Is Composite Decking Cheaper Than Wood Decking?

Order samples of DuraLife composite decking to see all these benefits and more for yourself, and then get ready to build the perfect deck for your home. For example, DuraLife’s Step-Clip fastener technology can help cut installation time by up to 50%—making your dream deck a reality that much sooner.

• However, it’s easy to install and clean, durable, low maintenance, and lasts a long time—and that can’t really be said for wood.
• Unfortunately, wood decking is just not meant to last forever.
• While composite decking is eco-friendly, it’s still not a natural material like wood.
• And it’s sure to have natural imperfections, like splinters and knots, which may not appeal to homeowners.

Wood Decks Vs Composite Decks

Keep in mind that the less your wood costs, the more maintenance it tends to require. While real wood has advantages for the initial installation, the downsides emerge over time. Wood requires more maintenance than composite wood, so it takes more time and more money over the years. The most basic maintenance that hardwood decking requires is keeping it free from debris and washing it every so often. However, if you want your hardwood decking to maintain its beautiful, natural coloring and not become weathered, it is also vital to apply an oil-based deck stain on an annual basis.

Now, Lets Talk About Composite Decking:

It comes with varieties of designs as well in comparison to wood decking. If you prefer to save yourself the trouble of oiling your deck, then go with composite materials. With installation methods varying, the most popular one is using pre-drilled boards. One of the cheapest hardwood materials, pre-drilled and with basic design, will cost anywhere between £190 and £220 per square meter.

Don’t expect any cheap options when it comes to hardwood decking. Most of those come from South America and South-East Asia with their own specific traits, colour and grain differences. Wood decking made from natural and high-quality materials can be considered an investment. It ranges from 20 to 40 years depending on how well you maintain it. Maintenance is mandatory if you want your wood deck to last. While composite decks can help resist rotting and are considered more durable than wood, it doesn’t mean they’re completely safe from damage.

Decks Vs Patios: Which Option Is Cheaper?

Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily. On top of this, we also donate 10% of all profits to the Rainforest Trust UK to help become a carbon negative business. Finally, there’s the hidden cost of the environmental damage that wooden decks cause to our planet. Adding a deck to your home is a great way to make the most of your outdoor space. But not all decking material is created equal, and you may be torn between natural wood or composite, a material designed to mimic the look of wood.

Wood Involves A Lot Of Maintenance

There are still a few tips and ideas you can put to good use if you choose to stick with timber or otherwise. The price you’ll pay for garden decking is, naturally, going to vary from product to product. Therefore, take my following advice as basic guidance and apply it to your own shopping experiences. Rubber Paving is another popular option in British gardens. Again, while the idea of a rubber deck might not appeal to you per se, just take a look at an example. Rubber paving tiles are super-durable, are resistant against the weather, and are very comfortable underfoot. What’s more, you might actually find it cheaper to wooden decking in the long run.

This blend often comes from recycled materials, too, which makes it a particularly eco-friendly choice. Composite decking is often treated to help prevent rotting, mold, mildew, and more. Composite decking has grown in popularity over the years thanks to its durability, low maintenance, and more. However, it’s important to know that not all composite decking is the same. The components that make up one composite deck will surely differ greatly from those of another.

Now using a high estimate of $139 a square metre for composite decking materials, the same deck costs $2,780. A significant factor in hardwood vs. composite decking is the cost of each product.

Composite decks are made by mixing wooden materials with recycled plastic. The plastic acts as protection from insects and other types of threats. When real, long-term value is considered, composite decking materials are clearly a less expensive option. And think of the ease of ownership that this relatively maintenance free product provides. Finally, consider that composite decking is good for the environment, looks beautiful and best of all, you can enjoy your deck barefoot and worry free. The total cost of ownership considers how much the deck will cost you per year, over its lifespan.

Thus, instead of having to put dozens of options head-to-head, your choice becomes simpler, whether it is cedar vs. composite, redwood vs. composite or treated lumber vs. composite. Easy to use online tools can also help youestimate the costswhether you use wood or composite wood decking. Unlike most wood decking, composite decking is not prone to damage from termites and other wood-destroying insects. The result is composites that more closely resemble wood deck boards, like MoistureShield’s Vision decking line. As more builders and homeowners learn of wood decking problems, many are turning to high-performance composite decking. Invented in the late 1980s, wood-plastic composite decking (also called “composite wood decking”) is made of wood fibers encased in plastic. Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as local lumberyards throughout the U.S.