| A couple of years ago I had the chance to tour | | | | First, use stainless steel nails or screws on both the |
| several newly constructed Adirondack homes. One of | | | | decking and railing systems, as other types will not |
| the areas that particularly stood out for me while | | | | penetrate this material very well. My preference was |
| touring these homes were the decks. All used | | | | the stainless steel nails, however pre-drilling holes is |
| Mahogany lumber for both the decking and the railing | | | | mandatory if not using a nail gun. Even with stainless |
| systems. The red color and the general beauty of | | | | steel nails, they will bend trying to simply nail them |
| the Mahogany wood was unique to anything I had | | | | into the wood. I found that with the stainless steel |
| ever seen before in decking material. | | | | hex head screws that they chewed the wood going |
| After completing my home tours I went out and | | | | in and left somewhat of a ragged finish on the |
| researched Mahogany further. First, there are several | | | | surface of the wood. |
| species and colors of Mahogany, supplied by various | | | | Second, when installing the decking material, I found |
| countries around the world. Not all are the same, | | | | it aesthetically most attractive to create a frame on |
| however. It is the species known as American | | | | the outside perimeter of the deck surface using long |
| Mahogany that has the rich red color that I had | | | | Mahogany boards. Once the outer frame is installed, |
| observed. American Mahogany comes from the | | | | the main Mahogany decking boards can be simply |
| West Indies, Mexico, and Central and South America. | | | | installed within this outer framework. The result is a |
| It is generally viewed as a harder wood that is | | | | cleaner line when viewed from a distance or standing |
| extremely durable and resistance to moisture and | | | | on the deck itself. |
| insects. Also, because it is a hard wood it has a | | | | Regarding the Railing system, screws and bolts should |
| tenancy to not split, twist or check. So be sure to | | | | be used exclusively as the material use in this part of |
| ask about the species, prior to buying Mahogany. | | | | the deck is typically thicker and requires more rigidity. |
| Note however, Mahogany is a little more expensive | | | | Painting, Staining or Sealing |
| than pressure treated decking and railing systems, | | | | Mahogany takes paint and stain well, however I have |
| however it is well worth it in terms of quality, looks | | | | preferred to apply a clear sealer. The clear sealer |
| and durability. | | | | enables the natural red color of the Mahogany to |
| Since discovering and researching Mahogany, I have | | | | shine through, while still providing a layer of protection |
| built two deck systems using this material. As I had | | | | from the environment. Typically I re-apply the clear |
| indicated earlier, it is a hard material that as a result, | | | | sealer every year to continue to preserve the color. |
| requires a little more effort in its installation. | | | | If you do not, the Mahogany will bleach out. |
| Fastening the Material | | | | |