What type of decking is right for me?
There are many different styles, options, and brands of deck boards so how do you make a decision on which one to use? The first step is to consider wood decking vs composite decking.
The first question I would ask is how much maintenance are you comfortable with doing? Wood decking is more budget friendly up front but can end up costing more in the long term in terms of staining and maintenance. Composite has a higher up front cost with almost no maintenance to keep up with other than cleaning.
Longevity would be the next thing to consider. Are you going to be in your house for many years? Or looking to move in the next couple of years? Maybe a wood deck makes more sense if you are planning to move soon. However, composite decking could also be a helpful selling point in a buyers housing market.
And the last thing to consider is your budget comfort level. If you don’t mind maintenance every year or two maybe a wood deck is the perfect option for you. There are many different levels and price points of composite. There are composite decking products that almost rival the price of wood decking. Certainly with that comes tradeoff in warranty length and quality. We have found some of the more budget composite may not be as consistent in shape, quality, and size as the higher end composite materials.
Some other helpful points to consider.
Oftentimes if someone wants a wood deck we usually recommend a no maintenance steel railing system with wood decking, usually pressure treated or cedar. By using a steel railing system you eliminate the most difficult part of sanding and staining which is the railing. The deck boards can be pressure washed, sanded, and stained very quickly compared to having to also do the railing along with it.
Composite can become very hot in the summer when it is in direct sunlight, it is not recommended to walk barefoot on a composite deck that has been in the sun.
Wood decking can be installed with a special hidden fastener system similar to how composite decking is installed if that is a concern for you.
Composite decking can sometimes appear wavy over the deck framing and joists.
In the end the choice to do a wood or composite deck is a very personal preference and we do our best to guide people to the material that is best for their specific situation.
Composite Decking with parting board.