[This article was originally published in June 2018 and has been updated and revised.]
The days of the traditional wood deck built with sixteen penny nails and swinging hammers haven't disappeared completely. But the options for building materials has grown tremendously and offer exciting possibilities.
It used to be that an affordable deck might be built with treated wood of some type. For those with a bigger budget, a redwood deck was often considered the way to go. However, once the movement towards an "outdoor living" lifestyle began to become more popular, deck designs evolved - as did the need for more versatile, longer-lasting decking materials.