Composite vs Wood Deck: Which One Should You Choose?

Key Highlights

• Composite decking is tough and easy to look after. It stands up against rot, decay, or insect damage.
• Wood decks have a classic and natural look. They need regular maintenance like staining and sealing to keep looking good.
• Composite decking costs more at first, but you often spend less in the long run since it needs minimal upkeep.
• The decking material you choose changes the way your outdoor space will look and feel for years.
• Composite decking comes in many colors and styles, with some that look a lot like natural wood.
• Wood has a truly natural feel but does not last as long as composite decking.

Introduction

Choosing the right decking material for your home is important. Most people pick either composite decking or traditional wood decking for their outdoor living space. Each option has its own good points. Do you want the feel of real wood, or do you like how easy modern composite is to take care of? It’s good to know how wood decks and composite decking compare when it comes to cost, how they look, and what it takes to keep them nice. This is the first step, and it will help you make a choice you feel good about for a long time.

Understanding Composite and Wood Decking

When you look at the choices for decks, it is important to understand what each deck material is made of. Composite decking is made by mixing wood fibers with recycled plastics. These composite boards are made to look like natural wood. You do not need to spend a lot of time keeping them in good shape.

Wood decking is simple. It is boards that are fully made from natural wood. The type of wood used can change a lot. Some decks use pressure-treated pine. Other decks use hard woods from far places. Each type brings a unique look and feel. Wood also lasts in different ways, based on what you choose. Next, we will talk more about what makes up these materials.

What is Composite Decking Made Of?

Composite decking materials are made to last longer and work better than plain wood. These composite boards use a blend of wood fibers and plastic mixed with something that holds them together. This mix makes a material that is heavy, dense, and strong. It also makes composite decking better able to stand up to bad weather than regular wood.

Many types of composite decking are the more sustainable choice. This is because they use recycled materials. The main parts often have:

• A mix of wood fibers, like sawdust or wood chips
• Recycled plastics, including things like polyethylene
• Some binding agents and protective additives

The big plus of picking composite materials is that they last a long time and need little care. The price at first can be high. But, composite boards cannot be easily repainted or restained. So, if you want to update your outdoor look often, this may not be a good thing.

Types of Wood Commonly Used for Decks

If you like the feel and look of real wood, you have many wood species to choose from for your deck. The type of wood you pick does change how your deck looks. It can also change the cost and how much you have to work to keep up your deck. A deck made from traditional wood gives you a classic feel that a lot of homeowners want to have.

Some of the most used kinds of natural wood for decks are:

• Pressure-treated Pine: This is a low-cost wood that you can find easily. It is made to stand up to rot and bugs.
• Cedar and Redwood: Many people pick these types because they do not easily break down. They also have a nice red color.
• Tropical Hardwoods: Woods like Ipe and Cumaru are very strong and thick. They last a long time but cost more than others.

Every type of wood has its own look and feel, and the grain and color can be different in each kind. Still, all real wood decks need upkeep. You will have to care for them often to keep them safe from the weather and to help them look good year after year.

Comparing Appearance and Design Options

The way your deck looks matters a lot. You can choose wood decking or composite boards, and both give you many design options. Composite deck boards come in many colors and have different feel to them. A lot of these boards are made to look like the grain pattern that is found in real wood. This helps your deck have the same look all the time, from the day you build it.

Wood decking gives you a special, natural look that you can’t get from anything else. You can change how it looks by using stains and finishes. Let’s see what design choices you get with these two types.

Color, Texture, and Finish in Composite Decks

Modern composite decks come in many colors and styles. You can get composite decking boards in deep browns or light grays, so there be a good option for any home. New technology makes the surface look like real wood. You get this style with composite decks, but you do not have all the upkeep that comes with real wood.

The color in composite options gets set while your deck is made. You can’t change the color or finish after that. This can be a problem if you like to update things often. But it is good if you want your deck to always look the same. It saves you from repainting or staining it over time.

Natural Look and Stain Options for Wood Decks

The main reason people like wood decks is because of their natural beauty. You can see that each board of real wood decking has its own grain pattern. This brings warmth and a true feel to your outdoor space. It is hard for other materials to do the same. Traditional wood is still a classic choice for many. This is because of how real wood looks and feels.

Unlike composite, you get to choose how your wood deck looks in the end. You can change the color and finish any time to match what you want, or if your style changes. This makes it easy to give it a fresh feel or change things up. Some ways you can do this are:

• Clear Sealers: The clear sealers help protect the wood. They let you see the natural color and pattern in the wood.
• Toned Stains: These give the wood a bit of color. You will still see the grain on the wood with them.
• Solid Stains or Paint: These cover the wood fully with one color. They protect it the most from the sun’s rays.

