There are hundreds of reasons why adding a deck and fence to your home is a great idea. For starters they add additional living space, beautify your yard, and add value to your home. But before you go shopping for the materials to build your deck or fence, there are four things that need to be considered; price, aesthetic, lifestyle and maintenance. If you take the time to think about each of these components before you start shopping, the process of building your deck or fence will unfold smoothly. Remember: the key to a successful project is always a good plan.

The majority of decks built in Canada are constructed from pressure-treated wood because it's typically the most affordable option. Unfortunately, pressure treating wood doesn't make it completely resistant to moisture, which means that you'll have to apply a water repellent to your deck on an annual basis in order to protect against moisture damage.

ProGuard Preserved Wood products are designed for outdoor construction. They use the NatureWood preservative system, the main active ingredient of which is copper. Copper, a naturally occurring mineral, is an effective and widely used fungicide. In NatureWood, it is coupled with a quaternary compound or "quat" for enhanced performance against copper-tolerant fungi and termites. Quats are commonly used in household disinfectants and cleaners. ProGuard products have proven around the world to reduce demands on forest resources by greatly extending the life of wood.

Cedar has a lot of appealing qualities. For starters it possesses an oil preservative that makes it naturally resistant to decay and insect damage. Secondly, its beautiful grain, texture and colour make it an easy choice for one of the most aesthetically pleasing decking and fencing materials. And lastly, it's lighter than pressure-treated wood, which makes it easier to maneuver and work with. Overall, decks and fences made of cedar wood look great and age well. But as with all great products, cedar is typically more expensive than pressure-treated wood.

At The Home Depot we carry composite lumber derived from a combination of natural wood fibres and durable resin. Designed to resemble real wood; composite decking and fencing won't splinter, crack, warp or rot.

Veranda™ Composite Decking features realistic wood-grain patterns, and its brushed or embossed textures give each board a rustic look that's often missing from the uniform and repetitive finish of other decking products. As if that isn't enough, composite lumber comes in a selection of colours.

Resin decking and fencing is a fairly recent advancement in outdoor building. This innovative material is quickly becoming a popular choice for decking and fencing projects because of its lightweight yet extremely durable design. It also reduces the risk of mould and mildew, and like composite decking it won't splinter, crack, warp or rot. Resin decking also comes in a variety of colours that will have minimal fading over time.

From a building perspective, resin decking is easy to work with and can be manipulated using traditional tools.

Eon manufactures an excellent resin decking and fencing system that has a reputation for being one of the finest alternatives to wood available today.