First and foremost, it’s important that your deck blends in perfectly with other areas of the yard, such as the playground, relaxation area and pool. The style and materials chosen should also harmonize with those of your home.
Treated wood
Treated wood remains the most popular option when it comes to choosing a material to build the structure and cladding of your deck.
Its main advantage is its reasonable price, but it also offers an attractive durability/price ratio.
This is due to the chemical treatment carried out at the factory, which ensures good penetration of the product into the wood, thereby increasing its lifespan by five to 10 times.
Similarly, as treated wood grays over time, you’ll need to apply a sealer or stain every two or three years.
Finally, as the chemicals used to treat wood are corrosive, you need to use stainless steel, galvanized or epoxy-coated nails or screws.
Cedar
Cedar is also a highly sought-after species because it produces a natural oil that makes it resistant to fungus and mildew.
Cedar pieces are available with or without knots (“clear knots”), the latter being more expensive.
In both cases, you can use them for the structure or covering of your terrace.
We do not recommend cleaning the surface with a high-pressure water jet, as this could damage it.
To maintain its rich appearance, you’ll need to apply finishing products on a regular basis (usually every two or three years).
Composite materials
The market now offers several deck and balcony covering products made from composite materials.
These cannot be used for structural purposes and must therefore be installed on wooden parts.
Boards are generally made from a mixture of plastic and wood fibers.
Available in a range of mass-impregnated colors and smooth or grained finishes, these planks can maintain the same appearance for years without cracking or warping. However, they are much heavier than wood.
Plastic and PVC
Plastic or PVC cover boards are generally designed to interlock with each other, thus concealing their fastening system.
They are resistant to splitting and warping, as well as to rot and insects. Easy to care for, these products can nevertheless become very hot if exposed to sunlight for long periods.
Fiberglass coating
Although less widely used, fiberglass cladding is available in a wide range of colors.
Solid and waterproof, it resists rot and insects, and offers a non-slip surface. Durable and resistant, this product is nevertheless manufactured on request.
Stone and cement
More and more homeowners are opting for integrated, natural landscaping of their yards, hence the growing popularity of terraces built on the ground or in tiers, made of natural stone or, more frequently, concrete-based products imitating various stone patterns and textures.
Depending on its size, however, this type of development requires more extensive excavation and installation work than a raised terrace.
There are three main styles of pavers and slabs on the market for this type of terrace.
Classic-style products are characterized by regular shapes, clean edges, smooth texture and uniform color.
Those in the antique style have a more broken texture, looking as if they’ve been worn over time, and nuanced earth tones.
The natural style, on the other hand, relies on sculpted stones with undulating contours or a chiselled surface, rather like slate; shades are nuanced, and there are even products in non-standard sizes.
In addition to pavers and paving slabs, manufacturers also offer steps, kerbs and coping blocks in the same styles and imitating natural stone.
The arrangement of your pavers or slabs allows you to create different patterns when building your terrace.
Linear patterns can be achieved by arranging square or rectangular pieces and lining them up at staggered joints, rather like a brick wall.
If you prefer modular designs, use rectangular pieces and arrange them in different ways.
The market also offers packages made up of modules of various shapes and sizes.
To create random patterns, choose pieces with irregular contours and lay them as if you were making a mosaic.
