Composite Decking Vs Wood Decking

How much time and money will it take to maintain your deck? When you’re planning your deck, besides deciding the color, style and size, you’ll need to pick the material it will be made of. Generally, your choices will be wood, composite, and cellular PVC decking. The first difference that you’ll probably notice is that wood is typically the least expensive, composite the second and cellular PVC the most expensive. UV resistance - Composite decks will not fade or lighten over time like natural wood. Maintenance - Most decks need to be sanded, thoroughly cleaned and stained or sealed about every two to five years .

These types of decks have a beautiful look-and-feel and resist warping, cracking or other weather damage. Redwood is usually more expensive than cedar and in general, these types of decks come in at about three times the price of treated lumber. Both wood and composite materials come in low and high quality, so cost or quality is not the only factor.

Composite Decking From A To Z

However, after just 2-3 years of routine maintenance, that cost difference is easily erased. While no one wants to spend more for something than they necessarily have to, there are several other components that contribute to the total cost of purchasing any product.

I think people think just putting PT wood or composite over any old patio structural framing member will do, and its just not that simple. The newer one may be better, but the last one had lots of problems. These decks really do well in covered applications as well.

This is especially important for walking on the deck barefoot, and for children and pets, whose feet are sensitive. Unlike most wood decking, composite decking is not prone to damage from termites and other wood-destroying insects. As more builders and homeowners learn of wood decking problems, many are turning to high-performance composite decking. As you plan your dream deck, one of the key choices you face is what type of decking to use. Two of the most common options are wood and wood-plastic composites. Whether you plan to do the job yourself or hire a contractor, this article discusses factors to consider when comparing wood vs. composite decking.

Quick Summary: Composite Vs Wood Deck Cost

They want the look of wood, yet they are concerned about what the ultimate price will entail. Composite decking often goes down the same way as wood, that is, with stainless steel decking screws. But some manufacturers offer products with clip or tongue-and-groove assembly. These easy building systems result in deck surfaces without unsightly rows of visible screw heads. Read our tips on the cost to build a deck, neighborhood restrictions, safety measures before installation, higher property taxes, and insurance on your new deck. Remove the old deck yourself, but you will have to dispose of the old wood. It might be more cost effective to have your contractor do this compared to hiring a junk removal service for $5–$15 per square foot of debris.

Composite Decking

Showing that 35% difference can be crucial, especially in the peak of summer heat. Both wood and composites are easy to cut and fasten using common tools most homeowners have. One area where composites come out ahead is they can more easily be bent to form curved deck sections.

Home Project Costs & Estimates

Consumers must decide if the look and feel of natural wood is worth the work that goes into periodic staining, painting and replacing sections that have begun to decay. If you'd rather spend your time doing something else, composites are your choice. It depends on what generation of composite decking you are talking about. Composite decking really has no grain to it so what your friend is talking about may be bowing due to the joist being spaced too far apart not warping. If it was put on an older deck as replacement the deck may not have been designed for it. I am not pleased with my deck but it is an early version that I think is now about 20 years old and the surface is somewhat open and needs cleaning often. It has actually out lasted the "Lifetime Cedar" decking it replaced which lasted about 15 years and needed replacement sooner than that.

Wood Deck.

Posted: Fri, 07 Aug 2020 07:00:00 internet GMT [source]