Wooden decks are very popular choices because wood lasts a long time and is economical compared to other materials. Wooden decks add beauty to your office workplace as well as give you space for those outdoor events such as office barbecues. Purchase pressure treated wood deck materials in any home improvement store or lumber center.

Decide which type of wood is right for your deck before you buy your wooden deck materials. Take into consideration that wood needs maintenance such as painting and sealing usually every few years. Look at the following when choosing wooden deck materials for your deck:

1. Pick the type of wood you prefer for your wood decking.

2. Choose the wood deck design that adds beauty and value to your business.

3. Purchase wood deck equipment to build your wooden deck.

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Know the best woods for your wood decking

Build a wooden deck from cedar, redwood or pine wood. Cedar comes from evergreen trees and is very popular because it is naturally resistant to bugs and looks great. Cedar will spot in time, and you must seal it every few years. Redwood properties are close to cedar, but many people like the red color. Use pine for wooden decks, but make sure it is pressure treated first since pine is a soft wood.

I recommend: The Wood & Shop Inc sells cedar and other popular woods. Check out their variety, prices and shipping details. The Home Depot sells wood for your wooden deck as well as providing wood decking information pamphlets. Buy online or visit your local store.

Look at wood deck designs that complement your home

Wood deck designs run the gamut from just your plain 10x20 rectangular deck to multi-level decks. Some decks run the entire length of the business complex while some require several steps up to an elevated porch. There are also detached deck designs. Look at various floor plans before purchasing and building your wooden deck.

I recommend: Decks.com offers hundreds of photos with different custom wooden decks. Browse their picture gallery to get ideas about which deck design is just right for your business. Deckorators can custom design your wooden deck, or you can choose a design from one of their photos.

Buy the wood deck equipment you need to get the job done

After you choose your type of wood and design, it is time to purchase the materials and equipment you need to make your deck reality. Hammer and nails are necessary, but also do not forget your level, hand and chain saws, tape measure and power drill. You also need wood stain and wood cleaner to make your wood pretty and keep it looking pretty.

I recommend: World of Stains offers wooden deck cleaner and deck stains. After you build your deck, you should stain it, which not only adds beauty but also helps preserve the wood. Ace Hardware sells all the tools and equipment you need to build a wooden deck. Visit them online, or visit your local retail store and buy the tools you need.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An alternative to wooden decks is composite decking. Composite decking consists of polyethylene and wood flour, so it looks and feels like wood but does not require the maintenance of real wood. It is more expensive than wood but over time makes up the additional cost with lack of upkeep costs.

Making the most of wood decking means keeping your investment in wood deck equipment looking good. Whether your wood deck design is simple or elaborate, a clean and neat appearance is a must. To get the most value from your wood decking supplies, you must first know what kind of wood decking you are dealing with. Then you must know how to care for it properly so you can get many years of service from it.

You can begin making the most of wood decking from the day you first look at wood deck designs. Planning the best way to build a wood deck is almost as important as the materials you choose. Once the lumber for the wooden deck arrives, here are some ways you can continue to protect your investment:

1. Inspect the lumber as it comes off the truck. Set aside any wood deck materials you feel are inferior grade.

2. Set the wood decking on stringers above ground until you get a chance to build the wooden deck. This keeps the wood from absorbing moisture from the ground.

3. Cover the wood, but not so tight that moisture cannot escape.

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Understand the types of pressure treated lumber commonly used in wood decking

The EPA is phasing out the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) lumber because of high incidences of arsenic. Now you need to use other forms of pressure-treated wood deck materials when you build a wooden deck. These newer forms of wood deck materials come with a range of, options as well as a range of prices.

I recommend: The Taunton Press has an article that explains wooden deck materials known as pressure-treated lumber. Woodweb has wood decking information on how much you can expect wood decking to shrink or warp. You need to factor this into the cost of the wood deck materials.

Keep pressure treated wood deck materials clean

Periodic cleaning is an essential part of making the most of wood decking. While wooden decks may not need protective coating applied annually, they certainly look good for a longer time with a regular cleaning schedule.

I recommend: Tim Carter discusses ways to clean a wooden deck. He also discusses environmentally friendly methods of making the most of wood decking. You can also find ways to care for wooden decks on the HomeTips.com website.

Clean composite wood decking as well

While composite materials appear to be maintenance free, they still benefit from a periodic cleaning. It's easy to keep these low-maintenance wooden decks looking like new for many years.

I recommend: You can find tips on caring for composite wood decking from Fiberon. Portico also has information on caring for laminated wood decking.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always be mindful of the objects you place on your wooden decks. Some items may leave a permanent stain if they remain in one place too long. Consider using trays under flowerpots to help protect the wood from stain.

