2020 Best Decking Material Options

If you’re OK with a limited palette of colors; a simple, repetitive grain pattern; and a smooth or combed finish, you’ll find plenty of low maintenance, lower-cost products that meet your needs. Composite lumber decking usually comes in 12-, 16- and 20-ft. Composite decking manufacturers have also found ways to offer more cost-competitive options, such as Trex’s new lower-cost board, to fit a wider range of budgets. Now, it’s possible for a homeowner or commercial contractor to build with composite decking materials and realize the same long-term benefits without breaking the bank. Today’s composite materials perform better than the original versions, which were more prone to damage from exposure to the elements, and could also be easily scarred from wear and tear. But thanks to new formulations and additions – such as special capstock protecting the board – composite materials are now many times more resilient.

Appearance Of Real Wood Vs Composite Decking

Scratching is a different story, and you can test this very easily at home. Take a sample piece of each board and run your keys on top of the boards. In our experience, Trex Transcend is the most durable product on the market. It resists scratching far better than any of the other options. This is not a big concern for many of our clients, but for others, it’s a deal breaker. If a scratch in your hardwood flooring drives you crazy, chances are that scratches in your new deck will also drive you crazy so make sure you consider this when choosing your capped wood composite.

Repair Or Replace: Is It Time For A New Deck?

Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as local lumberyards throughout the U.S. As you plan your dream deck, one of the key choices you face is what type of decking to use.

Engineering Whats Next In Outdoor Living®

One debate that many homeowners encounter, specifically when exploring decking options, is whether to choose natural wood or composite materials. Before making an investment in either, it’s best to know the facts. Color blending is the distribution of various pigments in our high-performance composite decking products. Color blending creates natural-looking highlights and lowlights on boards. Composite decking is more expensive than traditional wood, but over time, it will definitely save you money on maintenance and repair. Both Trex and TimberTech offer several tiers of composite decking products, from least to most expensive.

They’re available in a variety of colors and each features a wood-grain texture that—from a distance—looks like natural wood. Although many homeowners think composites do a better job of mimicking real wood than does PVC.

Ipe Hardwood Decking Materials

• The newer technologies come in a multitude of colors, grain patterns and thicknesses.
• Trex invented the composite decking board in 1996 and is widely known as the pioneer in the wood-alternative industry.
• Since then, that basic Trex deck board has undergone many upgrades and as the technology improved, so did the product offerings.
• They began by manufacturing a single color decking board, which they patented in 1998.
• The inventors took plastic that would otherwise have gone to landfills and used it to make a composite decking board that could withstand the elements much longer than wood decks.

But composite decking is not completely recyclable like plastic decking because it is a mixture of wood and plastic. For its low maintenance and good looks, it's worth a look, but shop around. "Not all composites are equal," says Gordon Whittaker, owner of Alter Eagle. Composite decking is typically made from a combination of different synthetic materials that are processed to give the appearance of wood. Considering decks are recreational, I feel responsible for choosing a source material that doesn’t just have minimal impact on nature, but will eventually return to it as compost. These guys took all the good ideas from the originators of composite decking and kicked it up a notch. The result is a solid piece of contiguous material, for easy drainage, affordability, and a natural look.

A deck built with today’s composite materials is resistant to wear and tear, fading, color change and damage from the elements, especially water. Be especially careful when researching composite products; some reviews may be outdated. Be sure you are reading reviews that evaluate the latest products and technology. While composite decking will save you time, energy and money in the long-run, there is no such thing as a truly no-maintenance decking material. Any outdoor living space will require occasional cleaning of dirt and debris. Learn more about deck maintenance here, and discover some additional benefits of composite decking versus wood to keep in consideration when planning your next deck build. In addition, composite decking materials can be milled and cut just like wood decking.

Get started on your new deck dreams by browsing our products today, or contact us for more information. Composite decking material uses a combination of plastic and wood fibers. The newer technologies come in a multitude of colors, grain patterns and thicknesses.

Decking

Real wood hard wood decking costs less than comparable composite decking choices. There are a few hollow composite deck boards that are priced similarly to hard wood decking but… they’re hollow. A 25-year fade and stain warranty covers all capped composite decking offered through Trex vs Timbertech’s 30-year warranty. Both offer limited warranties that cover material defects, splinters and rot on all of their capped decking as well. Though the maintenance for composite decking is minimal, regularly sweeping and cleaning with a mild soap and water is expected and is key to preventing mold and mildew. Mold and mildew growth is not covered by their product warranties if it’s not properly cleaned.