Is Composite Decking Worth The Cost? Is It A Better Choice Than Real Wood?

How much time and money will it take to maintain your deck? When you’re planning your deck, besides deciding the color, style and size, you’ll need to pick the material it will be made of. Generally, your choices will be wood, composite, and cellular PVC decking. The first difference that you’ll probably notice is that wood is typically the least expensive, composite the second and cellular PVC the most expensive. UV resistance - Composite decks will not fade or lighten over time like natural wood. Maintenance - Most decks need to be sanded, thoroughly cleaned and stained or sealed about every two to five years .

Advanced DIYers can install decks on their own, but more often not, most contact a licensed decking professional. This of course raises your total investment, but nonetheless, ensures a professional product. For polypropylene-based decking, the average cost is $8.68 per square foot. This means your synthetic deck can be environmentally friendly.

Composite Decking From A To Z

Despite being made of plastic, composite can warp or scratch and is thus, not indestructible. However, occasional cleaning and monitoring should prevent it all. To clean your composite deck, just spray it with your hose once a month when you can or once a week during heavy use. For solid polyvinyl chloride -based decking, the average cost per square foot is $9.48, though buying this material in hollow slats can reduce the cost to around $7.50 per square foot.

I think people think just putting PT wood or composite over any old patio structural framing member will do, and its just not that simple. The newer one may be better, but the last one had lots of problems. These decks really do well in covered applications as well.

Trex decking has been manipulated over time with high tech technology that has created deep realistic wood grain patterns and colors. In fact, Trex decking proudly offers two grain types for you to choose from to capture the look you are wanting when it comes to your deck. Trex decking also offers step by step installation guides that will take you from start to finish. Trex decking has come a long way over the past few decades when it comes to the look, the feel, and the price.

Quick Summary: Composite Vs Wood Deck Cost

They want the look of wood, yet they are concerned about what the ultimate price will entail. Composite decking often goes down the same way as wood, that is, with stainless steel decking screws. But some manufacturers offer products with clip or tongue-and-groove assembly. These easy building systems result in deck surfaces without unsightly rows of visible screw heads. Read our tips on the cost to build a deck, neighborhood restrictions, safety measures before installation, higher property taxes, and insurance on your new deck. Remove the old deck yourself, but you will have to dispose of the old wood. It might be more cost effective to have your contractor do this compared to hiring a junk removal service for $5–$15 per square foot of debris.

Composite Decking

Showing that 35% difference can be crucial, especially in the peak of summer heat. Both wood and composites are easy to cut and fasten using common tools most homeowners have. One area where composites come out ahead is they can more easily be bent to form curved deck sections.

Other popular brands, such as Trex or TimberTech, also sell quality products on the lower end of the price range. Composite decking costs$4 to $12 per square foot, closely overlapping PVC at $5 to $13 per square foot. Materials made entirely of plastic can stretch and bend over time, shortening their lifespan. I replaced a 16x16 deck with a 6x10 landing 2 year ago for $4800 in materials using all PT except the railing spindles are powder coated aluminum tubes made by Deckorator. I entertained the idea of using AZEK PVC decking to reduce the maintenance but quickly decided against it due to the price. The PVC decking would have basically DOUBLED the cost of the whole deck .

We are dry, but at this elevation the summer sun is punishing. A covered cedar deck will last at least 30 years round here, so it's hard to justify the up-charge for a composite.

Composite deckingprices range from$4 to $13 per square foot. The product usually comes in boards, though some manufacturers sell square tiles. The boards measure by the linear foot, but most pros quote prices per square foot. The most common size is about1.25 inches thick, 5.25 inches wideand varying lengths.

• For instance, the usual maintenance involved in keeping your outdoor living space in tip-top shape doesn’t factor in with your composite deck.
• The look and feel of composite decking is so close to the “real thing” that it’s often hard to tell the difference.
• With that said, homeowners who opt for synthetic wood are thoroughly sold on the benefits of this man-made material over natural wood product.
• You won’t spend your weekends stripping, sanding, sealing, replacing boards, and all the other tasks necessary to maintain a wood deck.
• Composite materials are friendly to the environment as they offer a use for scraps and wood particles that would otherwise be left to trash.

Figure out what characteristics are most important to you, then make your selection based on that for the best decking material. Economists not only look at the initial cost of an action, but the future costs as well. When shopping for a new deck, you need to shop like a good economist.