Natural or Man-made? You need to decide for yourself what fits best for your home and situation. It’s the best choice for busy families who have little time for maintenance and is as easy to clean as the floors in your home. Most man-made decking is waterproof and extreme weather changes have little impact on it. Man-Made decking and railings look great for many years (20 + years), they increase the resale value of your home and require little to no maintenance. The upfront cost is much higher than pressure-treated lumber surfacing and about the same as the cost of rare tropical hardwoods. Things to consider: Most homebuilding companies will recommend man-made decking material. The main reasons people choose man-made deck material are: low maintenance requirements, wide variety of colours and surface coatings, splinter-free safety for bare foot summer enjoyment, and ability to withstand even the harshest climates without warping or cracking. These decking products come from manufacturers such as TimberTech, Fiberon, Lumberock and our own Van Dolder’s Aluminum decking. The most popular man-made deck surfacing materials are composites, but wood/plastic blends, aluminum and synthetics mixed with mineral compounds are also becoming popular.
Is the investment and labour worth about 12 years of enjoyment? So factor that into your decision as well. Since wood is natural, no matter how you treat it, it has the natural tendency to decompose. Even if you have completed all of this maintenance you’ll likely need to replace your wood decking and railings around year 11-12. About 6 years in you’ll need to replace some boards, strip and sand it then re-stain or weather-coat it again. To keep your wood deck in good repair it will need to be stained or weather-sealed every two years. Things to consider: Wood decks require more maintenance.
The main reason people choose wood is for the initial cost savings. The majority of decks built today are surfaced in wood. These chemical-free woods provide better durability and natural resistance to rotting but can cost twice to three times as much as pressure treated lumber. Tropical hardwoods are also being used for decking, like Ipe, Brazilian cherry, tigerwood and cumaru. Some homeowners prefer woods, like redwood and cedar, that don’t have to be treated with chemicals. It is the most commonly used decking material for homes as it is the cheapest option. Pressure-treated lumber is pine that has been chemically conditioned to resist the elements and fungus. If you’re planning to build a new deck or re-do the deck you have, you’ve likely asked the question: which is best – composite or wood? Well, since all decks are built on a structure of treated lumber, all you really need to consider is what you’ll use for the deck surface and railings. Spring time fires-up our desire to “get outside” and for most folks in this neck of the woods, that means hitting the deck.
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