Composite vs. Wood
There are many factors to consider when selecting your decking material. While framing and structure is always the foundation for a great build - we want to consider the key factors that make great decking.
Questions that you should be asking when it comes to your decking material are related to warranty, aesthetics, and use/maintenance:
How long is this board rated to last?
What do you want your deck to look like and what maximizes the best use of the space?
How often do you use the space and how much foot traffic is expected?
Board Rating
First and foremost, most composite decking on the market today comes with a 25-year warranty, minimum. With a professional install your project will typically come with a complete warranty in
addition to the warranty on the decking boards. However, when it comes to wood there is no warranty for deck boards. Unfortunately, the homeowner will most likely be left to 100% of the maintenance required for wood decking. Our most common wood decking product is redwood; it requires staining and often sanding within 5 years to keep it splinter and chip free. Depending on the amount of traffic on your deck, this number could be closer to every 3, 2, or even 1 year.
Aesthetics
When considering aesthetics and appearance, there are thousands of types of boards on the market today. While composite does a great job of mimicking wood, it is still difficult to beat a beautifully stained piece of redwood. While the real wood grain, texture, and knots add great character to the deck and make it look amazing - it can be difficult and time consuming to maintain that look. We install plenty of wood decks in mountain towns or cabins, and with a covered porch this can be a great option with minimal weather factors affecting your boards.
Again, composite decking styles and color options are vast. Composite boards are designed with textured surfaces that look and feel like natural wood and they even vary their wood grain patterns from board to board for a natural look. The big benefit to composite decking is how it will look in five, ten, or twenty years down the road. It mostly holds its appearance through the wear-and-tear of use, weather, and time while wood will inevitably wear down.
Use of Space
It is important to consider how you plan to use the space, is it a space to enjoy a morning cup of coffee at sunrise or a space you plan to host many backyard barbecues and family events? Imagine your nephew with a red popsicle in his hand as it melts and drips wherever he goes... including your brand new deck. Stains like this will be difficult to remove from your beautiful redwood deck, while composite decking boards are wrapped in a high-performance shell that resists staining. With a little soap and water, those stains can be easily handled.
Each brand of composite decking offers different grades or levels for their products. For example, Trex offers Enhance, Select, Transcend, Transcend Lineage, and Signature tiers for their boards. Trex’s Enhance Saddle is four times less than their highest tier board, Signature Orcacoke that is extremely close in color. The biggest difference between the two? Coating. Each board is the same core material but each has a different capping process or polymer coating. The entry level boards have a thinner and weaker polymer coating than the high tier boards which will determine how your boards will stand the test of time; from scratch resistance, color fading, board warping/movement, and overall structure.
Why does this matter? Overtime sand, dirt, and debris that you carry on your shoes as you walk into your home deposit on the decking and can wear down and scratch the coating of entry level Trex decking over time. Think about your carpet in your bedroom, can you see a path from the doorway to your side of the bed? The same thing can happen to your decking which is why it is important to determine how much foot traffic your deck will get so you know what level board will best fit your needs.
If you want to avoid maintenance or upkeep, composite decking is the solution for you. Composite deckings durable, low-maintenance boards are a great long-term investment that won't commit you to the regular upkeep of wood. If you don't mind staining and potentially sanding every few years wood can be a beautiful option. Whichever you choose, it is always helpful to weigh all of your options and view them in different ways. Here at Elevated Deck & Fence our ultimate goal is to help you achieve the best solution for your outdoor needs.
Written by Steven Frankenberry February 7, 2024
