Comparing Composite Vs Wood Decking

Should You Get Wood Or Composite Decking?

The price of the decking heavily depends on the different manufacturer, as well as the material, shape and complexity. Anywhere between £180 and £240 – it will include the installation fee, too. The budget you need for a woodwork deck project varies from softwood to hardwood. Choose the best softwood timber according to affordability, colour and installation method. No pre-drilling is necessary, neither any kind of budget-soaring hidden fastening installations.

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.

• Though composite decking is the more expensive choice initially, over time, it can pay for itself and save you a world of maintenance.
• The maintenance needed to maintain a traditional timber decking varies on the type of wood it is made from.
• The lifetime cost of composite decking is undoubtedly lower.
• But if you don't like the look of composite, wood may be a better choice despite the maintenance involved.
• And no matter which material you choose, be sure to get your share of quotes so you're able to compare your options and snag a great deal.
• Think about what works best for your taste and budget, and hopefully you'll land on the right decision.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing your decking is how much maintenance you’re prepared to put into it. For most homeowners, the key benefit of composite wood is its lack of maintenance.

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.

No matter whether you choose composite or wood, the quality of materials should be your primary concern. A timber deck requires yearly sanding, staining and oiling, maintenance which costs between $450 and $850 per year to maintain. Compare that to the $5 to $15 it costs per year to wash your composite deck. Over the life of the deck, you will be saving every single year that you own your composite deck. NexGEN maintenance free composite and aluminium decking with up to a 50 year stain and fade warranty.

What Is The Most Durable Decking Material?

The higher the wood ranks on the scale, the more resistant to scratches and dents. We’ve briefly touched on this already, but because it’s such an important part of wooden decks, it deserves another mention.

I don’t want to re-paint until I know what’s causing it otherwise it’s just covering up the problem. Most composite decks have special textures which make them slip resistant when wet. Wood decks on the other hand lack this feature and can get quite slippery especially if there’s a thin layer of mold growing on them.

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

Plenty of decking packs and raw materials are perfectly easy to work with on the whole. Therefore, you could save yourself hundreds by just picking up the tools and materials yourself and looking into a cheap online guide. Therefore, if you do want to treat your wood decking – I’m going to sound harsh here – do it yourself. There’s a lot of talk around as to whether or not treatment chemicals are harmful, too.