Port Orford Cedar Decking
The natural beauty and decay resistance of Port Orford Cedar makes it ideal for decking. It is also one of the strongest cedars with strength values that far exceed both Western Red and Redwood.
PORT ORFORD CEDAR DRY S4S DECKING
2” X 6” APPEARANCE
Available Lengths: 8’ to 20’
Finished size: 1 1/2” x 5 1/2”
Port Orford Cedar Decking Photos
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SITE SELECTION
Evaluate your site. Important considerations are:
SUN
Decks are often planned to savor maximum hours of sunlight. To minimize the drying effects of the sun, consider the location of the deck and the width of the boards.
MOISTURE
A deck built close to the ground, near vegetation, or around a pool is subject to moisture from damp surroundings. Refer to the Site Preparation section below to minimize the effects of moisture. Also, consider the width of the boards for increased stability.
SITE PREPARATION
Allow ample time to prepare the deck site. Plan ahead to minimize moisture and ensure adequate ventilation. Moisture control is essential to prolong the life of the deck. Clear rocks and debris from the area under the deck. Grade site for proper drainage. Slope grade away from the building. Install drainage routes or drain pipes if necessary. Vegetation under a deck retains moisture and releases it to the underside of a deck. Remove vegetation and lay down landscape paper.
DESIGN CARE
A pleasing deck design takes into account how an outdoor room is used. It integrates the deck with both site and building. Our 100% natural Cedar decking is a smart, chemical-free choice when designing with the following in mind: children, pets, entertaining, alfresco dining, and gardens.
Make sure access ways are well-thought-out. Use imagination to plan multi-levels, railings, planters, lighting, stairs, storage, benches, gates, etc.
Consider creative patterns for arranging deck boards: herringbone, diagonal, basket-weave or parquet. Imagine a log cabin design or bull’s eye; a border or sunburst.
CONSTRUCTION ADVICE
Consult local building codes as you plan your deck. Do you need a permit? Ask your builder or supplier to recommend supporting structural materials. Inquire about approved design and fastening procedures. Your local independent lumber yard can suggest deck plans or software. Build with the best construction techniques. Because our decking is dried, leave a 5/16” space between deck boards. Use stainless steel screws and ring shank nails. Ask about hidden fasteners. Pre-drill ends to avoid splitting. Eliminate recesses where water might collect. Plan for proper flashing and caulking. For maximum performance, pre-stain deck boards so all sides are protected. Seal cut ends as you build. Plan for air circulations around the deck.
DECK CARE & FINISH
The beauty of wood is acknowledged worldwide. Its enduring appeal is appreciated everywhere. Wood’s value is worthy of good care and maintenance. Apply a protective stain to your deck as soon as possible.
Your deck is completed only when you apply “sunscreen”. Just as our health is guarded by sensible skin protection, wood’s cell structure benefits from an ultra-violet inhibitor. Make sure your choice of a deck finish includes UV protection. In general, a stain with some pigment (color) will be more effective than clear. Today’s coatings technology offers natural-looking stains with effective protection.
Select a premium penetrating oil stain rather than paint. Penetrating oil stain offers greater protection than the surface film of paint.
Choose an oil penetrating stain with (1) a water repellent preservative (we recommend avoiding water sealers) to repel moisture absorption and (2) mildewcide to inhibit the growth of microorganisms on wood fiber.
Keep your deck clean. Remove dirt with a commercial deck wash or TSP mixture. Many household cleaners work well too. Please follow manufacturers’ suggestions when mixing formulas. Focus some attention on the gaps between ends and edges of individual deck boards, making sure they are clear of dirt and debris. Trial in the discrete area or on a sample piece is a prudent measure. A light sanding may be desired to smooth the surface if fibers are raised during cleaning. Refinish your clean deck on the schedule recommended by the stain manufacturer.
If your deck is built in the fall or winter and cannot be stained immediately, plan to clean and finish your deck as soon as reasonable in the spring.
Left unstained, Port Orford cedar will gradually change to a soft silver-gray color, and you should expect some natural weathering characteristics to appear. Maintenance requirements include regular inspection and cleaning (see #4 above). If a deck is left untreated some pieces may begin to deteriorate and would require replacement over time as the natural oils evaporate leaving the wood vulnerable to decay. Most often this will only occur with a small percentage of pieces, and over an 8-10 year period. (The U.S.D.A. Forest Products laboratory rates Port Orford cedar as highly decay-resistant.)
If you detect mildew, mold, or algae, the best choice for removal is a cleanser specifically designed for removal of these fungi; or use a household-bleach formula of 3 quarts warm/hot water, 1-quart bleach and 1/3 cup TSP mixed thoroughly. Never mix bleach and ammonia or ammonia-based cleansers. Always take special care to cover and protect adjacent materials and/or vegetation during use. When cleaning is finished, make sure to rinse thoroughly! Wear rubber gloves if using bleach (actually, our Safety Director recommends wearing gloves when using ANY cleaning agents!). After allowing ample time for drying, another coat of penetrating oil stain should be applied to provide renewed protection.
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PRODUCTS THAT WORK WELL WITH CEDAR
Penofin, SuperDeck, Cabot’s and Timber Pro UV Natural Wood Finishes provide premium penetrating oil stains in a transparent coating which allows the beauty of the cedar to show through. Each brand offers a cedar tone that is close to the natural color of Port Orford cedar, but will change the hue slightly. Other tones can be used as well, but we suggest you test the color first as each wood species will yield different results than can be shown. Please note that the products have different application directions.
Penofin choices include: The Ultra Premium Red label gives 99% UV protection. The best color match with Port Orford cedar is the Ultra Premium Cedar.
SuperDeck offered by Sherwin-Williams. The best color match with Port Orford cedar is 1902.
Cabot’s Clear Solution in the natural tone offers a look that is more neutral and works well if you want the silvery gray look of weathered cedar. Please be aware however that clear finishes do not offer the same UV protection as the transparent ones listed above.
Timber Pro UV Natural Wood Finishes are award-winning stains that are manufactured in Oregon yet widely used in Canada and the US by many top cedar home companies and custom deck builders. The “Deck & Fence Formula” comes in Clear UV or 25 beautiful transparent cedar tones and it is an environmentally safe, penetrating sealer that is oil-based yet nonflammable and cleans up with water. It is sold factory-direct because it is a specialty finish.
To locate the stain distributors nearest you or to find additional product information:
Penofin: 707-462-3023 go to www.penofin.com
SuperDeck: 800-474-3794 go to https://www.sherwin-williams.com
Samual Cabot: 800-877-8246 or go to www.cabotstain.com
Timber Pro: 888-888- 6095 or go to https://timberprocoatingsusa.com/