What is the fake wood for decks called?

Invented in the late 1980s, wood-plastic composite decking (also called "composite wood decking") is made of wood fibers encased in plastic. Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe's, as well as local lumberyards throughout the U.S.

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What type of decking is best?

Best Deck Material Options for 2021 #1 Pressure-Treated Wood. Among the various types of wood decking, pressure-treated lumber is the most common. #2 Cedar Decking. Cedar is commonly regarded as a higher-quality material than pressure-treated lumber. #4 Composite Decking. #5 Hardwoods. Should decking be parallel to house? Running the boards parallel to the length is always desirable, it gives the deck a much bigger look. If you run the boards parallel to the width, it tends to give the deck a stumpy look, not very desirable.

Keeping this in consideration, do you need to leave a gap between decking boards?

Proper Gap between Decking Board. When installing decking boards, make sure to leave 1/4 to 1/8 inch gaps in between them. This gap will make sure that the decking can breathe, have sufficient drainage, and make it easier to clean. Also, how much should a deck be sloped? With a slope, the water is able to run off and drain sufficiently. You need to make sure that the slope is not noticeable but sufficient enough to do the job of draining. Most contractors suggest sloping the deck 1/4th- 1/8th of an inch for every foot of decking.

Should I use deck boards or 2x6?

2x6 is thicker and is stronger, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions. The primary function is to drain water from the deck. Gaps that are narrow (1/8"), can catch debris, specifically on top of the joists, and can be difficult to clean out. Do deck boards need to be pressure treated? As long as there's a good chance that moisture can reach the wood, it should be pressure treated. This is why the International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used for the last six inches of the structure above the ground is pressure treated.