Cedar, Ipe or Red Batu Decking – Which is Best for You?

When it comes to the best wood for an Ottawa deck, there are three main options: Western Red cedar, Ipe, and Red Batu. Any of these woods would be an excellent choice for your deck, and often the decision comes down to personal preference and budget considerations.   Cedar  Western red cedar is the classic decking…

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Why We Recommend CUTEK Extreme to Finish Decks 

Are you looking to stain your wood decking? High-quality decking stains protect and maintain (or enhance!) the natural look of wood. But, with so many options available on the market, it can be difficult to decide which finish is best for your project.   We’re here to help by highlighting the benefits of CUTEK wood oil…

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5 Reasons to Use Red Batu for Decking   

Red Batu Decking

Red Batu hardwood is an increasingly popular exterior decking wood. Not only is it beautiful to look at but it’s durable in harsh weather conditions: a winning combination! Red Batu is similar to other hardwoods like Ipe, and can be used in place of composite or synthetic decking. In addition to decks, Red Batu can…

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4 Tips to Finish a Cedar Deck

Are you installing a western red cedar deck?  Cedar is an incredibly durable building material that’s naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insects. To keep your deck looking great for years to come, follow these four steps:  Properly prepare the deck surface Choose the right finish Apply finish like a pro Maintain the deck surface…

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Knotty vs. Select Cedar – Which Should You Choose?    

select/knotty cedar decking

Western red cedar is a popular material for interior and exterior applications, and rightfully so. It’s durable, sustainable, and beautiful. Cedar is also versatile because the wood is sorted based on a number of criteria, so you can choose the right grade for your project (and budget).   One of the ways that cedar is categorized…

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How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? 

The most common question we hear is, how much will it cost? But when it comes to composite decking costs, it’s hard to give a definitive answer.  Relatively, composite is less expensive than PVC, but more expensive than wood.   There are also a number of companies manufacturing composite decking – and each brand has multiple…

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PVC vs Composite Decks 

PVC vs composite

For homeowners thinking about installing their first deck, it can be confusing to make sense of all the decking options – especially when it comes to PVC vs composite decking. At first glance, they seem fairly similar, but there are some key differences between the two.  PVC Composite Made of 100% synthetic material  Made from…

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How to Choose Between TimberTech Lines 

You’ve made the decision to go with a composite decking product, and have even narrowed it down to TimberTech – but now what? The next step is to decide between the different TimberTech lines and figure out which one is right for your project.  Three TimberTech Product Lines  TimberTech organizes their decking products into three…

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What’s the Difference Between TimberTech Collections? 

There are a lot of decking options out there and it can be overwhelming to understand the difference between products. If you read our article about TimberTech lines, you know that the TimberTech brand offers three distinct levels of products: Azek, Pro and Edge. TimberTech further breaks down its products into collections: TimberTech Azek –…

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Comparing Trex Collections

Trex has become synonymous with composite decking – and with good reason – they produce a quality product and continually innovate. Trex has been supplying decking material for almost three decades and has become the world’s largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking products. 3 Trex Collections  Over the years, Trex has added to their product line…

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