What Is The Best Deck Lumber For Hot Tubs
When you have a deck built for your home, there are many types of lumber to choose from. When building a deck for a hot tub, you'll want something really durable that won't warp or decay when regularly exposed to water.
Your deck can last for a hundred years if you build it right and take care of it, yes, even a deck that gets wet from splashing around in the hot tub. Here are a few great options for decks to consider if you plan on including a hot tub.
The Hardest Hardwoods For Decks
Teak hardwood decking – Tectona grandis is referred to as teak, a tropical hardwood used on boat decks, which makes it ideal to use around your hot tub. Teak is a popular decking material because it's hard, resists mildew, fungi, and rot from moisture. Additionally, Cumaru is referred to as a Brazilian hardwood teak. This extremely dense hardwood is 5 times harder than cedar and redwood.
Bamboo hardwood decks – Bamboo is a perfect decking material for hot tubs and pools because it's so durable and has a resin binder to join strips of bamboo together. This resin and the bamboo itself is great at resisting moisture. Make sure you get premium bamboo decking materials.
Ipe – Ipe is a fine example of a South American exotic hardwood decking material that stands up well around hot tubs. It's also resistant to damage from ice, insects, salts, chemical, and fire damages. This is one of the best decking materials you can find.
Composite Decks That Last
Not all composite decking material is made the same, so it's worth doing your homework before choosing composite material for your hot tub deck. Not only will you enjoy a long-life deck with premium composite decking, you'll also enjoy the easy maintenance.
Look for premium composite decking that offers you a limited lifetime warranty on structural integrity. Also good are those warranties which transfer to new owners if you ever sell. A company wouldn't back their material like that if it weren't made to last. Look into Class A–rated composite decking like AmeraDeck or ChoiceDek.
Aluminum Decking For Your Hot Tub
Aluminum decking is a great choice for decks with a hot tub. If you choose a good brand, it will resist rusting, scratching, staining, mildew, and algae. Look at brands like LockDry or Nextdeck by Nexan.
