The two main options you will come across when considering decking boards are Timber and Composite. Neither are clearly the ‘better’ option and the choice tends to come down to how much effort you want to put in after the decking has been installed.
For decking, timber is the more obvious choice and has been the common choice for many years, for good reason. The obvious reason is the lower cost, however there is an aesthetic appeal that many composite boards have yet to achieve. In comparison to the initial costs, the ongoing costs of a timber decking need to be taken into account. Softer timbers such as Pine require the most maintenance of the timbers and have a fairly short lifespan. Harder timbers such as Oak or Teak require less maintenance and have a longer lifespan however they still require maintenance and this cost needs to be factored in over the decking’s lifespan.
One of the main selling points of composite decking is the lack of maintenance. Composite decking will not rot and will not attract splinters like timber decking. Composite decking will not require staining or sealing like timber decking. The initial cost of composite decking can be greater than that of timber decking, however a lot of people will choose composite decking over timber decking in the long run due to the maintenance costs and efforts of timber decking. The main Trade-off when choosing composite decking over timber is the less ‘natural’ look of composite decking. Manufacturers of composite decking have recently focused on achieving a more ‘natural’ look of decking and as as such the gap between composite and timber decking has closed.
It may seem unimportant, but weather actually plays a large role in the decision between composite and timber decking. A deck that isn’t fully exposed to the sun and dries out slowly is a rotting timber decking’s worst enemy. The joints and connectors of the decking are the first to go. Composite decking doesn’t have this problem. This is why many people recommend composite decking for areas that aren’t fully exposed to the sun.
There are considerations for the substructure as well. The joists need to be spanned evenly for the decking to not warp. The even spacing of the joists is not always the case. How the decking is spanned and the thickness of the decking plays a role in the even spacing of the joists as well.
Timber decking is cheaper upfront, but the maintenance costs and time spent maintaining the decking adds up. Composite decking is the better long term choice.
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