If you want to add some functionality to your home exterior, then a deck is a perfect way to make your house look beautiful and have some space for outdoor fun. Now, there are a lot of materials that you can choose from when it comes to decking. You can take suggestions from deck contractors upon which materials to choose. That said, wood and composite are two popular decking materials. Here is everything you need to know about wood and composite decking.

Wood Vs Composite Decking

Wood Decking

Here are some key things to know about wooden decks and whether or not they’re perfect for your house.

Durability

Wood might seem like a material that’s not going to last long, but that’s not true. Wood lasts decently long and it’s a great decking material for outdoors, but there are going to be some problems if you don’t prepare it beforehand.

There are things like too much sun exposure and moisture that can damage and rot the wood deck and these things can ruin the look and stability of your deck. So, proper maintenance is a must.

Maintaining Wood

Speaking of maintaining, wood is a difficult material to take care of. There are just a lot of steps that need to be followed and if you miss a single step, then be prepared for the damage that’s going to come along with it.

Wood needs to be pressure-treated first, so you need to choose something perfect for the outdoors. Secondly, the wood needs to be waterproofed and protected from the UV rays of the sun because this can cause the wood to fade over time and it can also lead to splinters in the future.

On top of that, wood deck planks also need to be polished to ensure that they look beautiful at all times. So, if you want to opt for wood decking, then you need to step up your maintenance game.

Weather Protection

Since you’re going to be placing the wooden planks outside, you need to keep the weather and its effects in mind. Wood can easily get damaged by water and sun, so you need to prepare it for enduring all kinds of weather situations. Again, maintenance comes into play as we explained earlier.

The Cost

The cost of wood decks, as compared to composite, is far less. Wood is an affordable material, when compared with composite, at least that’s what the initial cost implies. But if you add the maintenance, the regular workover, and care for wood, then these things can add up over time and you’ll be paying the same as composite decks, if not more, for wood decks.

However, wood is a popular material and wood decking can add value to your home because something about the look of wood is so mesmerizing that people tend to gravitate towards it more as compared to other materials.

The Looks

Wood is a naturally beautiful material. It has a lot of tints and natural patterns that are to die for and people just love the rustic and classic appearance of wood.

Also, wood adds an element of warmth to the space and it goes perfectly with contemporary décor as well. Wood is one of the few materials that can really shine through any décor and even if it’s not the center of attention, people somehow spot it easily because that’s how beautiful it is.

The Variety

There is a lot of variety of wood to choose from. You can go for cedar wood, oak wood, pine wood, lumber wood, redwood, etc. Each wood has a specific origin and different strengths and weaknesses. Some wood types are more readily available than others and your best bet is those because they’re not going to be as expensive as the rare ones.

The wood you choose is based on the look you want, how strong the wood is, and the price of the planks. You don’t want to go above your budget in getting costly wood planks for your deck.

Composite Decking

Here are some important things that you should know about composite decking so you can differentiate between composite and wood decking.

It’s Expensive

Composite is a newer addition in the realm of deck materials and the newness speaks for itself through its price. It is a very expensive decking material, but it’s also one of the most durable and strongest materials.

It is more expensive than wood and even other synthetic materials, but its initial cost can be paid in full by the time 2 to 3 years pass. It’s a material that’s high in demand right now and if you want to add a contemporary flair to your house, then composite is the material to go for.

Maintenance

Composite is made out of plastic and composite planks, so it makes for a durable and maintenance-free material. Composite doesn’t need to be treated in any way, shape, or form and all it needs is a daily sweeping and washing and that’s about it.

There’s no hassle of polishing, painting, waxing, and varnishing when it comes to composite and it’s truly a wonderful material to choose for your deck if you don’t want to be bothered with maintaining it all the time.

Appearance

The appearance of composite is nice but it’s nowhere near as beautiful as wood. Wood has the upper hand when it comes to appearance and beauty and while composite is simple and minimal in appearance, it’s just not the same as wood. People complain that composite decks look like plastic and that the appearance is too artificial.

Since then, composite decks have come a long way and now they have a subtle and muted appearance that doesn’t look tacky at all. Composite can also mimic the appearance of wood to some extent, but then again, it’s not real wood.

Longevity

Composite is a highly durable material. Since it is made out of plastic and other materials, it’s not porous at all. Wood is porous and can absorb liquid and moisture quickly which can cause it to rot. However, that’s not the case with composite decking.

Composite is a densely packed material and it has no room for water seepage or accumulation, so that makes fungus and mold infestation a non-issue. This means composite decks are going to last you a long time and they won’t need heavy maintenance either because the planks are already strong and durable and strength speaks for itself.

Range In Designs

There are a lot more colors that composite offers as compared to wood. Wood has just a few different tints and colors, but in composite, you can choose from a wide variety of colors, designs, patterns, ridges, and even finishes.

The ridges are important for foot stability so that you don’t slip and fall onto the deck. The designs can also be textured to provide extra grip and there is an array of colors to choose from. You can go for light and neutral colors, and if you want to step out of your comfort zone, then you can go for bolder options.

Conclusion

Wood and composite are two of the most popular materials that are used in decking and by weighing the pros and cons of each, you can easily select the right material for yourself. If you need personalized suggestions according to your needs, consult a deck builder Port Jefferson.