treated, pine gets one of the wonderful finishes available, you won’t even know the difference! Now, you can enjoy the extra outdoor living space without the financial stress. We put together some information on treated pine decking to share with you.

What is treated pine?

As its name suggests, treated pine is pine wood that has been chemically treated to resist the common threats to softwood, such as termites and rot. In the past, there have been safety concerns around the common use of Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) to treat pine, typically identified by its green tinge. These days, however, most pine is treated with Alkaline Copper and Quaternary (ACQ), which complies with current legislation. Other acceptable treatments are LOSP, which is free of arsenic, and Copper Azole preservative (CA-B).

Treated pine timbers and decking boards can be kiln-dried or wet and are typically 20mm thick and either 70mm or 90mm wide. There are standard lengths available, but this may vary depending on your local supplier.

Why should I use treated pine decking boards?

There are several reasons for using treated pine decking boards apart from being cost-effective; it takes a range of finishes, is easy to work with and being so consistent makes for a uniform, attractive result.

• Treated pine is long-lasting and low-cost, both very popular characteristics.
• Treated pine decking boards can be stained to produce the effect of other timbers you like, such as expensive hardwoods. They can also be painted and that opens up an incredible array of colour treatments.
• Being softwood, treated pine is easy to cut, nail and sand. That's useful for construction and for any future re-finishing.
• Consistency in the width and thickness of treated pine decking boards means an even result and no problems if you need to replace any of them in the future.

Want to really make sure that treated pine decking is the best choice for you? Get help from a decking specialist! A decking expert can give you valuable and specific decking advice and help you build the perfect deck.