A graphic of the Janka scale showing wood hardness

Choosing the Right Hardwood for Your Deck

Published On: February 25th, 2025

How the Janka Scale Helps You Make the Best Choice Are You Worried About Your Deck’s Durability? You’re investing in an outdoor living space to enhance your home, entertain guests, and create lasting memories. But there’s one major concern—how do you know if the wood you choose will stand the test of time? The last […]

How the Janka Scale Helps You Make the Best Choice

Are You Worried About Your Deck’s Durability?

You’re investing in an outdoor living space to enhance your home, entertain guests, and create lasting memories. But there’s one major concern—how do you know if the wood you choose will stand the test of time? The last thing you want is to see your deck scratched, dented, or worn down just a few years after installation.

Understanding the Janka Hardness Scale

At DeckTec, we understand how overwhelming it can be to choose the right hardwood for your deck. That’s why we use the Janka Hardness Scale, an industry-standard test that measures how resistant a wood species is to wear and tear. Simply put, it tells you how hard a particular wood is—helping you choose a decking material that will last for decades.

Choosing the Best Wood for Your Needs

Harder woods generally last longer and resist damage, but they can also be more challenging to work with. Softer woods are easier to install but may require more maintenance. Here’s a quick breakdown of some popular decking woods and their Janka ratings:

  • Ipe (3,680 lbf) – One of the hardest and most durable woods available, nearly impervious to scratches and rot.
  • Mahogany (800-900 lbf) – A classic and beautiful choice – requires regular maintenance.
  • Cedar (350-900 lbf) – A softer, more traditional option that looks great but needs extra care.

Let DeckTec Help You Make the Right Choice

Choosing the right decking material is a big decision, but you don’t have to do it alone. At DeckTec, we specialize in custom outdoor living spaces using only the highest-quality materials. Let our team guide you to the perfect wood for your dream deck—one that fits your lifestyle, climate, and aesthetic preferences.

Ready to Build a Deck That Lasts?

Contact DeckTec today for a consultation, and let’s bring your vision to life with the perfect hardwood for your outdoor space.

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If the market value of your home is important to you – as it is for many – adding a custom deck can increase your house value.

If you’re considering adding a custom deck to your home, reach out to HFS Financial for all of your home improvement financing needs. HFS makes it easy to fund your project with minimal documentation requirements, no equity or appraisal needed, and direct-to-consumer funding.

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My husband Matt and I [...] have moved away from the home where we had the beautiful deck and outdoor living space you created.  We will forever remember fondly that beautiful deck, and the hard work you did during a very bad economic time to fix problems around the foundation of our home.  Steve, Keith, and all of your workers were fabulous and we sent several of our friends your way with referrals.  We are sure that your deck helped us get a wonderful offer on our home.

Nancy & Matt, Lakewood

We just wanted to tell you how much we enjoy the decks DeckTec constructed at our home. Their use is a constant joy. We continually receive compliments on the design and quality of your work. We look forward to many years of use.

Eric & Gloria, Arvada

DeckTec are absolute pros. They just finished a big deck and roof cover project at my house. The total experience from working with Steve in Design and Sales, Keith in Project Management, and Charlie, Josh, and Hank in Construction was nothing but 6 star service. 100% on time and on budget with craftsmanship and quality. Skip the “Hammer and Nails” contractors and go with DeckTec if you want an “Outdoor Living Space”. Call these people – you will not be disappointed.

Dave & Sheila, Centennial

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the work Decktec completed refinishing my deck. It hasn’t looked this good since it was new sixteen years ago. Decktec was very professional, polite and willing to work with me to get the exact color of stain I wanted. I would recommend Decktec to anyone who wants a complete job from the great construction work starting the job, to its thorough cleanup. I’m happy my neighbor referred me to Decktec. You are the fourth company I’ve had refinish my deck and will now be the only company I use going forward.

Rob, Littleton