Deck Materials - Wood Decks vs Composite Decks
Tuesday November 14, 2006
Building a deck to extend out from your house and afford outdoor living space is a major undertaking. After all, if decks aren't constructed so as to blend in with your landscape design, there's no hiding them after the fact -- decks can stick out like sore thumbs!
There's a lot you need to get right in deck construction, and that means solid planning, before you so much as touch a piece of wood! In fact, part of the planning involves deciding whether you even want a wood deck. That's right: the hegemony of wood decks is no longer unchallenged, and you need to learn about other deck materials before you can make an informed decision. You've probably heard that vinyl is now one of your options for deck materials, but perhaps the hottest of the new deck materials is a mix of plastic and wood products. It's called "composite" decking. And this feature explores the pros and cons of composite decks, as opposed to traditional wood decks.
Comments
You just saved me from making a huge mistake. I was going to have a composite decking put on my house, I think I will do as I read and ask to see their decks that are over 3 years old and see what they say. Thanks I guess I will wait until they really are the perfect material. Thanks
Thank you for this site. We are thinking about composite decking, and other than the usual pro-composite rhetoric we hear from salespeople, I couldn’t find anything with an unbiased pro/con view. Thanks again. Glad I found this site. Will be back!
You’re welcome, and it’s great to hear that you’ll be returning. I have interviewed an expert (Lawrence Winterburn) on decks in the past and will be doing so in the future. He’s a great source of info for the latest trends.
This article itself is rhetoric. When attempting to offer a true comparison, perhaps it might be best to truely compare the product instead of offering a biased attack. Perhaps these problems are true. Then list the article as such. “Exsposing the truth blah, blah)”, not “A comparison of…”
Do better next time guys!!
You say “po-tay-to,” I say “po-tah-to.” “Exposing the truth” about something often involves making a comparison. These issues don’t arise in a vacuum. When a product is evaluated, it’s usually evaluated in comparison to the alternatives. A critique of the new product, namely, composite lumber, inevitably elicits a comparison with the product it seeks to replace, namely, wood. For example, take the following lines from the article in question: “A wood deck can be refinished every few years to look like new again. You cannot refinish a composite deck—you simply replace it.” If that’s not a comparison, then I don’t know what it is! So introduce the article as a “critique” or a “comparison” — either way, you’re on firm logical footing.
Great article! I’m up here in Maine considering a deck. This was just what I wanted to needed. Everyone I spoke to calls it maintenance free decking material. With the added cost, and lowered expectations, I’m staying with wood.
Thanks Again!
Mark
I have to say that article was great. I’m researching composite decking materials, but it never dawned on me to search for the problems. Once I started asking people and contractors about them, I started seeing them in a different light. I think I will be sticking to all cedar for now.
While I don’t think that composite materials are for a “high traffic” style deck (ie, high heels, pets, pools, etc) I do believe that there is a strong future for these products if they can refine them more. True these decks are very beautiful and have a lower cost of maintenance over the lifetime, I’m not willing to shell out the cold hard cash to replace the material every few years because it is stained, faded, cracked, or has molded.
Thanks for your comment — it was very well thought-out and informative.
There is a strong undercurrent of opposition to the composite products, some of it with merit and some without. It’s true that composite decking is not the end all/be all. It is NOT maintenance free, it does fade and stain and it doesn’t last forever. With that said, good composite doesn’t warp, doesn’t splinter, doesn’t require sanding/sealing and for some people, looks nice. My concern is that fringe enviromentalists bash it because much of it is not recycleable/renewable. Some contractors bash it because sometimes, they have a comfort zone working with wood (and sizing mistakes cutting composite are costly)—and especially pressure treated lumber gives them a higher profit margin if they are supplying material, because of how cheap it is. Third, people who run or profit from lumber mills have an interest in promoting wood and scaring people away from composite. The whole argument that “composite scratches” is ridiculous. Of course it scratches. So does wood. Are people really going to sand and restain their deck every time a dog scratches it or high heels leave a mark? Live with the stains and live with the scratches, it’s a deck for crying out loud. A bigger issue is having your toddler pick up half inch slivers from lumber that’s deteriorating. We had a wood deck built in 2004 and in less than a year, it was showing the typical cracking, warping, graying and minor splintering. Premium grade pressure treated is what it was billed as. Before everyone says we should have used IPE or cedar, do the math—these things cost a lot more, which is one of the big arguments against composite—the higher price. After three years, any deck, made out of any material will not look like it was just completed. I say do a budget, decide what you can afford or want to pay, then pick the material you like best after looking at samples. Some people prefer the look of composite or vinyl and others like the natural imperfection of wood.
Angelo, Well said! If a comparison is done, then we should talk about the negative side of wood, as well! No material is perfect or 100% better than another and differences can only be judged by each purchaser/customer. So, do your homework and pick the best material for YOU! I chose composite materail for my dock (in Florida) and 3 years later looks great! Color was of great importance for me, and composite had the color I was looking for.
