Building Your Deck Truss: What Wood Building Materials Are Best?

I have always been someone who is interested in manufacturing, but a few years ago I started working harder on learning about the industry. I started visiting as many factories as I could, and before I knew it, I realized that there were a lot of things that I didn't know how to do yet. I started going to workshops and talking with real industry professionals, and it was really eye opening. This blog is all about learning about the people and processes that make all of our greatest inventions, and what you can do to create a better life for yourself.

Building Your Deck Truss: What Wood Building Materials Are Best?

Building Your Deck Truss: What Wood Building Materials Are Best?

2 June 2017
 Categories:
Industrial & Manufacturing, Blog


Building a truss to support your home's new deck is both necessary and a fun project to do at home. However, the first challenge you may run into is choosing what lumber is most appropriate for use. The questions below may help you decide between engineered and natural wood.

How Soon Do You Need The Materials?

One consideration in deciding which lumber is appropriate is your timetable. If you're hoping to get the truss done for a family event you plan to hold, you're going to need materials soon so that you can get started with the work. Natural lumber is typically available at any home improvement retailer in your area and you can have it cut according to your requirements right away. Engineered wood may have to be ordered directly from the manufacturer, which means you'll have to factor in shipping costs when thinking about how much your materials will cost. You may also have to pay a premium for planks in whatever size the truss will need.

Do You Plan to Make Cosmetic Changes?

If you're hoping to paint the truss periodically as your tastes change, you'll need to be sure to choose a material that will be easy to refinish, sand and repaint. For such tasks, natural wood can be a better material to work with. You might find sanding and refinishing engineered wood to be quite a challenge.

How Do You Feel About Maintenance?

Once you've taken the time to complete the truss, your work is still not over. Maintenance is important if you hope to keep the truss in durable, good condition. This is especially vital if you opt for natural lumber on the project. Wood in its natural state is susceptible to rotting, splitting, or warping after too much time in the sun or rain. You will need to monitor your truss frequently to address any issues, and you are probably going to need to repeatedly apply sealant over time to ensure that the wood has more protection against the atmosphere.

Engineered wood, on the other hand, is likely to require much less maintenance. It is generally formulated to withstand a certain amount of heat, humidity, and wetness. For that reason, it won't warp or change the way natural lumber might.

With this information, making decisions about your wood building materials should be easier. Talking with retailers, manufacturers and other lumber experts like Hillside Lumber can provide you with more details.

About Me
Choosing Better Manufacturing Practices

I have always been someone who is interested in manufacturing, but a few years ago I started working harder on learning about the industry. I started visiting as many factories as I could, and before I knew it, I realized that there were a lot of things that I didn't know how to do yet. I started going to workshops and talking with real industry professionals, and it was really eye opening. This blog is all about learning about the people and processes that make all of our greatest inventions, and what you can do to create a better life for yourself.

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