There's a lot to think about when attempting to put in a new wooden deck structure. But what's involved in wood decking education and training? Well, lots of builders think the simplest way is to learn on the job — but what if that's not possible? These days, newbies can learn about wood decking on the web — and get informed on everything from what kind of nails are best to how to talk to a customer about a job.

With all of the great types of resources on the web for building wooden decks, it should be a breeze to get the scoop on the issues that you need to brush up on, whether you're a home-owner, an employee of a diversifying business, or an independent shop starting to take on deck projects and acquire wood deck equipment and skills. In any case, look for:

1. Specialized online how-to guides and articles on wood deck materials, skills, methods and other aspects.

2. Online or distance learning class or course options for formal wooden deck training.

3. Work forums where new workers can learn how long time contractors do things in all stages of wood deck design.

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Look for online class learning options for wooden decks

If you're a formal-minded person or someone who doesn't like to 'do things half-way,' perhaps a structured, organized session in wood decking building can be the solution for you. Take a look at what online school systems have to offer for distance learning in basic and specialized wood deck designs.

I recommend: Learning Link Finders offers web users access to free or affordable distance learning options for design and construction including deck building. For an online option in learning about specialized quality decking with one of the best woods available, try Real Cedar online.

Consider online how-to guides for wooden decks

Another great place to get what you need is the vibrant collection of 'do it yourself' sites online -- this is part of the 'flattening' of carpentry and many other industries across the world, where anyone has access to information about the correct way to do a job.

I recommend: Get visual and detailed tutorials from the expansive site at doityourself, where decking is just one of the many trades or home improvement options available. Get more at HandymanWire.

Find trade forums for getting an outlook on administrating a wooden decks building business

But that's not all the web offers for learning about aspects of building a deck: new contractors can also get tips on starting their own deck building business from veterans who post on public trade forums that provide a look at details like estimating, ground evaluation and more.

I recommend: The forums at Contractor Talk cover a range of issues that new builders will want to know about when bidding and completing their first jobs or getting wooden deck materials or wood decking supplies for the job. Get more in forums and magazine interviews with seasoned contractors at Deck Builder online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always remember that wood decking is a competitive business. You are distinguished in this field not only by your particular knowledge and skill, but by your disciplines: how well you work, how fast you work and how well you listen. This blend will decide whether your business soars or flounders.

If you're a contractor and you're looking to expand your business to include building wood decks, you can certainly benefit from learning wood decking key terms. From structural terms such as beams, joists, posts and ledger boards to types of woods best used for wood decking, such as pressure-treated wood or hardwoods like Ipe, there are many wood decking key terms you should familiarize yourself with before you begin constructing wood decks.

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Ledger

When building wood decking that will be attached to a house, you'll need to use a ledger, or ledger board. A ledger is a board bolted to a house's frame to which wood decking will be attached. It is normally the first step when building an attached wood deck.

I recommend: Decks.com describes what a ledger board is and how it is installed.

Pressure-treated wood

Most wood decking is made of pressure-treated wood, sometimes referred to simply as 'treated wood.' Pressure-treating is a process in which chemical preservatives are used inside the wood to keep it from rotting when exposed to high moisture.

I recommend: The Natural Handyman thoroughly explains the pressure-treating process and what pressure-treated wood is used for.

Grade-level decks

Grade-level decks refers to wood decking that is built on or just above the ground. This type of wood decking can be free-standing or attached to a house.

I recommend: CornerHardware.com discusses all types of wood decking, and includes a brief description and photographs of grade-level decks.

Posts, beams and joists

Whether free-standing or attached, nearly all wood decking is built on posts, beams and joists. These terms refers to the support of the wood decking beneath the top planks. Posts are set into the ground with concrete, and beams are run across the posts to support joists, to which the top planks are attached.

I recommend: Find detailed descriptions of posts, beams and joists, including wood sizes used for each and how to install them, at Free-build-it-info.com.

Ipe

Wood decking can be made from many types of hardwoods. One of the top hardwoods to select for wood decking is Ipe. This is a durable, decay- and termite-resistant high grade wood used for decking.

I recommend: New England Wholesale Hardwoods provides an in-depth look at Ipe, including its characteristics and pictures of wood decking made with this type of hardwood.

Composite

Composite wood decking is a mix of wood fibers and plastic. This relatively new material is becoming popular for decking because of its durability and its relatively maintenance-free quality.

I recommend: Find a detailed discussion about composite decking at BobVila.com.