Deck building materials include the foundation, piers, pier blocks, girders, joists, railings, brackets and deck boards, as well as screws, anchors and nails. Your choice in every one of these materials is extremely important. Poor quality materials in any part of the deck can seriously compromise not just its appearance, but its structural integrity as well.

This is why your deck must be built using the best materials, from rot-resistant deck boards to rust-resistant screws. One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is purchasing substandard decking materials, thereby creating a deck doomed to fail building codes. Ultimately, these decks must be taken down and rebuilt.

The Price of Poor-Quality Decking Materials

Still, this is preferable to the homeowner's nightmare, which is a deck that must be constantly repaired, that threatens the structure of the rest of the house, and that even poses a safety hazard to you and your family. Unfortunately, these are all-too-common problems that arise from poor choices in decking materials.

For example, a sagging deck, built flush up against the house, transfers its weight to the house and causes stress on the entire structure of your home. Why would the deck sag? For one, poor-quality fasteners can fail, causing slippage of deck materials. Also, improperly treated deck boards can warp or rot, contributing to deck sag. Doing the research before purchasing your decking materials will help you avoid these pitfalls.