Treated or Untreated Decking Boards?

Decking boards are sometimes treated, and are sometimes left untreated and in their natural condition. Which approach is best? It all depends on your circumstances, the type of wood you choose, what you want your decking to look like, and how you want it to perform. There’s no right or wrong answer, but there will be the best answer for you, so it’s important you select the type of decking that will look best and be the most practical in your home, so that you can get the most out of it.

What is treated timber and why does it matter if your decking boards have been treated?

Treated timber has had preservatives embedded deep inside the wood, through the process of pressure treating it. The timber will be dried out, and the preservative will be inserted deep inside the timber. This will be performed in specialist circumstances, including the wood being treated in a vacuum. The wood will then be given a topcoat to finish off the process.

Treated timber pros and cons

These are the pros of treated timber:

• Better longevity. The timber is likely to last longer as the preservatives will be locked in deep inside the wood. Some treated timber will also be available with a good warranty to cover it. Some
• Good protection. The timber is likely to last even longer due to the additional protection it will have. The treatment process will make it resistant to damp, mould and fungus, so the wood will remain in good condition for years to come.
• A choice of finishes. You can choose timber decking boards that look the way you want without being limited to hardwoods that are left untreated. You’ll have more choice this way, as there are various topcoats that can be applied to the timber once the treatment is complete.

These are the cons:

• A longer, more labour intensive process. This can make the timber more expensive due to the processes involved in treating it.
• You may have to spend more to get quality treated timber. Sometimes, low quality treated timber can still have moisture in and might warp. This will make the process of treating it largely pointless, so it’s always advisable that you choose higher quality treated timber. Of course, though, this will come with a cost.

Untreated timber – what are the options?

There are also options for untreated timber decking boards if you prefer to have a natural option. Some of the reasons why you might choose this is if you don’t want to use preservatives, or you want a particular appearance for your decking, such as a certain woodgrain or a particular type of finish. Popular types of untreated decking that will still be very high quality and will stand the test of time include English larch, Douglas fir, oak, and cedar. Take a look at different types of decking boards and request samples if you’re not sure of the finish and wood type that you’d prefer. This will let you see the wood in person and understand how it would look in situ.