Building a new deck will transform your backyard for sure. In fact, a brand-new deck adds beauty, functionality, and value to your home.
When you pick and choose the best decking material, you may give it too much thought: wood or wooden deck. Yet, both materials offer unique advantages, while the right choice depends on:
- Budget
- Desired look
- Long-term maintenance expectations
For that reason, we explore the cons and pros of wood vs. wooden (or composite) decking, including factors like cost, durability, appearance, and more.
Wood Decks: The Natural Choice
A wood deck is a classic option that homeowners have preferred for a long time.
Understandably so, as the natural beauty of real wood is hard to beat, as it offers a warm, organic look that enhances any outdoor space. The grain patterns and texture of natural wood are among the reasons many homeowners still choose wood decks.
But what are some types of wood for decking?
Types of Wood for Decking
You can choose between several types of wood for a deck — each comes with its own pros and cons.
For example, pressure-treated wood is one of the most common and affordable choices. Likewise, pressure-treated lumber is chemically treated to repel insect damage, rot, and decay. As a result, this makes it a durable option for deck construction projects.
Another popular option is cedar, known for its natural resistance to decay without chemical treatments.
Finally, hardwood decking (that includes exotic wood species like Ipe and Mahogany) offers superior durability and a rich, luxurious appearance, though — as expected — these woods come with a higher price tag.
Pros of Wood Decking
To help you make a better choice, we’ll list here some of the pros of wood decking:
- Natural look: The look of real wood is unmatched, with a natural aesthetic that composite decking often tries to mimic.
- Cost: Wood is less expensive upfront than composite decking, especially pressure-treated options.
- Customizable: You can paint or stain a wooden deck to match your style. The ability to change the colour over time is a plus for many homeowners.
Cons of Wood Decking
As for the cons of wood decking, let’s cover a few below:
- Maintenance: Maintaining a wood deck requires regular upkeep, including staining or sealing every few years to protect it from moisture and splinter formation. Wood needs more care than composite options.
- Durability: Wood decks often succumb to rot, decay, and insect damage over time, especially if you don’t maintain them properly.
- Splintering: Over time, wood deck boards can crack and splinter, making them less comfortable to walk on, especially barefoot.
Wooden Decking: Low Maintenance and Durability
As we’ve covered the pros, cons, and types of wood decking to a great extent, let’s now turn our attention to composite decking or wooden decking, as it’s often called.
For homeowners who want a low-maintenance option, composite decking is an excellent alternative.
In short, composite decking is made from a combination of wood fibre and plastic, often including recycled material. This wood-plastic composite offers the look of wood without extensive maintenance. So, this might just be the better option for your home.
As you are close to making a decision between wood or wooden deck, let’s quickly cover a few types of wooden decking.
Types of Wooden Decking
You can choose from various types of composite decking, like capped composite decking. This type has a protective shell around the composite deck boards to enhance their resistance to moisture and staining.
PVC decking is another option, made entirely from plastic and highly durable. Although PVC decking lacks the natural look of wood, it’s highly resistant to moisture, insect damage, and rot.
Pros of Wooden Decking
First, let’s cover the pros of composite decking in more detail:
- Resistant to splinters: Unlike wood, composite boards won’t splinter. Apart from making it safer for pets and children, the material resists staining, fading, and scratching. Thanks to that, you can maintain its appearance for years.
- Low maintenance: One of the biggest benefits of composite decks is that they require less maintenance than wood. As simple as that. Composite decking doesn’t need to be sealed or stained. In fact, it’s highly resistant to moisture. As a result, composite decking helps prevent rot and insect damage.
- Durability: Composite decking is more expensive but offers exceptional durability. It tends to last for decades without the need for replacement. That’s why many manufacturers offer warranties that extend up to 25 years or more to give the homeowners peace of mind.
- Eco-friendly: This type of decking is made from recycled materials, like wood pulp and plastic bottles. All this makes it a more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious homeowners.
- Resemble wood: Many composite decking lines mimic the look of real wood, complete with natural-looking grain patterns and textures. For example, composite boards can be made to look like wood while offering superior performance.
Cons of Wooden Decking
Now, onto the cons of composite decking:
- Cost: Composite decking is more expensive upfront than traditional wood. Yet, when you factor in the costs of maintaining a wood deck (repairs, sealing, staining), the long-term investment in composite might just be worth it.
- Look and feel: Although composite materials have come a long way in mimicking the natural look of wood, some homeowners prefer the authentic appearance of real wood. Composite boards may have a different look and feel than a traditional wood deck.
- Heat retention: Composite decking can retain heat in direct sunlight, making it less comfortable to walk barefoot in the summer compared to natural wood.
We hope to have cleared some of the confusion with regard to the dilemma wood or wooden deck. By now, you should be well on your way to making the right choice.
Final Thoughts: Wood or Wooden Deck?
Both wood and composite decks have advantages, as you’ve seen above.
To simplify, many still favour wood for its affordability, tradition, and authentic charm. Yet, composite decking gives you durability, low maintenance costs, and eco-friendliness — a great alternative for modern homeowners.
To wrap it up, the choice between wood or composite comes down to your preferences, budget, and how much effort you’re willing to put into maintenance.
For many, the best composite decking strikes the right balance between the look of real wood and ease of care, making it the preferred option today.
Contact YYC Builders today to make your choice!
