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Making the decision to install a deck in your backyard is one that any homeowner should take seriously. Your deck will become an extension of your home, and you want it to be beautiful and long-lasting. Before you start making purchases, you’ll want to know about the pros and cons of real timber decking vs composite decks so that you can make the best decision for your needs.
Pros of Composite Decks
There are many advantages of composite wood over traditional real timber decking. The first is that composite wood lasts much longer than traditional timber, as it can last up to 30-40 years or more (whereas standard timber decking will last 10–20 years).
Composite wood also requires virtually no maintenance, apart from an occasional wash with a pressure washer, to keep it looking brand new. Another advantage of composite wood is that it’s resistant to almost all types of weather damage. While timber decking rots in moist conditions or splits when hit by strong winds, composite decks remain unaffected by weather damage such as sunburn and humidity.
Pros ofReal Timber
Real timber gives a classic, natural look that can be more attractive to potential buyers than composite. Real timber is also more flexible when it comes to color choices. Unlike composite materials, you can stain real timber for different looks (dark brown for flooring, light brown for walls).
All of these factors make real timber a great choice if you’re building your home from scratch or doing extensive renovations on an existing home.
Cons of composite wood
Cost is an obvious downside in the short term. While composite materials have come down considerably in price over time, they’re still not quite as affordable as real wood.
You also can’t perform maintenance tasks like replacing boards without doing some work to your surface first (unless you go with a composite board that will let you swap them out easily).
Cons of real timber
If you’re planning on purchasing a deck, but don’t want to worry about maintenance, you may want to consider getting one made of composite material. The pros of real timber are that it will last longer than most materials.
That said, if you have a treasured view of your backyard that you don’t want obstructed by an ugly deck, or just like knowing that you’re spending your money on wood instead of chemicals, then real timber might be for you. The cons of real timber include its susceptibility to insects and rotting from water damage. As mentioned above, when exposed to water over time, decks made from solid wood can warp and split due to their inability to absorb moisture as well as composite material can.
The final say on what type of deck you should use
Ultimately, both types of decking have their own merits. However, if you’re considering upgrading your existing deck or building a new one from scratch, you should take your personal preferences into account. If you want something that requires minimal maintenance over time, composite decking might be a great option for you.
Conversely, if you want to use real timber but want a product that offers more protection from UV rays and wear-and-tear, aluminum is probably your best bet. Either way, when it comes to finding out what type of deck is right for you there are definitely some things to consider.
