Looking for a new deck?

Wood or Composite?

Decking options have grown exponentially. It wasn’t long ago that the only choice was wood, which came in perhaps two or three species. However, thanks to an explosion of composite, there’s now a wide array of decking available.

Whether you want a new deck, improve the safety of your existing deck or to simply replace the railings and planks, here are the basic types to choose from, each with their own aesthetics, maintenance and price range.

Pressure-treated Lumber –  Despite all the competition, it is still the No. 1 decking material sold today. According to Arch Treatment Technologies, a leading producer of wood preservatives, approximately 75 percent of all new decks are finished with pressure-treated (PT) lumber. Approximately three times less expensive than composite materials, but typically require power washing & sealing every 3-4 years.

Composites and Plastic Lumber – the fastest-growing decking materials sold today. Most products are made from polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and come in a wide range of colors.

Composites (Trex, TimberTech, Wolf) are composed primarily of wood fibers and recycled plastic. The result is an extremely weather- and stain-resistant board that won’t splinter, warp, rot or split.

Plastic lumber (Azek Deck, Fiberon) are made from 100 percent plastic (recycled and/or virgin); it contains no wood fibers. It, too, is highly resistant to staining and decay, and free of knots, cracks and splinters.

They’re extremely low-maintenance and never need to be sanded, refinished or stained.  While composite decking materials are slightly more expensive than pressure treated wood.