Custom Decks
Affordable Option - Pressure Treated Lumber
At AJT - we work with your choice of material
This ubiquitous green-tinted wood is the No. 1 decking material sold today, which isn’t surprising when you consider that pressure-treated (PT) decking is affordable, relatively durable, readily available coast-to-coast, and easy to stain virtually any color.
Most PT decking is milled from southern yellow pine, and then chemically treated to resist rot, fungus, and wood-boring bugs. The two most common sizes of PT decking are 2x6s, and 5/4 x 6-in. planks. Occasionally 2x4s are used, but typically only on smaller decks.
The downside of PT lumber is that it's not very dimensionally stable, meaning that when exposed to the elements it tends to swell, shrink, crack, cup, split, and warp. In fact, it’s not unusual that one or more deck boards will need to be replaced after just a year or two because of severe warping.
PT decking also requires more maintenance than most other decking materials. In order to prolong the life and look of the deck, it requires an annual power washing and then a new coat of exterior-grade stain or clear wood preservative every two or three years. PT decking may be chemically treated that doesn’t mean it’s maintenance free.
Naturally Superior - Redwood or Cedar
The next most popular wood-decking options are Redwood and Western Red Cedar. Both of these western softwoods are prized for their rich color, natural beauty, and because they’re not pumped full of chemicals or preservatives. Both wood species contain tannins and oils that make them naturally resistant to rot, decay, and voracious insects.
Your AJT salesman will work with you to recommend the best grade lumber to use for your decking.
The best grades of red cedar decking are (listed from most expensive and clearest, to least expensive and most knotty): architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty.
Both Redwood and Cedar decking requires an annual power washing and coat of finish every three to four years. A clear wood preservative that contains a water repellent will help protect the wood's surface from the weather and to reduce checking (fine splits). However, a clear finish won’t prevent redwood or cedar from eventually weathering to a silvery gray color. If you’d like to maintain the wood's natural color, you'll have to apply a semitransparent stain that’s specifically tinted and formulated for use on cedar or redwood.
Better Boards - Composites
Composite decking and its close cousin, PVC decking, represent the fastest-growing decking materials sold today. Composite decking is made from a mixture of recycled plastic and wood dust that’s molded into long, dense boards. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) decking, also called synthetic decking, is made of 100 percent plastic; there are no wood binders.
Composite and PVC decking are popular because they’re virtually maintenance free. Both types are extremely weather-resistant, easy to clean, and neither will ever splinter, warp, cup, or rot. And they don’t require sanding or staining. They’re available in a variety of colors and each features a wood-grain texture that—from a distance—looks like natural wood. Although many homeowners think composites do a better job of mimicking real wood than does PVC. But PVC decking is much lighter than composite decking, so it’s easier to carry and lift into place. And it’s worth mentioning that most composite decking and plastic decking manufacturers also offer a line of matching handrails, balusters, and fascias.
Composite decking brands include Trex, Fiberon, and Veranda. PVC decking manufacturers include TimberTech Azek, Zuri, and Vekadeck.
Contact Us
Service Areas:
Manasquan, NJ
Brick Township, NJ
Monmouth County, NJ
Mantoloking, NJ
Point Pleasant, NJ
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
(877) 273-3992