The right lumber is key to a successful deck-building project. We’ll walk you through how to select lumber, examine the quality, and more.

Probably the most difficult decision to make when building a wood deck is what type of decking to use. All three choices—5/4 x 6-in. radius-edged cedar, pressure-treated and composite decking ...

Decks made from South American hardwoods, such as ipe, cumaru, and tigerwood, will hold up to a power wash just fine. Those made of pressure-treated wood—typically Southern yellow pine, ...