Composite Wood Decking
|Composite Wood Decking – Part of the process of constructing a deck is deciding which materials to use for the decking. Basically, you have two choices – wood or composite. In this article, I’ll share the pros and cons of each type that will help you select the right one on your deck. The main difference between wood and composite decking is the quantity of maintenance required. Wood decking requires more upkeep than composite, but looks nicer. The companies who manufacture composite decking are performing their best to generate their product seem like real wood, but up to now haven’t achieved it. I personally do not think they’ll ever be in a position to match the good thing about real wood. Because of the extra time needed to maintain wood decking, you need must yourself if you have the extra time needed to keep a wood deck sealed and looking good. If you DO have the time and therefore are ready to spend it in your deck, great! Go with wood.
If, however, you do not have extra time or don’t wish to spend on sealing a wood deck a few times a year, composite might be the most suitable choice. Even though wood decks require more upkeep, there’s a form of wood you can use for decking which requires almost no or no upkeep. That wood is cedar. I’ve actually laid wood decking and done absolutely NOTHING to it along it last for years without having problems. Cedar is naturally proof against rain, snow, and sunlight. It doesn’t warp or twist, and possess almost no tendency to check on or cup.
The only drawback with cedar decking left unsealed is the fact that is will turn gray over time. If you are against this look, you are able to opt to seal it a few times each year. It may still “gray”, but it will need longer to take action. Actually ALL wood decks will turn gray over time, if you don’t apply sealer every couple of months, which is a great deal of work. Composite decking, alternatively, is virtually maintenance free. Once it’s laid down, it’s not going to change much even through extreme weather. Some composite deck colors will fade over a few years, nevertheless the fading is uniform, so you won’t really notice it happening.
There are a few disadvantages to getting composite. First, composite decking is more expensive than wood. This could possibly be a challenge if you have budget constraints. If you take into account the cost savings of not buying sealer for years, it might balance out the cost increase somewhat. Another disadvantage of using composite decking is the chance for the merchandise failing. Just like any man-made product, composite decking could possibly be faulty. A few years ago, one major composite decking manufacturer create some defective material. This ended in many decks going bad which created a class action lawsuit. Even with compensation given to consumers, many were stuck with high replacement costs. This doesn’t mean every composite deck strategy is likely to have problems, it’s just a reminder that it COULD happen.
Overall, wood or composite decks are good. You just need to decide from the gray deck, a wood deck that needs maintenance, or perhaps a composite deck which requires no upkeep, but is more expensive and has the possible to travel awry.