Wood Deck Building in Salt Lake City, UT

Wood deck building is still the lower-cost way to get a deck in Salt Lake City, and many homeowners prefer the look and feel of real boards. Wood does need more care here than in a humid, cloudy place. The air is very dry, the sun is strong at this elevation, and the city's building department rates weathering as severe. Boards that are left bare will gray, check and split within a few seasons. A wood deck that is finished right after it is built, and refinished on schedule, can last a long time.

Pressure-treated lumber

Pressure-treated pine or fir is the most common deck material in the country and the usual choice for framing under any deck. As decking, it is the least expensive option. It is often still wet from treatment when delivered, so it can shrink after installation, and it should dry before it is stained. Fasteners and hangers need to be rated for treated lumber, usually hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel, because the treatment chemicals corrode plain steel.

Cedar

Western red cedar is lighter, more stable and naturally resistant to decay and insects, with a warm color many people want. It is softer than treated lumber and dents more easily under furniture. In Salt Lake City sun, cedar's color fades to silver gray quickly unless it is protected with a UV-blocking stain, so we plan for that from day one.

Redwood and hardwoods

Redwood offers similar stability and color to cedar at a higher price, and availability in Utah varies. Tropical hardwoods like ipe are very dense and long-lasting but cost much more and need special fasteners and pre-drilling. We can price these if you want them.

What changes with height and slope

On the benches, many decks sit high on the downhill side. That means longer posts, larger footings and bracing, and guards wherever the walking surface is more than 30 inches above grade. Salt Lake City's 30-inch frost depth sets the minimum footing depth for every post, whether the deck is two feet tall or ten. We also flash the ledger carefully where the deck attaches, because water getting behind a ledger is one of the most common reasons decks fail.

Planning the finish

We recommend letting new treated lumber dry before the first coat, which can take weeks to months depending on the season, while kiln-dried or cedar boards can be finished sooner. A penetrating, UV-blocking stain does better than a clear sealer in this climate, since clear finishes offer little sun protection. Angi recommends restaining every two to three years in general; south- and west-facing decks in Salt Lake City often need it on the shorter end. If you would rather not refinish, composite is worth a look.

Why wood framing still matters for composite

Even if you choose composite boards, the frame underneath is almost always treated wood. Everything on this page about footings, ledgers and hardware applies to those decks too.