Learn the pros and cons and basic price comparisons of wood, plastic, composite and other decking materials.
Before choosing between plastic and wood for your deck, ask yourself one question. Where is the deck? If your deck will be in the sun or in the shade all day, you’ll want to choose a material that will be comfortable even on the hottest days of the year, especially in the summer when it gets the most use.
course, size, cost, style, and maintenance will also factor into your decision. We spoke with four nationwide decking experts to find out how to select decking materials.
Plastic: 100% plastic decking is stain-resistant and won’t crack, warp, or splinter. No finishing work required. Some plastic decks are made from new plastic. Others are partially or fully recycled.
Composite: These decks are made from wood fibers usually recycled maple sawdust and recycled plastic. It is dense, resistant to weather and stains, and will not crack, warp, or rot.
Wood: Most wood decks today are made from redwood, cedar, pressure-treated pine, or Ipe, a sustainable tropical wood. You can find sustainably produced versions of most hardwoods, including bamboo, cedar, cedar, and Ipe. Buy wood from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified companies to avoid illegally harvested wood.
President of the Buffalo NY USA Redwood Association, said much more people have begun using plastic and composite decking in the past decade, and RDKHardscaping’s hardscape architect agrees. “ Buffalo NY USA appears to favor plastic and composite decking, and as the low-maintenance materials segment continues to grow, there appears to be a preference for plastic cap composites”, hardscape architect says.
Hardscape architect of RDKHardscaping in Buufalo NY USA currently installs virtually all composite decking for his customers. In particular, cap-type composite decks, which cover composite materials with thin plastic material, are gaining popularity due to their durability and quick construction.
Heat resistance
“When composites and plastics were made, not much thought was given to how they would perform in heat”, hardscape architect said. Composites and plastics have their advantages, but comfort on hot days is not an advantage. “Composites and plastics are too hot to walk on barefoot”, says hardscape designer. Capped composites are no different. “The plastic layer surrounding the composite retains heat”, says hardscape architect. “But the lighter the color, the less heat it holds”.
For this reason, many experts recommend using wood in climates with increasingly hot summers. Tropical woods such as Ipe and teak are well suited to wear and weather. However, because some of these woods are darker, they retain more heat than commonly used lighter woods, such as pressure treated southern yellow pine.
Redwood tends to be the primary decking material on the Buffalo NY USA due to its affordable price, low maintenance, and cool surface. “Redwood is the cheapest material in Buffalo NY USA”, says Buffalo NY USA contractor. Because there are so many of them”, she says. “They tend to cost twice as much because they have very low manufacturing costs compared to composite decking boards, which can take a lot of time to make”, she said.
Maintain
No matter what material you choose for your deck, it will require maintenance. Cleaning is required at least once a year. Most composites and plastics require regular finishing once or twice a year to prevent fading, but most decking materials can be finished or left unfinished. Wood is prone to rotting and warping, and mold spots are more difficult to remove from composite and plastic decking.
Expense
Composite or plastic decking can cost twice as much as wood decking because the materials cost more and the structure is more extensive. Composite decking is not as rigid as wood, so it usually requires more support to prevent sagging. This can easily add hundreds of dollars to the cost of your deck.
According to hardscape experts, the average price per square foot for a finished deck is: prices may vary depending on location, design features, and construction costs.
Estimated price per square foot for entire deck:
Pressure treated lumber: $15-$25
Cedar: $24-$45
Composite: $32-$45
Redwood: $30
Highest quality plastic: $48
Ipe: $55
