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What to Consider Before Furnishing Your Outdoor Deck

by Jack Weatherford (RSS feed) — Apr 5th 2010 9:31AM

Whether it's a brand new home or a home you've had forever, your outdoor deck can be a sanctuary. It can be a focal point or a place of complete and utter rest and relaxation. The last thing you need is to worry about the furnishings you've picked out for it.

There is a lot more to consider when selecting your exterior furnishings than aesthetics and comfort. Just like your interior decor, you have to think ahead and think about what is practical. Now, throw in the surface underneath it, not to mention the outdoor elements from the sun, wind, rain and snow. You have got to take these factors into account when thinking about exterior furnishings.

Here are a few tips worth your consideration:

What's your deck made of: You have paid for this absolutely gorgeous deck, custom made rails, deck boards in a diagonal pattern. Or maybe a straight pattern on the edges with a beautiful sunburst emanating from the patio door. You have spared no expense. You have demanded a number 1, dry treated deck board, that won't shrink, twist or split because it has been kiln dried before it was installed. Great choice for a deck. Now, you pick out some beautiful wrought iron furniture, including chairs, tables and umbrella stands.

Within a month, the bottom of all of that furniture will begin to rust and, not only stain your deck, but actually eat into the furniture. Treated deck boards, whether kiln dried or wet treated contain a large amount of copper. This has been a recent change that hasn't been generally advertised to the public. Treated boards used to have a high level of arsenic, which made the preservative very effective. Recently, it was decided that the arsenic preservative was dangerous to the general public.