Wood Vs Composite Decking Price

Wood needs a lot of maintenance and specialist chemical treatment to stop it from warping, cracking, splinting and rotting. The build-up of mould, moss, algae and UV fading also needs to be considered. In short, a high degree of labour and time is required to maintain your wood decking every season during its short service life.

A lot of people confuse plastic with composite decking, but there’s a few key differences. Composite boards are made by combining polymers with real wood, making them hybrid, or ‘semi-synthetic’ if you will. In this article, we’ll just be comparing plastic with wood. Composite decking is for another day, and another blog article. When using non-capped boards, make sure they have a deep non-slip grain or ribbed texture. Check the boards are made from high density plastic products and hardwood fibres.

Decking Life Spans And Maintenance

As you can see, composite decking has all the benefits of wooden decking, and more. For people wanting the appearance of real wood, composite decking can more than deliver. There is no denying real wood decking looks beautiful and it will certainly give you the authentic appearance you want. Certain types of wooden decking will be more durable than others, for example, cedar or redwood.

Despite the above given qualities, contrary to some outdated advertising, composite decks are not entirely maintenance free. In order to lower the damage, always pick cleaning detergents that are specifically made for composite materials – otherwise, the deck colour might fade. Opt for a professional that is certified to deal with hard-to-remove stains when the situation’s beyond hope. Probably the biggest advantage that composite decking has over traditional hard wood decking is its eco friendly credentials. This particular case of warping in composite wood plastic decking was not covered by his warranty. He had 120 sq metres of wood plastic composite decking laid at his home.

Ultra Decking

The wood starts off as a warm yellow tone and then silvers down over time. Softwood decking is a good, cost effective solution for play areas and family decks. Composite decking is made from mixtures of wood and plastics. Having the right blend of good quality timber fibres and high density polymers is critical. If you have ever left softwoods outside, you will find they absorb water, swell, crack and rots quickly.

• You can find decking supplies online or come to your local branch to place an order or to help you decide between the two materials.
• Composite decking is less slippery than timber and comes in a range of colours and finishes.
• Lawsons stocks a range of softwood, hardwood, and composite decking to suit any taste.
• Both materials come with a range of options and have their own benefits and drawbacks, depending on your taste.
• If you prefer a traditional look and natural feel that you will not need to replace, timber decking is probably the best option for you.

Wood-polymer decking is made up of wood fibres, plastics and a small number of bonding agents. At EnviroBuild, all these materials are environmentally friendly. Our wood is recycled and a 100% FSC certified, also the High-Density Polyethylene used in our boards are recycled. One key factor to keep in your mind is the quality of the composite decking you purchase.

Choose experienced installers to ensure your new deck has been correctly fitted. This will give you peace of mind that your new composite decking will provide you with decades of service and will add value to your property. Outdoor alfresco living is high on the wish list for many savvy home buyers when considering their purchase. Below our expert look at the key factors upon purchasing and time when comparing wooden decking with composite decking. Wood decking is fast becoming a thing of the past, mainly due to the high maintenance costs of regular wood decking upkeep year on year costing over its short life span. Regular wood decking suffers from warping, splinters, cracking, fading and even crumbling leading to structural failure.

Wood Decking Vs Plastic Wood Decking

As we experienced over the hottest spells this summer, material expand in heat. Railway rails buckle, power lines drop, doors expand and jam etc. When too cold, gaps between rails increase, power lines tighten and snap and gaps around doors get larger and lets drafts and the cold in. As well as being environmentally damaging during their manufacturing process, these windows eventually started to discolour, warp, crack and eventually fail. These plastics are not UV stable so when the sunlight shines on them, the UV light starts to break down the polymer bonds, making them go yellow and brittle.

Composite decking is known as the smart choice for any new decking project. A key reason is the cost savings in both time and money to maintain your composite decking. This will depend on which generation of composite decking you choose, and the amount of time required to maintain your composite decking every year. First-generation composite decking simply requires a soft brush with hot soapy water approximately 3-4 times a year. Second generation requires similar maintenance twice a year which of course saves time and money.

Composite Decking

The boards are fixed with fittings that have a lost head where the Millboard itself closes over the screw. Whereas most composite decking boards contain wood fibres, Millboard is wood free which means it is not affected by damp situations. It is perfect for a family deck, around a pool or as steps up to a deck platform. Capped boards is a composite manufacturing process that is also known as co-extrusion.