Menards Deck Boards: Treated vs UltraDeck Composite (2026)

Menards sells deck boards in three families: AC2 pressure-treated pine, untreated 5/4×6 thick decking, and UltraDeck composite in five lines. The catch most buyers miss is that the treated deck boards are labeled Above Ground, not ground contact, so they should never sit on soil. This guide covers what each family is, which UltraDeck lines fade, how many boards a deck needs, and how to estimate cost without trusting stale prices.

What Types of Deck Boards Does Menards Sell?

The table lists what the Menards product listings showed when this page was updated. Store stock changes by location, and the store website blocks automated price lookups, so this guide gives no Menards price per board. Prices change often, so check your local store.

Family	Lines and sizes seen in listings	Warranty or rating noted	What to know
AC2 pressure-treated pine	5/4×6 green boards, listed in 14 ft and 22 ft lengths (a #1 grade is listed at 14 ft)	Labeled Above Ground	Budget option; walking surface only
Untreated thick decking	5/4×6 in 14 ft and 16 ft lengths	None stated	Check the tag for species; not rated for ground or constant moisture
UltraDeck Natural	Hollow profile, reversible woodgrain and brushed faces	10 years, structure only	Uncapped; fades in the first 30 to 60 days
UltraDeck Rustic	Colors include Redwood, Hickory, Gray and Cedar; 8, 16 and 20 ft seen	10 years, structure only	Uncapped wood-fiber core
UltraDeck Fusion and Fusion 2.0	Hardwood-style streaking; Walnut and Rosewood in 2.0	25 years	Capped line
UltraDeck Inspire	Grooved boards; Spanish Cedar, Fieldstone, Sandstone, Canyon	25 years	One review site put it near $4.50 per linear foot
UltraDeck Triumph	Solid colors: Slate and Pecan	25 years	Capped line

Sources for the composite lines: the Menards product listings and the Today’s Homeowner UltraDeck review. Treated and untreated board details come from the Menards listings.

AC2 Treated Deck Boards: Above Ground Rating, Not Ground Contact

AC2 is a copper-based preservative that uses micronized copper azole particles pressure-forced into the wood. It comes in several use ratings, and the rating is what matters on a deck. The 5/4×6 deck board listings at Menards say Above Ground. Framing lumber such as a 2×10 is sold separately in a Prime Ground Contact grade.

That separates two jobs that often get mixed up. Posts and joists near the soil need ground contact lumber. The deck boards on top only need the Above Ground rating. Putting Above Ground boards on or against the soil is how a treated deck ends up rotting years early, so keep the boards clear of the ground and let air move under the deck.

Copper-treated wood corrodes plain steel, so use coated or stainless deck screws. Our guide to Menards deck screws covers lengths, coatings and box counts. The first section above shows the screw we would use, and the section below works out how many you need.

UltraDeck Composite: Which Line Fades and Which Does Not

UltraDeck is the composite brand Menards sells. The practical split is capped versus uncapped. Fusion, Inspire and Triumph are the capped lines with 25-year warranties. Natural and Rustic are uncapped, carry 10-year warranties, and those warranties cover structure rather than fading or staining.

Warranty length is not the same as fade protection. Per the Today’s Homeowner UltraDeck review, Rustic and Natural carry 10-year warranties and the other three lines carry 25 years. Read the warranty text for what counts as a covered color change.

A common mistake is buying Natural expecting the color on the shelf to last. It is designed to weather, and the color you see in the store is not what the deck will look like after the first two months. If a stable color matters, go to a capped line and check the stated fade standard in the warranty.

For how composite compares with wood in the sun, see does composite decking get hotter than wood, and for other brands see the composite decking brand comparison.

Menards Deck Board Sizes and Lengths

The standard Menards deck board is a 5/4×6. The name is nominal. A finished board measures about 1 inch thick by 5-1/2 inches wide, with the usual rounded edges. The 5/4 deck board actual size guide has the full dimension chart for every width.

Lengths seen in the listings were 8, 14, 16, 20 and 22 feet depending on the product. A 10 foot length was not confirmed in the listings checked, so if your plan depends on 10 foot boards, call the store before building around them. Longer boards mean fewer end joints, but 20 and 22 foot boards bow easily and are awkward to carry. For 12 ft treated boards and their pricing, see our 5/4 deck boards at Menards: 12 ft sizes, grades and pricing page, and for framing lumber see Menards treated lumber sizes.

