Is Composite Decking Cheaper Than Wood Decking?

Any wood you’re planning to build with should have a certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, especially hardwoods. On face value, a patio is always going to be cheaper than decking. It’s cheaper to lay concrete slabs than it is to set up complex wooden pieces. What’s more, a patio is, on the whole, likely to be a lot cheaper to maintain.

• Wood may be a natural material that is known for staying cooler during even the warmest weather, but composite decking is truly a contractor’s and homeowner’s dream.
• 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.
• It’s a viable option that many homeowners opt for these days for good reason.
• It’s easy to install, low maintenance, and can last for years.
• Although the installation price for a composite is definitely going to be more than wood, the actual cost over time is a good deal closer.
• Composite decking is also eco-friendly, with its makeup often made from recycled wood and plastic.

Wood Decks Vs Composite Decks

The pulp inside the bamboo has been harvested to make even pillows and quilt batting due to the incredibly soft nature, even more so than cotton. There are two distinct types of bamboo decking, woven fibers and non woven fibers. The natural beauty of bamboo is undeniable, and in many climates can provide a lasting deck if maintained properly. With any wood style deck, it is going to take work to keep it at its best. Bamboo is no exception, and will need sealed and stained or pigmented. It will fade over time, so slapping on a coat of sealant in its natural state is not recommended. Additionally, areas that see a lot of rain or flooding, puddling, or marshy lands will not benefit from bamboo.

Now, Lets Talk About Composite Decking:

Wood decking alternatives were not readily available until the late 1990s when composite decking hit the scene. Until then, your only real decking material option was pressure treated wood.

A patio is often not the ideal option for uneven ground since the cost to create a foundation can double or even triple the cost of the addition. If you have uneven ground in your yard, a deck would be the cheaper option since the cost of installation is almost always never affected by the slope of the yard. A deck is a raised platform that can be made of different materials, which include pressure-treated lumber, wood, PVC, composite, and more. A deck can sit high above the ground raised by posts and accessed via a staircase or be built low to the ground raised only by joists. The most popular non-wood decking materials are composite and PVC.

Decks Vs Patios: Which Option Is Cheaper?

If you compare the installation costs of patios vs. decks, it is quite clear that patios are generally cheaper, but that’s just half the story. Depending on the materials used, it is still possible for patios to cost more to install than decks.

Wood Involves A Lot Of Maintenance

I’ve put together a quick guide to look at how you can reduce the cost of your garden makeover. Both wood and composite materials come in low and high quality, so cost or quality is not the only factor. It's commonly known that composite materials require less maintenance, hence, their cost is usually higher. But they do require some maintenance, and other factors come into play as well. Let's look at some of the issues involved in choosing the right deck material for your deck.

Whats Better: Real Wood Or Composite Wood?

Wood decks have much higher maintenance requirements and don’t last as long as composite decking materials. There’s no such thing as a perfect decking material, and that includes composite decking. The largest hurdle is the upfront cost, because composite materials cost more than real wood. Everyone wants beautiful, natural-looking decking and nothing accomplishes that more than real hardwood decking.

Wood decking may stay cooler in the heat of the sun than composite decking, but it can still get hot. However, composite decking can withstand higher temperatures with less expansion and contraction. One contractor even tested it out and found that DuraLife’s composite decking is one of the coolest deck boards on the market. It doesn’t get as hot as other composite decking materials because it has a polypropylene plastic cap, which doesn’t heat up as much as other plastics, like polyethylene or PVC.

The best wood decking, which is going to withstand years of use and British weather, is going to demand a fair amount of money. However, there may be a cheaper option than decking that might appeal to you. Alternatively, you could save money building a deck where you least expect it.

They are manufactured using ultrashield technology which protects the core material with a multi-chromatic poly shell. While composite decking is eco-friendly, it’s still not a natural material like wood. 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. And it’s sure to have natural imperfections, like splinters and knots, which may not appeal to homeowners.