If the deck is made of untreated wood, it usually lasts for 10 to 30 years, while a deck made of specially treated wood or composite materials can be used for up to 50 years. Because installing a deck is a long-term investment and you will enjoy it for decades to come, it is important to understand your different materials before installing the deck.
Both wood-plastic composite decks and wood decks are of low quality and high quality. Therefore, the cost or quality of wood decks and wood-plastic composite decks is not the only factor in comparison. As we all know, the composite deck requires almost no maintenance, so its installation cost is relatively high, but the maintenance cost in the later period is very low. The wooden deck needs to be regularly painted, sealed, and other complex maintenance, otherwise, it will affect its service life. Let's take a look at some of the issues involved in choosing materials for decks.
Wooden deck
Due to its natural wood grain appearance, many people prefer solid wood as their deck. The choice of wood types for different wooden decks is critical to the service life and maintenance level of the deck.
A common and inexpensive option is to use treated wood, which is made from fir soaked in preservatives and pesticides. Its natural color is a bit brownish-green, but you can dye it to get a more attractive color. This kind of wooden deck is cheap for a reason: it is prone to warping, cracking, and cracking, so it needs regular maintenance.
If you want to take a natural route, use weather-resistant wood, such as cedar or mahogany. These types of decks have a beautiful appearance and can resist warping and cracking. Mahogany wood is usually more expensive than cedar. Generally speaking, the price of these types of decks is about three times the price of treated wood.
Very expensive wood is Brazilian hardwood, which also has natural corrosion resistance. Because this wood is harder, it is more durable than cedar or mahogany. The price of Brazilian hardwood may be four times the price of mahogany because it is imported from South America.
Wood-plastic composite decking
This is an increasingly popular composite decking decorative material, mainly composed of a mixture of recycled plastic and wood fiber. Although the appearance of wood-plastic composite decks is not "natural" and does not have the natural texture of solid wood decks, you can choose from a range of colors to mimic a more natural appearance. In addition, many people believe that the appearance of this type of decoration material is also very attractive.
One of the advantages of composite decking materials is their low maintenance requirements: they never need to be sanded, repaired or dyed. The disadvantage of composite decking is that its cost is about twice that of a natural wood deck, depending on the quality and warranty.
Deck maintenance
All decks, including composite materials, require some maintenance. Natural wood decks are the most demanding and require annual repairs, which means sanding, removing surface dirt, and applying new finishes. If you like the appearance of natural wood and are willing to maintain it, you can choose a wooden deck.
Pressure-treated wood needs to be repaired with transparent sealants or stains every other year, which requires a certain amount of time and labor costs.
For the composite deck, there is no need to repair it, just wash it with soap and water at intervals, which can save you a lot of maintenance costs.