This way, you can change how your deck looks every few years. But you need to do regular upkeep. You must sand and refinish the deck often.

Durability and Weather Resistance

When you put money into a new deck, you want it to stay strong for a long time. The durability of composite decking compared to wood decking stands out. Composite materials are made to hold up better against wind, sun, and rain. This kind of decking does not get insect damage like wood decking can. Over time, insect damage can hurt the structural integrity of wood decking, but composite decking stops that problem.

Wood is a natural material. It can be harmed by water, sunlight, and bugs. The life and strength of a wood deck depend a lot on the type of wood you use. It also depends on how often you take care of it. Next, we will see how each material stands up to weather and other things that can wear it down.

How Composite Decking Holds Up Over Time

The longevity of composite decking stands out as one the best things about it. These boards are made to not fade, get stained, bend, or splinter, even after spending years in the sun and rain. This strong and good durability lets your deck stay looking nice and stay safe with minimal upkeep. So you get peace of mind with composite decking.

Most composite decking brands give good warranties. The coverage is usually for 25 years or more for normal problems you may get. You do not find this long warranty for wood decking. Because of the way it is made, composite decking is tough, and it can handle the weather and people walking on it for a long time.

Factors Affecting Wood Deck Lifespan

Wood decks tend to not last as long as composite ones. A wood deck that is cared for can stay good for about 10 to 20 years. The problem is, it wears down faster because of things outside like weather and bugs. A wood deck needs a lot of work to keep up, and that is something all homeowners should think about. A wood deck’s shorter lifespan is a big point when choosing your outdoor space.

The life of a wood deck depends on how much weather it faces and how well you take care of it. A few things affect how long your deck will last:

• Moisture: The deck can get rot, mold, and decay from water.
• Sunlight: UV rays make the wood fade. The sun also dries out the wood and can make it crack.
• Insect Damage: Termites and other bugs get into the wood and mess up the deck’s structure.

If you do not do regular maintenance, your wood deck can start to break down fast. Problems may show up, and be tough to fix. You may have to spend more money on repairs or even buy a new deck before you think it is time.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

Your choice of decking material often depends on how much regular upkeep you are willing to do. The maintenance needs for wood and composite decking are not the same. Composite decking needs less maintenance than wood. So, you can use your weekends to relax instead of working on your deck.

Wood decks need you to do annual maintenance to keep them looking good. You have to do regular upkeep. This helps take care of your investment and keeps the natural beauty of the wood. If you don’t look after it, the wood can get damaged and lose its look. Let’s look at what needs to be done for each type of material.

Cleaning and Upkeep for Composite Decks

If you want a deck that needs little work, composite decking is the best choice. Composite decking looks nice and is easy to care for. You do not have to stain, seal, or paint it every year. The minimal upkeep makes it a good pick for busy people and homeowners.

The regular maintenance for composite decking boards is easy. You do not need much to keep them clean. For most cases, just use some soap and water. The basic cleaning process is simple.

• Sweep away loose things like leaves and dirt.
• Wash the surface using a soft brush and some mild soap.
• Rinse everything very well with a garden hose.

This easy cleaning, done one or two times each year, is usually enough to keep your composite deck looking good and working well for many years.

Maintenance Needs of Wood Decks

Real wood decking looks nice, but it needs a lot of care. You have to do regular upkeep. This helps protect it from getting ruined by rain, sun, and people walking on it. If you do not take care of your wood decking, it will start to look gray and old. It can also rot or break apart, which is hard to fix.

The yearly care you need to do for wood decks takes up more time and effort than what you do for ones made of composite. You have to follow several steps, and this can also cost more money. The work you do to keep your deck in good shape for years includes:

• Clean the surface well to get rid of dirt and mildew.
• Sand down any rough spots or places where the finish is peeling.
• Put on a new coat of stain or sealer to help keep the wood safe.

You need to do regular staining and sealing for your deck every one to three years. How often you do this depends on where you live and how much sun or rain the deck gets.

Conclusion

In the end, picking between composite decks and wood decking is about what you want and need. Composite decks are a great option if you want something with low maintenance and good durability. You do not have to spend much time caring for them. Wood decks look good and feel natural, which many people like. But they need more work to keep up.

Think about how you want your outdoor space to look, how long you want it to last, and your maintenance needs. This will help you make an informed decision. Both composite decks and wood decks have things the other doesn’t, so it depends on what matters most to you. Take time to look at your choices and pick one that will make your outdoor space nice for many years.