Expert Deck Builders in Kansas City, MO

A We only use screws to secure the deck floor down. We can hide the screws if you prefer. We prefer to use a positive connection fastening system on all of our decking. We feel it aids in the structural integrity of the deck. However, if your heart is set on using a clip system we will accommodate your request.

A Pressure treatment is a process that forces chemical preservatives into the wood. Wood is placed inside a closed cylinder, then vacuum and pressure are applied to force the preservatives into the wood. The preservatives help protect the wood from attack by termites, other insects, and fungal decay. That being said it does have its shortcomings. Since treated lumber comes from the lumberyard with a very high moisture content it is very prone to shrinkage, cracking, warping, cupping, curling, and twisting. Often times when a contractor builds a treated deck it looks great the day of completion but once the wood dries many of the problems with treated lumber are revealed. This can appear to be poor craftsmanship to someone that does not know what to expect from treated lumber. However, it has nothing to do with craftsmanship at all and is just the nature of the wood. That said, treated lumber is widely used worldwide for building decks and outside of its shortcomings it can last a very long time, remain structurally sound, and is the cheapest option for building a deck. You can expect a life span of 15-25 years from a well-built treated lumber deck.

A Western Red Cedar makes a beautiful floor or Pergola. It is a certified renewable resource and is rot and termite resistant. Cedar is naturally a dry, straight board that ages well. Cedar is less prone to shrinking, twisting, cracking, and warping then treated lumber. It is widely used as a decking and pergola material. Cedar does best if kept in a dry environment. Moist environments or lack of maintenance can decrease the life of this product. You can expect a life span of 15-20 years.

A Composite decking is typically made of plastics and sawdust. There are many companies that offer composite decking. Make sure you go with a reputable manufacturer that has been time tested and offers a hassle free warranty. Composite is maintenance free and should never be pressure washed. You can expect the color to lighten about 3 shades in the course of its lifetime. It will not turn grey, however, sunlight is the contributing cause for the board to lighten up. You can also expect composite to dry out over the course of its life. If a board begins to de-laminate give CCD a call because this could be a warranty claim. Composite is a great product for families that want a maintenance free application (and no splinters!). Composite is often comparable to the price of cedar so if maintenance, time and material are calculated over time the additional up-front cost of composite often offsets the cost of traditional lumber.

A Capped composite has all of the same characteristics of traditional composite except is has a PVC cap on top of the board. This allows for a much more stain resistant product. The cap also allows for more color options.