What Composite Decking Is Really Made Of And Why Its Better Than Wood

But if your composite deck does fade over time due to direct sunlight exposure, you can stain or paint it to make it look new again. Many people don’t realize that staining or painting composite is possible, but it’s doable and can enhance the beauty of your deck over time, keeping it looking like new. Composite decks are made of durable, long-lasting materials that are stain-resistant and will hold up well to harsh weather, as well as natural wear and tear for up to 50 years. Unlike a natural wood deck that can last years before needing repair, composite won’t splinter, rot or become susceptible to insect damage.

• The primary drawback to composite decking is arguably the higher price tag.
• In view of the purchase cost of decks, wood flooring is usually cheaper than composite decking.
• Most decks require a full on retreatment consisting of sanding, cleaning, staining or painting and sealing every two to five years.
• At $30-$45 per square foot for installation, the costs can rack up fast when compared to $15-$25 for natural wood.
• In the long run, wooden decking needs to be sanded, dyed, and oiled every year, which will occur maintenance costs.

Wood Decks Vs Composite Decks

You may see some paint brands that say they work with composite wood. However, it’s a safer bet to contact the installer or the manufacturer for your composite to check. Over the life of a deck, the costs between real wood and composite wood tend to even out. This is due to the larger ongoing maintenance cost that real wood requires. However, if you’re trying to stick to a budget for the initial installation, composite wood may be outside your grasp. Real wood has a less expensive initial cost than composite wood because the material itself is cheaper.

Now, Lets Talk About Composite Decking:

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. If you’re looking for easy maintenance, you should go with composite decking. It still needs occasional scrubbing but it doesn’t require sealing and repairing. Some people enjoy taking care of their wooden decks, even though it can be quite a hassle to do so. The second decking type discussed in this article is composite decking.

Don’t expect any cheap options when it comes to hardwood decking. Most of those come from South America and South-East Asia with their own specific traits, colour and grain differences. Wood decking made from natural and high-quality materials can be considered an investment. It ranges from 20 to 40 years depending on how well you maintain it. Maintenance is mandatory if you want your wood deck to last. While composite decks can help resist rotting and are considered more durable than wood, it doesn’t mean they’re completely safe from damage.

Decks Vs Patios: Which Option Is Cheaper?

Most decks have pressure treated wooden frames, so the only material you have to worry about is the surface and railings. And that choice usually comes down to either traditional wood or composite decking. Ipe can cost up to four times the price of the cedar/redwood option because it is imported from South America. Among wood decking’s pros and cons, affordability is a decided benefit. Typically, wood decking is lower cost to purchase than composites, especially in the initial purchase. However, although the initial cost of wood is less, composite usually ends up paying for itself within 2-3 years when including the cost of annual maintenance.

Wood Involves A Lot Of Maintenance

You’ll also have to keep an eye out for mold, fungus, and mildew with wood decking. All of this upkeep can add up and cause pressure treated wood decks to cost more than composite decks in the long run. To put it simply, composite decking is created from a mix of wood fiber and plastic.

Whats Better: Real Wood Or Composite Wood?

Here are the pros and cons of natural wood versus man-made composites for deck materials. Techwoodn is a leading innovator in wood plastic composite decking boards. Complete your yard with WPC decking, all to help you create a comfortable life. Not real wood - Some composite decking looks cheap and not at all like real wood (other composite looks great, though - brand matters).

Now using a high estimate of $139 a square metre for composite decking materials, the same deck costs $2,780. A significant factor in hardwood vs. composite decking is the cost of each product.

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.

Thus, instead of having to put dozens of options head-to-head, your choice becomes simpler, whether it is cedar vs. composite, redwood vs. composite or treated lumber vs. composite. Easy to use online tools can also help youestimate the costswhether you use wood or composite wood decking. Unlike most wood decking, composite decking is not prone to damage from termites and other wood-destroying insects. The result is composites that more closely resemble wood deck boards, like MoistureShield’s Vision decking line. As more builders and homeowners learn of wood decking problems, many are turning to high-performance composite decking. Invented in the late 1980s, wood-plastic composite decking (also called “composite wood decking”) is made of wood fibers encased in plastic. Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as local lumberyards throughout the U.S.