Decking Comparison

Redwood decking can be comparable to wood-composite materials, and exotic hardwoods can be much more expensive. Pressure-treated wood is also the cheapest material for the non-decking components, such as stairs, guards, and rails. The classic and still the most popular deck material, wood decking is usually pressure-treated softwood, such as hemlock, fir, or pine. More expensive wood decking types include redwood andexotic hardwoods, such as teak or ipe. These premium woods typically are not pressure-treated but must be finished (as does pressure-treated wood) to keep it from weathering to a dull gray color. With a variety of options available to homeowners considering building a deck, wood does not have to be your first or only choice.

Wolf® Decking

It can come in a variety of types, including white and black vinyl composites with wood fibers. Talk to a professional when considering a vinyl option and ask if it has the same properties of PVC. Wood composite is easily the most popular type and is usually the first thing that comes to mind when one refers to composite decking. There are many synthetic decking materials from dozens of manufacturers.

What To Know About Deck Railing Height

One brand of aluminum decking we tested snaps together, much the way tongue-and-groove flooring does. A vinyl decking product we reviewed snapped in place over metal clips screwed onto the joists. Many of the synthetic products are available in colors such as white, gray, and several shades of brown. Surface textures include smooth , subtle wood grain, ridges, and other decidedly nonwood-like patterns. Some composite planks are flexible enough to be easily curved into patterns or shapes that would be expensive to duplicate in solid wood. CR members with digital access can see our Decking Ratings, which reflect our updated, two-year exposure score. Our tests showed that some synthetic decking didn't make the grade for rigidity, and some tonier wood products look worse for wear.

Timbertech Pro Vs Azek: Which Decking Is Best For You?

Natural wood has always been popular because of how it looks. However, composite decking has consistently improved in appearance over the past decades. Now you can find long-wearing composite decking finished to look like real wood. Composite decking is basically a combination of wood pulp and recycled plastic. More specifically, it uses high-density polyethylene , a type of plastic commonly used to make milk jugs, buckets, and detergent bottles. The ratio of wood to plastic varies depending on the brand.

If your decking has cracks, looks dirty, or suffers from mildew, it's time to decide whether to refinish or replace it entirely. We test, evaluate, and compare different types of decking to save you time and money.

The core is comprised of Resin material that is a mixture of plastic and wood. The Pro’s are the same as PVC material except it isn’t as mold and mildew resistant, scratch resistant and the heat dissipation is not as good. The cons are also similar except at MasterDecks we have noticed more warranty claims on Capped Composite material than we have seen with full PVC lines.

Let’s face it, Capped Polymer and Capped Composite decks are going to be more expensive on the front-end than a Cedar or Treated-Pine deck. However, the cost and time savings on maintenance can quickly make up for the additional up-front costs. Lots of people like the fact that the decking material will grey over time.

Now that you’ve found the best deck material for your project, the next step is to figure out how the deck will be built. Whether you want to take a DIY approach or work with a contractor, GreenWay is your outlet for the best decking materials — at very competitive prices. There are pros and cons for each of these deck material types. When you’re the one buying, you have to balance the price you’ll pay up-front, if you’re okay doing maintenance year-after-year, and the outdoor decor you like best. Wood, composite, and PVC — all three popular deck material options have their advantages. Understanding the differences and advantages can be a challenge, but we’ve got your back. We’re breaking down the pros and cons of each to help our customers find the best deck material.

Planning Guide: Decks

In general terms, more composite manufacturers have a wood-like grain pattern and more PVC products have a more linear grain pattern. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule and exceptions exist for both. When comparing composite vs PVC decking, the main difference is appearance. By contrast, PVC has a more obviously synthetic appearance. However, there are actually quite a few other differences between the two materials that are worth noting. Rather, vinyl decking is a roll-out material that can be used as a protective membrane when waterproofing a deck. So, while you could use PVC decking to create the structure of your deck, vinyl “decking” could not be used in the same way.

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Composite blend can be routed on the edges, ripped down the board, and even bent easily to fit almost any space. You can’t do these to PVC boards, and although the material can be bent, doing so is more labor-intensive, as it requires the use of special tools. ft. deck, you can expect to spend around $4K–$6K in materials for Capped Composite and $5K–$8K on Capped Polymer decking.

What Is A Composite Decking Board Made Of?

Stay up to 30 degrees cooler than competitive composite products. Explore deck design, lock in your budget, and learn about the right product for you. Economists not only look at the initial cost of an action, but the future costs as well. When shopping for a new deck, you need to shop like a good economist. How much time and money will it take to maintain your deck?

Keep in mind that certain costs, like railings, are setby the linear foot. Find hiring guides, material costs, expert advice, how-to's and more. Composites have few maintenance needs, so you'll have plenty of time to take care of the ones that do crop up. Before you make a commitment, weigh the pros and cons of composites.

• Cellular’s tend to be lighter and easier to handle, strong and tidy and less likely to scratch or stain.
• Another trend in high end composites and some cellular PVC decking boards are co-extrusions or a bonded outer layers .
• Cellular decking materials are gaining popularity and now even many of the composite manufactures also produce a cellular board.
• These processes result in a “skin” or outer layer of the decking board that has different qualities then the core.
• But most are susceptible to chalking and definitely look less natural or more man-made.
• For the most part, composite decking is more expensive than wood.

Deciding whether tobuild a deck or hire a prodepends on your skills. Many composite and PVC manufacturers sell only to authorized dealers, so DIY may limit your choices.

Backed by a 25-year limited warranty, it’s environmentally friendly and designed to remain free of rotting, splitting, splintering, insect damage. Composite decking—like Trex—is a blend of plastic film and wood fibers. The plastic film that goes into composite decking can include polypropylene or polyethylene. These plastics work well with wood fibers to create a strong, resilient material that is more stable than 100% plastic decking. Plastic decking is often confused with composite decking, which contains plastic film, but isn't quite the same thing. Learn more about the various types of plastic decking, the pros and cons of these materials, and how plastic decking stacks up to Trex® composite decking.