Composite Decking Vs Wood Decking

Should You Get Wood Or Composite Decking?

Maintenance - Most decks need to be sanded, thoroughly cleaned and stained or sealed about every two to five years . Pressure-treated pine sells for about half the price, while premium woods like cedar and redwood cost slightly less than composite.

Is Composite Decking Cheaper Than Wood Decking?

What's The Right Choice For Your Deck?

Wooden decking is commonly seen as the cheaper, more conventional route to obtaining your garden deck. The initial cost of a quality WPC deck may thus seem expensive compared to a wooden one, but the investment is one that is guaranteed to pay off. Wood-polymer decking is made up of wood fibres, plastics and a small number of bonding agents. At EnviroBuild, all these materials are environmentally friendly. Our wood is recycled and a 100% FSC certified, also the High-Density Polyethylene used in our boards are recycled. If you're the type of homeowner who doesn't have a lot of time or patience for maintenance, you may want to steer clear of wood. With a wooden deck, you generally need to sand its surface every few years, as well as seal it.

• Rust and rot free, Aluminum provides a lasting deck that needs little maintenance and upkeep.
• Generally speaking, the average price of a wood decking suitable for outdoor use is US$15-25 per square foot, while that of wood plastic composite decking is USD$30-45 per square foot.
• For most homeowners, they need to consider the cost of replacing outdoor decks.
• If you compare the installation costs of patios vs. decks, it is quite clear that patios are generally cheaper, but that’s just half the story.
• The cost of materials for Aluminum comes in at an average of around $10 per square foot, and depending upon the results that you are looking for aluminum may be the choice.
• Depending on the materials used, it is still possible for patios to cost more to install than decks.

Even if you go with the cheapest wooden option, the costs of maintenance can make it more expensive in the long haul. When it comes to durability, in most cases, composite is the way to go.

Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation. Unlike the plastic-wood composites, fibre-cement decking does need to be sealed with either a good-quality water-based paving paint or a penetrating sealer. “Design-wise it’s really flexible, because you can paint it any colour you like or it can be stained to look like timber,” says Whymark. Finished with a clear sealer, it will look like polished concrete.

Wood is a relatively common and economical choice at present. But people want outdoor spaces to be more beautiful and practical. As more and more builders and homeowners learn about this high-performance composite decking, it has become a new choice for many people. You can build a deck on land that is not level, which makes it a great option for sloping landscapes or uneven yards. Waterproofing materials might be required in some cases to avoid compromising your home’s foundation. Overall, a concrete patio will generally be cheaper to install compared to a deck. Of course, there’s no rule that prevents you from having both a deck and a patio.

What Is The Most Durable Decking Material?

After all, they are both excellent spaces for entertaining. This decking material is made out of high quality EVA(Ethylene-vinyl Acetate) materials. The EVA floor has good ability of seismic resistance, buffering, chemistry resistance, moisture resistance and non-absorbent qualities. This is because they tend to provide an efficient non-slippery surface for the boat in both wet and dry conditions. If you’re replacing your decking or building a new deck, consider the following list of alternatives to wood decking.

Whats In Composite Decking?

Therefore, everyone always wears shoes and doesn't notice the limited splinters. Two things to remember, all composite decking is not the same, high and low qualities exist, do your homework FIRST. As far as prices for maintenance quoted in the article--they were really close to what a friend of mine has paid since I got my deck done and her deck is smaller than mine. It just depends on your area of the country and labor costs. Although I tend to recommend composite decks, you need to decide for yourself what fits best for your home and situation. The best way to do that is to talk with a knowledgeable deck building professional that can ask you the right questions and help you make the best decision. Just be honest with yourself from the start about whether you're going to do the maintenance yourself.

So the decision process usually involves only the materials that will make up the decking surface and railings. UV resistance - Composite decks will not fade or lighten over time like natural wood. Composite is a manmade decking product that has gained popularity over the last decade. It is manufactured using a combination of wood fiber and plastic. The planks are designed to look like wood, although most people can tell the difference between natural wood and composite. Even with a composite deck, the load-bearing supports are made of natural wood because it is sturdier.

Composite Fencing

If you decide to get a wooden deck, you must be prepared to sand the whole thing down, re-stain it, and reseal it at least once a year. Not carrying out proper maintenance will make your deck deteriorate much faster than it should. However, even dark composite materials do tend to fade in the sunlight. But most colors will keep their natural hue for the deck’s entire lifetime. Sun or shade don’t make much of a difference when it comes to composite decking.