09/22/2025
The PNW Tradition of Wood Decks
At Scatter Creek Landscape & Home Repair, Inc., we know the Pacific Northwest has a long tradition of beautiful wood decks. Cedar and fir have been the classics for generations, and people love the natural look.
But here in the PNW, our weather and environment create real challenges for wood-built decks and patios:
🌧 Rain & Moisture → Rot, swelling, and mold.
🐜 Insects → Carpenter ants and termites love wood.
🪵 Maintenance → Every couple of years, you’re staining or sealing—costly and time-consuming.
The Truth About Today’s Wood
Over the last 20+ years, the quality of available lumber has changed:
🌲 Fast-Grown Lumber → Plantation and farmed wood grows quickly, meaning wider grain, lower density, and more twisting, cupping, and splitting.
🛠 Pressure Treatment → Older treatments (CCA) preserved wood for decades but were phased out for safety concerns. Newer formulas (ACQ, CA, MCQ) are safer but not as long-lasting—and they corrode fasteners and hardware faster.
👉 What this means: today’s wood simply doesn’t last like it used to.
Our Solution: Steel + Composite, the Modern Upgrade
🔩 Steel Framing
The bones of your deck that never rot, twist, or split.
Keeps everything square and strong for decades.
No need to replace framing in 10 years—it’s built to last.
🌿 Composite Decking
The natural wood look without the wood headaches.
Modern designs mimic cedar and redwood but never need re-staining.
No splinters—safe for bare feet, kids, and pets.
Why It’s the Smarter Choice
♻️ Sustainability → Made from recycled materials, fewer trees are cut down.
⏳ Lifestyle → Spend weekends enjoying your deck, not sanding and staining it.
💧 Resilience → Built to handle PNW rain, moss, and pests.
The Best of Both Worlds
✨ You still get the warm, natural look you love, but without the fight against moss, rot, or carpenter ants.
Steel + composite delivers timeless beauty with modern durability.
