Is Composite Decking Really More Expensive Than Timber?

Nowadays, the choice between both comes down to your own budget and personal preferences. While they often cost more than wood, composite materials offer the promise of greater durability and less maintenance. Wood is still the most common choice for deck material,1 but it doesn't last forever.

• It still needs occasional scrubbing but it doesn’t require sealing and repairing.
• According to HomeAdvisor, a wood deck could take up to three or four weeks to build, but with composite decking technology, you could be sitting pretty that much sooner.
• For example, DuraLife’s Step-Clip fastener technology can help cut installation time by up to 50%—making your dream deck a reality that much sooner.
• If you’re looking for easy maintenance, you should go with composite decking.

Wood Decks Vs Composite Decks

The pulp inside the bamboo has been harvested to make even pillows and quilt batting due to the incredibly soft nature, even more so than cotton. There are two distinct types of bamboo decking, woven fibers and non woven fibers. The natural beauty of bamboo is undeniable, and in many climates can provide a lasting deck if maintained properly. With any wood style deck, it is going to take work to keep it at its best. Bamboo is no exception, and will need sealed and stained or pigmented. It will fade over time, so slapping on a coat of sealant in its natural state is not recommended. Additionally, areas that see a lot of rain or flooding, puddling, or marshy lands will not benefit from bamboo.

Now, Lets Talk About Composite Decking:

Further, advancements in this type of decking have made its look-and-feel downright attractive, by many accounts. Aluminium composite decking panels which contain wooden starch and plastic . This material is well-established in practice as it looks stylish – it’s not easy to distinguish between composite and natural wood at first sight.

The price differential also depends on the wood species chosen versus the brand of composite decking, and local market conditions. Many homeowners choose wood decking because it is familiar, readily available and affordable. At the same time, wood decking problems like splinters, rot and high maintenance cause many headaches. Although composite wood decking is easier to maintain, some homeowners worry that composites won’t look as nice as wood.

Wood Deck - ConsumerReports.org

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Decks Vs Patios: Which Option Is Cheaper?

For additional insights on wood vs. composite decking, and to see how MoistureShield stacks up against other types of decking materials, check out ourDeck Material Comparison Chart. A key wood decking problem is that boards readily absorb water. Without the regular application of stains, sealers or paint, wood decking is susceptible to warping, splintering, cracking and rotting. Additionally, most composite decks have built-in UV resistance, so they won’t fade or lighten as much as natural wood would over time.

Wood Involves A Lot Of Maintenance

While composite decking tries to mimic the look of real wood, it falls way short of replicating hardwood perfectly. So, when it comes down to it, for the most beautiful and natural looking decking, the best option is to go with real, naturally durable hardwood. Now, if you plan to do all the maintenance on your wooden deck yourself , a wooden deck may still be cheaper than composite decking material. Gaining in popularity are composite decking materials, composed primarily of a mix of recycled plastic and wood fibers.

Whats Better: Real Wood Or Composite Wood?

Wood decks have much higher maintenance requirements and don’t last as long as composite decking materials. There’s no such thing as a perfect decking material, and that includes composite decking. The largest hurdle is the upfront cost, because composite materials cost more than real wood. Everyone wants beautiful, natural-looking decking and nothing accomplishes that more than real hardwood decking.

Patio furniture or debris from a passing storm may scratch the surface. Unlike wood, which you can sand and refinish, composite decking can’t be refinished, but in general – you shouldn’t need to. Because composite decking is weather, insect, and rot resistant, it will last longer.

How Are Composite & Wood Decking Different?

So before installing a new composite deck in your yard, take the time to understand what it’s actually made of—and why it’s ultimately better than wood. Another frequent problem with composite decking is that if it fades, you may not be able to refresh the color. With real wood, it’s easy to re-stain it when the color fades. In most cases, though, composite wood isn’t compatible with paint.

It can also be easy on your budget because there are a wide number of options. There are plenty of reasons people choose real wood for their decks. Many homeowners enjoy using natural materials rather than synthetic ones. That authenticity comes with practical benefits as well, though.