So, I see I’ve found a group of students of deck materials. Just what I need at this time. It appears vinyl may be just too expensive as it is not discussed much as an option. Woods seem to dominate as best choice. Is there a particular favorite among woods? Cedar is somewhat expensive I have heard. Does anyone know anything about ‘tigerwood’? Thanks!
I don’t know much about tigerwood, but I doubt that it’s inexpensive. All I know is that it’s an exotic hardwood like ipe and is resistant to rot and decay.
very good article i was thinking of a composite deck but after reading this article i think i will stay with wood
Why is there no mention of aluminum. Am considering replacing old redwood deck or refinishing. Have been researching composites and these articles are making me rethink them. Lock Dri aluminum decking(mentioned in Consumer Reports) seems to have some real advantages over both. True, it doesn’t pretend to be wood but also provides waterproof cover for area underneath.
Wow! great article. I was definitely leaning towards “maintenance free” composite decking. We currently have a screened porch and large deck (about 18′ x 40′ total) that I was going to have completely removed and replaced. NOT NOW! I’ll have a wood decking company come and do repairs and clean/stain it. Thanks again. You really opened my eyes. The landfill reference was particularly hard-hitting.
We replaced our redwood deck after 10 years of use. We replaced it with a product called Oasis from Alcoa. In less than one year, it’s surface is etching, it warping everywhere (significantly), cracking at the ends of the boards where the screws were driven in, bowing between floor joists….is terrible. we are currently in discussions with the contractor that built the deck. He is in the process of submitting a warranty claim to Alcoa as I write this. I am anxious to see how they will try to wiggle their way out of this…. very disappointing as we paid a great deal of money versus just using wood. In the short term, this will need to be replaced so, I would love someone to write and tell me what better choice there is out there….what have you used that has help up well under harsh conditions? I’m at a loss.
Thank you for this informative article. We have now decided to go back to our original plan to use cedar, since spending money to try something that so many others seem dissatisfied with seems foolhardy. The article was like a Consumer’s Report by a person in the profession of landscaping and building.
Well, I thought the article was a blatantly biased attack on composites. While you made some valid points, this was clearly a hatchet job to attack the composite materials and promote wood.
I am currently debating on going with cedar or composite. The negative points I have found from direct experience and online searches (for composite) are mold spots, scratching, and that composites get very hot. There is fading but no worse than wood and it is consistent. THe material is softer than wood so there will be warping, however as long as joists are spaced 16″ (or 12″ for diagonal planks) you will not experience sagging. Again, this assumes a premium product like Evergrain or Trex. Also, for mold and stains, you can powerwash or use a deck cleaner, in fact all recommend annual cleaning and most recommend a sealer. From talking with several local lumber yards, almost all complaints within the last 8 years have been installer related, don’t go cheap on the installer, certain procedures must be followed.
Contrast this with wood, which can shrink or warp, will splinter, needs to be stripped and stained/sealed every other year, also gets hot, gets scratched, and even though it is expensive, the labor and maintenance costs will catch up with composite within 4 years typically. I have a cedar gazebo that I can maybe get 5 years painted with a deep oil stain, but that has no traffic.
Oh, and no reason why you can’t paint composite material, treat it like plastic. And the expansion comment is a joke, there is no data to match up those claims, extruded composite will not wiggle free from expansion on treated lumber joists.
That all said, I am deciding on cedar with restaining every 3-5 years, or a 25 year warranted composite, price difference about 20% more for composite. Sadly, as I look for honest opinions online all I see is biased articles like this one, and it is very disappointing.
Edgar writes, “While you [emphasis mine] made some valid points, this was clearly a hatchet job to attack the composite materials and promote wood.” Just for the record, I want folks skimming these comments to be aware that I did not, myself, write this article on deck materials. Rather, the article was written by Lawrence Winterburn, an expert on deck materials.
After much digging I ended up deciding to go with Eon. It is made
from 100% recycled plastics and its worst enemy is petroleum based products.
I also did also get a feel that this was more of an exercise in bashing, but as they say, you must do your own homework. Anyone who puts too much weight into anything they read on the web without verifying it gets what they deserve.
>”Anyone who puts too much weight into anything they read on the web [emphasis mine] without verifying it gets what they deserve.”
Why limit this observation to the Web, specifically? I may believe only about half of what I read in the newspapers, for instance. Whether it’s the Web, newspapers, books or whatever, the information provided should be approached as a base for further research on one’s own part — nothing more. Weigh opposing points of view, then make a decision on your own, be it regarding composite decks or anything else. I agree with you: after doing “your own homework,” you may come to the conclusion that composite decks are the best thing since sliced bread.