Composite Decking Vs Wood Decking

When people decide to build a deck for their homes, the very first choice they need to make is whether to use wood or composite for making it. A deck that’s made of composite tends to be heavier than wood, meaning that more support beams will be needed for holding it. In the case of a wood deck, the support pieces are usually placed at a distance of 16 inches from each other. However, when composite decking is used, the distance between the supports is reduced to 12 inches. Nonetheless, it isn’t for people to choose between the two until they compare their specifications and other factors.

Identification

Wood fibers and recycled plastic is used for the construction of composite decking. The synthetic material and wood fiber is mixed together for giving it a more natural appearance. As far as wood decking is concerned, pressure-treated hardwood is used because it is able to withstand water damage. The most common types of woods that can be found at lumber and home improvement stores include pine, redwood and cedar. This page http://larchdeck.com/project/decking shows some interesting details in this regard.

Price

The primary drawback faced by homeowners when they choose composite decking instead of wood is the cost. If people plan to keep their homes for about 5 years or more, the higher price will prove to be worth it because the composite material has a considerably longer lifespan as opposed to wood. A composite deck wouldn’t need to be replaced frequently while in the same time being, a wooden deck will have to be replaced twice or thrice. In order to ensure that cost isn’t an obstacle for people when they want a composite deck, most home improvement stores are now providing financing options, which include spreading the payment over several days or months.

Upkeep

No ongoing maintenance is required by composite decking. When debris and dirt starts to build up on a composite deck, people only need to use a pressure washer for cleaning it. Depending on the amount of rainfall in a particular area, wood decking may have to be stained and waterproofed every year for preventing the moisture from seeping in. In areas where climate is dry, a wooden deck should be waterproofed once in every three years.

Style

Over the past few years, great strides have been made by composite decking in regard to visual appearance. According to an expert from http://larchdeck.com, this type of decking had previously looked cheap and fake, but nowadays, composite decking can be found in a variety of natural wood grains and colors. The type of wood used can have an impact on the color of the wooden deck. The most popular choice for most home decks is dark hardwood.

Strength

Composite decking is able to withstand difficult weather conditions and also has the ability of resisting insects because a synthetic material and wood are blended for making this material. Cracking and splintering problems are common in wooden decks, but not in composite ones. However, composite decks do fade, stain and scratch.

People can weigh the pros and cons of both options before settling for one.