When you are planning your wood deck, one of the first decisions you need to make is on the type of wood you want to use. Not only are there are a lot of different types of wood, from cedar to redwood, you can also choose whether you want the wood to be treated or untreated. If you choose wood that is treated, there are definitely some advantages, but there are also benefits to untreated wood. Here are a few things to consider before you choose what wood you want for your deck.

Treated Wood Can Handle a Lot of Different Elements

One of the top reasons people will choose treated wood is because it tends to last longer and doesn't need as many repairs. This is because it goes through a chemical process where the wood is protected from the elements and other types of damage. For example, regular untreated wood decks are often prone to damage from rain and excessive moisture in a humid area, which can then lead to rot of the wood. With treated wood, you are able to get protection from weather conditions, as well as other sources of damage, like wood-boring insects such as termites and carpenter ants.

You Don't Need to Maintain a Treated Deck as Much

Since the treated wood lasts longer in its current condition, you don't have as much maintenance to worry about. Not only do you not need to apply sealant frequently to protect against wet or humid conditions, but cracks and holes don't occur as often as well. It is a great option when you want the look of real wood, but you also don't want to deal with caring for the deck a lot.

Not All Untreated Wood is Prone to Damage

While many types of wood for decks do have issues with damage when they are untreated, there are some wood varieties that hold up against the weather conditions a little better. For example, both douglas fir and cedar are moisture-resistant, so while you might need to get it sealed, it should not be as bad as something like pine. Cypress is another type of wood you can get for the deck that won't experience damage quite as easily.

Untreated Wood is Friendlier to the Environment

Another benefit to choosing wood that is untreated is that the manufacturing process is much friendlier to the environment. The only process it goes through is cutting the wood, sanding it, and possibly staining it. However, if you got treated wood, it would use quite a few chemicals in order to treat it, which is not always friendly to the environment.