How Many Deck Boards and Screws Do You Need?

Boards: a 5/4×6 board is 5.5 inches wide. Add a 3/16 inch gap and each board covers 5.6875 inches, which is 0.474 sq ft per linear foot, or 2.11 linear feet per square foot of deck. Add 10 percent for waste and cuts. The 3/16 inch gap is an assumption; wet treated boards are often laid tighter because they shrink as they dry.

Deck size	Area	Linear feet (+10% waste)	12 ft boards	16 ft boards	Screws (2 per joist, 16 in spacing, +5%)
8 x 10 ft	80 sq ft	186	16	12	about 270
10 x 12 ft	120 sq ft	279	24	18	about 400
12 x 16 ft	192 sq ft	446	38	28	about 640
16 x 20 ft	320 sq ft	743	62	47	about 1,060

Screws: with joists 16 inches apart and two screws where each board crosses a joist, a deck needs about 3.2 screws per square foot. A 365-piece box therefore covers about 115 sq ft, which is why a 10×12 deck takes more than one box. Composite boards often need a different fastener, so follow the manufacturer’s install guide for UltraDeck.

To turn any price into a cost per square foot, multiply the price per linear foot by 2.11. The table below uses illustrative inputs only, not Menards prices.

Example price per linear foot	Cost per sq ft of deck surface	Cost for a 120 sq ft deck
$1.50	$3.16	$380
$2.50	$5.27	$633
$4.50	$9.49	$1,139

Boards are only part of a deck budget because framing, footings and fasteners cost extra. Our decking cost calculator handles the square footage math, and the beginner deck build guide covers the full build order.

Caring for Treated and Composite Boards

• New treated boards: they are often wet from treatment. Leave a gap, because they shrink as they dry.
• Treated pine after the first year: clean it, then apply a stain or sealer. Untreated wood weathers to gray.
• Composite: wash it with soap and water. Mold can grow on dirt that sits on the surface.
• All decks: keep leaves and debris out of the gaps and keep air moving under the boards.

For stain choice on treated pine, see what is the best deck stain. Do not burn offcuts of treated lumber.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of deck boards does Menards sell?

Menards deck board listings fall into three families: AC2 pressure-treated 5/4×6 pine (green, labeled Above Ground), untreated 5/4×6 thick decking, and UltraDeck composite in the Natural, Rustic, Fusion, Inspire and Triumph lines. Treated pine is the budget choice, and capped composite lines carry the longest warranties.

Are Menards treated deck boards rated for ground contact?

No. The AC2 5/4×6 deck board listings are labeled Above Ground. Menards sells separate ground contact AC2 lumber, such as 2×10 framing boards, for posts and joists near soil. Use the ground contact grade for anything touching or close to the ground, and the Above Ground boards only for the walking surface.

Does Menards sell cedar deck boards?

The Menards deck board listings checked for this guide were treated pine, untreated 5/4×6 thick decking and UltraDeck composite. A line of real cedar decking was not confirmed. The word Cedar appears as a color name on UltraDeck Rustic composite, which is plastic and wood-fiber, not cedar wood. Check the tag for species before buying.

Which UltraDeck line fades the most?

Natural fades the most. It is an uncapped board that fades naturally in the first 30 to 60 days, and its 10-year warranty covers structure, not color. Rustic is also uncapped with a 10-year warranty. Fusion, Inspire and Triumph are capped lines with 25-year warranties.

How many 5/4×6 deck boards do I need for a 10×12 deck?

A 10×12 deck is 120 square feet. With a 3/16 inch gap, a 5/4×6 board covers about 0.47 sq ft per linear foot, so the deck needs about 253 linear feet. Adding 10 percent for waste gives about 279 linear feet, or 24 boards at 12 feet.

Conclusion

For a budget deck, AC2 treated 5/4×6 boards work as the walking surface as long as the framing under them is ground contact grade. For low upkeep with stable color, step up to a capped UltraDeck line instead of Natural or Rustic. Before you buy, confirm lengths and prices at your local store.