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

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.

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).

Ultrashield natural outdoor composite deck tiles are outfitted by exotic composite finish to give it a trendy look. The tiles are easy and quick to fix which enables it to be fixed without much time wastage. The tiles are made using high quality density recycled composite plastic material. They therefore offer the perfect solution for decks and roof top patios. The deck tiles can easily snap together and allows rain to easily floor through.

Composite decks are made by mixing wooden materials with recycled plastic. The plastic acts as protection from insects and other types of threats. When real, long-term value is considered, composite decking materials are clearly a less expensive option. And think of the ease of ownership that this relatively maintenance free product provides. Finally, consider that composite decking is good for the environment, looks beautiful and best of all, you can enjoy your deck barefoot and worry free. The total cost of ownership considers how much the deck will cost you per year, over its lifespan.

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.