Building a deck is a great way to expand the size and add to the value of your home. It’s a great place for barbequing, sunbathing or just relaxing after a hard days work. There are many different designs and uses for a deck but the question always comes up when you’re designing your deck; what type of decking materials should I use? Wood or composites?
Let’s start with wood first since it tends to be the most widely used product for building a deck. It is the most modestly priced decking materials and is very strong and sturdy. Most decks are made with 5/4 pressure treating yellow pine. Its surface is smoothed and the edges are rounded. The pressure treating is a form of copper chromium. This prevents rotting and insect invasion. It can last for years untreated but it does have several drawbacks. It can dry rot over time. This is caused by exposure to the elements such as sun and wet and dry conditions. While insects won’t eat the wood such as termites or boring beetles, dry rot can be a significant problem. Treating the wood every few years with a water-sealing product does prevent dry rot, but it is a maintenance concern and costs money and time to stain the deck with the water sealant. If this is not done and conditions are right, your investment in your deck might be lost and the decking will need to be replaced.
There are other wood products that look better than pressure treated decking, but only if cost is not an issue. Cedar decking is one of the more common of expensive decking materials, but it too requires a lot of maintenance like a water sealant. Magnolia, white pine, and oak are all beautiful decking materials, but these to are suitable to rot and need constant attention and in some cases should be covered with a roof over to prevent excessive damage from the elements.
Composite materials are a great way to go if you’re not into maintenance. These materials need no sealant or maintenance once they are installed. There are several types of composite decking material available and most come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Some composites even look like real wood. Vinyl, plastic, and even recycled plastic bottles are just of a few of the wide variety of composite decking materials available out on today’s market. The draw back is they are more expensive than traditional wood decking. They also tend to be not as strong and need to be supported underneath with stouter wood products to prevent buckling and warping.
If you’re going for saving money on your deck by building it yourself, wood is the way to go even though it requires a little care over the years. If money is no object or you’re not into maintaining a deck, then composites are definitely the way to go. Either way, wood or composites, a deck is an important investment. Choosing between the two materials should be researched and the decking materials chosen carefully before you begin construction.
