Decking Lumber Near You: Types + Suppliers by State
In this guide, we provide several options for where to buy decking lumber in every state.
Plus, to give you an idea of the types of decking you may be able to find (and what makes a good supplier), we start with a deep-dive into the decking options we offer at Rocky Mountain Forest Products.
Rocky Mountain Forest Products has been serving the state of Colorado for nearly 50 years — with locations in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Arvada. We also deliver anywhere in Colorado and ship orders to anywhere in the continental United States.
Rocky Mountain Forest Products has everything you need to build the perfect deck from quality lumber to steel railing. We always have a large selection and supply in stock and our friendly staff will answer all of your questions — reach out or stop by today.
Rocky Mountain Forest Products: Expert Advice, Affordable Prices
There are several decisions to make when building a deck — hardwoods or softwoods, wood or steel rails, stain or no stain, etc. Each of these decisions will affect:
How easy the deck is to build
How expensive the deck is to build
How well the deck holds up to use (e.g., furniture scraping back and forth, foot traffic)
How resistant the deck is to damage from the climate and pests
At Rocky Mountain Forest Products, we not only provide all of the materials you need to build a beautiful deck (e.g., lumber, stain, railing), but we also help you decide which products are right for you.
If you’re a contractor, we can talk directly with your potential clients and offer tips to help you win the bid. If you’re building your own deck, we’ll share tips and tricks that make working with various types of wood easier.
Plus, Rocky Mountain Forest Products offers some of the lowest prices available without compromising on quality. We do this by buying all lumber directly from the mill.
Most lumber yards have two or three middlemen between them and the mill which makes the final costs higher. Having multiple middlemen also means they have less control over the final product and what they’re able to offer.
For example, many lumber yards and big box stores lump multiple grades together and sell them for one price. Each grade represents a different quality of wood (i.e., how many defects the wood has), so lumping multiple grades together means you may get lower quality lumber than you’re expecting and/or that the lower quality wood will be priced higher than it should be.
By cutting out the middlemen, Rocky Mountain Forest Products is able to offer you multiple grades of lumber, low prices, and more available lumber.
In the following sections, we’ll cover the three categories of decking that we offer: softwood, hardwood, and composite.
Note: Rocky Mountain Forest Products also supplies many different railing options, including: steel, iron, glass, and cable.
Softwood Decking
The first thing to consider with softwood is whether or not pressure treated wood is the right choice for your project. Typically, pine boards are pressure treated while cedar and redwood are untreated or kiln-dried.
Pressure treated pine is resistant to moisture and mold so it can be a good option for humid states such as Florida and Mississippi.
However, in dry climates such as Colorado and Wyoming, pressure treated lumber is more likely to warp and crack. The quick temperature changes experienced in Colorado also break down pressure treated pine faster than other types of wood, so cedar or redwood is a better choice. Not only do cedar and redwood hold up better in the Colorado climate, but also the oils in the wood make it naturally resistant to rot and insect damage.
It’s important to note that most big box stores only stock pressure treated pine when it comes to softwood decking.
Finally, softwoods are more susceptible to scrapes and scratches from furniture and general traffic than hardwoods. However, they can still last 20+ years.
Here’s a closer look at cedar, redwood, and pine individually…
Cedar
Cedar is the most affordable option on this list.
It’s considered the best wood substrate for primer and paint.
It can hold semi-transparent stains for two to four years, and semi-solid stains for five years.
Cedar can last up to 20 years.
Redwood
Redwood is easy to work with when it comes to nailing and drilling.
It’s more resistant to bumps and scratches than cedar.
It’s rated as one of the most fire resistant building materials for decks.
It can hold up for 30 years with minimal repairs needed.
Redwood can be easily stained, if desired, but it’s not necessary since it’s naturally a beautiful red color.
Pine
Pine is resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage.
It’s likely to warp and crack under dry heat.
It’s treated to burn more safely and slow the spread of fire.
It can be a good choice for decks that are constantly exposed to water (e.g., fishing or boating decks).
Pine can last 25+ years under the right conditions.
Hardwood Decking
Hardwood decking is typically more expensive than softwoods but more affordable than many brands of composite decking. Most hardwood decks will last 25+ years with minimal damage and repairs needed (although it may need to be resealed every other year).
As the name suggests, hardwoods are much more dense than softwoods — and tougher than composite — so they can withstand a lot of traffic and scraping of furniture.
Natural oils make most hardwoods resistant to rot, moisture, insects, and some sun damage. So, most hardwood lumber is kiln-dried. At Rocky Mountain Forest Products, we take extra care to ensure that all of our kiln-dried lumber is dried to the right moisture content. If the lumber is too wet or too dry, it will be susceptible to rot, twisting, and/or cracking.
Hardwoods can be more difficult to work with and harder on your tools, so be sure to talk with one of our associates about tricks for working with hardwoods.
Here’s a closer look at the types of hardwoods Rocky Mountain Forest Products has available…
Ipe
Ipe will last for 25 years without any additional sealants or stains.
It’s very resistant to rot, mold, insects, high winds, and extreme high or low temperatures.
It’s rated the same as steel and concrete when it comes to fire resistance.
Ipe is very resistant to scratches.
Red Balau
Red Balau will need sealant to retain its natural red color, otherwise it will turn a silvery-gray.
It has a 20+ year lifespan.
It’s resistant to decay, rot, termites, extreme weather conditions, shrinkage, and splintering.
Red Balau is easier to work with than other hardwoods.
Garapa
Garapa will last for 30 years without preservatives or treatments.
It’s more affordable than other hardwoods.
Garapa is naturally resistant to rot, mold, and insect damage.
Mahogany (Fijian)
Mahogany is easy to stain or paint (or will naturally weather to a silvery-gray color).
It has a 20+ year lifespan.
Mahogany is sustainably sourced.
It can be anywhere from a light pink or brown with reddish brown streaks to a yellow brown in color.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is made of artificial materials and made to look like wood. Like softwood, it is susceptible to scratches which will show the artificial nature of the material. However, composite won’t warp and crack like some wood decks.
The color of composite will eventually fade. This is a problem for some because composite can’t be stained, however, companies try to ensure the material weathers to an appealing rustic look.
Composite tends to be the most expensive decking material available, however, it doesn’t require any maintenance (other than regular cleanings). The most popular brands are Trex and Fiberon — and we carry both at Rocky Mountain Forest Products. We also offer EverGrain and TimberTech composite decking.
With Rocky Mountain Forest Products you’ll get high quality products for an affordable price and the expertise you need to choose the best product for your project — reach out or stop by today.
Decking Suppliers by State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington (State)
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Rocky Mountain Forest Products offers a wide selection of hardwood and softwood materials (as well as some composite material) for fencing, decking, and siding projects. Our product experts will help you find the right grade, size, and style for your project — reach out or stop by today.
