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Wood or Composite Decking, like any major home purchase, decking materials vary in looks, durability and cost. You might want to use certain types of lumber or decking for structural parts of your deck project, and other decking timber for surfaces and railings, the part on which you will walk on and see.
 
A deck can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years if made from untreated wood and can last up to 50 years for treated wood or composite materials. Because a deck is a long-term investment and you will be enjoying it too for decades to come, it’s important to understand your choice of materials before start building your project. Both wood and composite materials come in low and high quality, so cost or quality is not the only factor. It’s commonly known that composite materials require less maintenance, hence, their cost is usually higher. But they do require some maintenance, and other factors come into play too.
 
 
Here are the Differences between Composite and Hardwood Decks:
 
Wood Decks

  • Many people prefer real wood for their decks because of its natural, warm appearance and it just feels good too. The type of lumber you choose for a wooden deck is critically important to the longevity and level of maintenance of your deck.A common and inexpensive option to go with treated lumber is also called PT which is pressure-treated. PT wood is made of fir soaked in anti-rot and insecticide agents. Its natural color is a somewhat brown-green, but you can stain it for a more attractive color. This is the most inexpensive option for decking because it’s susceptible to warping, splitting and cracking, so it requires regular maintenance. But if you want the natural route, go with a weather-resistant wood such as cedar or redwood. These types of decks have a beautiful look-and-feel and resist warping, cracking or other weather damage. Redwood is usually more expensive than cedar and in general, these types of decks come in at about three times the price of treated lumber.A very expensive hardwood also used for decks is Ipe, which is also naturally resistant to rot but is a harder wood and therefore more durable than either cedar or redwood. Ipe can cost up to four times the price of the cedar/redwood option.

 
Composite Decks

  • Gaining in popularity are composite decking materials, composed primarily of a mix of recycled plastic and wood fibers. While a deck built with these materials is clearly not natural and won’t have the potential beauty of a real-wood deck, you can choose from a different lineup of colors to imitate a more natural look.Further, advancements in this type of decking have made its lookandfeel downright attractive, by many accounts.The strongest argument for composite materialsis their low-maintenance requirement like there will be no sanding, refinishing or staining ever.It usually comes with at least a 20-year warranty if not a lifetime guarantee. The downside is as you might expect its cost, which runs approximately twice the price of natural wood decks, depending on the quality and warranty.

 
 
 
Deck Maintenance

  • All decks, including composite, require some maintenance. Natural wood decks are the most demanding, requiring annual refinishing, which sometimes means sanding, removal of last year’s finish, and application of a new finish.If you love the look of natural wood and you’re up for the upkeep, it’s worth it.Pressure-treated wood requires refinishing with a clear sealer or stain every other year, just half the maintenance of a natural wood deck.For composite-material decks, no refinishing is required, but the materials can become hosts for mold if they are not cleaned at least every three or four years.

 
 

With the information above, we hoped that it helped you which of those two decks should you choose as for your Decking Material. At Nice Backyard We stock Composite Decking, Please feel free to call us for any other questions.?

The classic wood deck is a quintessential addition to any residential home. A well-built, spacious deck is not only the perfect spot for outdoor entertaining, but it also adds value to your home in the event you decide to sell.Wood might overall be a more valuable material than composites, vinyl and other decking alternatives, but careful consideration should be paid to the type of wood you choose. The wood material you end up with will have a significant effect on care needs, longevity and overall lifecycle costs.
 
Decking options have grown accumulatively over the past several years. It wasn’t long ago that only choice was wood which came in perhaps 2 or 3 species. However, thanks to an explosion of composite lumber, and hardwood imports, there’s now dizzying array of decking available.Whether you’re breaking ground this summer or still sketching out the blueprints, it pays to know your options.
 
 
Here are the different types of Decks that you might need to know:
 

  1. Composite Decking
  • Composite decking is typically made from a combination of different materials (namely, wood and plastic), which were processed to give the appearance of wood. Both the wood and the plastic can be made from virgin or recycled material. But composite decking is resistant to rot, doesn’t warp, won’t giv­e people splinters, and doesn’t need to be painted, stained or sealed. The color of most composite decking will fade somewhat after the initial installation. Homeowners are encouraged to keep their composite decking swept clean, attend to any stains as soon as possible, and hose it down twice a year, finishing with a soap and water scrub.
  1. Pressure-Treated Lumber
  • One of the most popular woods used for decking. Most often made of softwood, usually pine, and has undergone a chemical preservation treatment to make it resistant to moisture and insects. It is often chosen by homeowners that want a sturdy deck without spending a lot. PT decks do last for quite a while, they have a very high-maintenance needs and require power washing, staining and sealing annually or biannually. They are also notorious for not aging well and can shrink up a lot as the boards dry out overtime. Also, wood splinters from PT decks are painful and can cause infections due to the chemicals present. This makes it a less than ideal choice for families with children and pets who will be coming into direct contact with wood.

 

  1. Redwood & Cedar
  • Redwood and Cedar decks are a nice step up from pressure-treated. Both wood types are beautiful in appearance and offers a classic and natural look. Both are often lumped into the same category, but there are some differences. Redwood has more of a reddish tint to it while cedar is slightly more on the yellow side, though both woods age to a silvery shade overtime. Cedar is often less expensive too compare to Redwood. Both Redwood and Cedar are higher maintenance decking options. Even though they’re naturally rot resistant, elements can quickly wear the wood so annual cleaning and sealing is recommended. Plus, availability of this type of decking can be tight, which has really shot the price up.

 

  1. Tropical Woods
  • Tropical Hardwoods, like Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood and Massaranduba are stunning and a real luxury for any homeowner. Many consider these species to be the best deck wood. However, there are a few important issues with tropical wood species you should know. Tropical Hardwoods are going to be expensive, perhaps even 3x or more expensive than other hardwoods or softwoods. Tropical hardwoods are super dense, which makes them more durable than pressure treated wood, cedar and redwood, however they still require care in the form of sealing and other surface treatments.

 
 

  1. Merbau Decking
  • In the past, merbau was one of the most popular decking timbers and was even used to build house frames. It is still a popular decking timber and is less expensive than most other decking timbers.Merbau has a high durability rating of 2 and is rot and insect resistant. Much of the merbau used today comes from Southeast Asian rainforests. You can look for sustainably harvested merbau. It may cost a little more, but it sends the message that we care about the environment.

 

  1. Aluminum Decking
  • Aluminum Decking such as LockDry, Versadeck, and AridDeck won’t rot, rust, warp, splinter, crack or check and its extremely weather-, mold and slip resistant. Its powder-coated finish lasts virtually forever, and it’ll never peel or blister. Aluminum can’t catch fire, wood-boring bugs hate it, and it’s cryogenically strong, meaning it doesn’t get brittle in extremely cold weather. And, it’s also totally recyclable.When compared with wood and composite, aluminum decking is three to four times lighter, yet two to three times stronger. It can be cut with the same saws and carbide-tipped blades used to cut wood.Most aluminum planks have interlocking edges, which create gap-free, watertight decks. Built-in, self-draining channels collect and dispose of rainwater. Also, aluminum decking stays cooler in the sun than most other types of decking because of the metal’s superior heat-dissipation properties.

 
 

We hope that the above information helped you know more about which decking material is good for your home. And if you are a fan or Composite Decking no need to look for it as we at Nice Backyard, supply

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