Tips On How To Choose Decking Material For Your Deck
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Adding a deck to your home can be very rewarding. Not only will you be able to enjoy your home and yard more, but it will add re-sale value to your house as well. There are many important decisions you will need to make before building your deck. One of these decisions is deciding what type of decking material to use. You can choose to use natural wood or a composite wood product to build your deck with. Here are a few tips to help you decide which decking material is right for your deck.
Tip 1 Think about how much maintenance you are willing to do
Natural wood will require more maintenance than a composite wood product. You will need to apply a stain and sealer once a year on a wood deck. Composite materials are made of wood fiber, plastics and glue and only need to be cleaned on a regular basis, not stained and sealed.
Tip 2 Consider the life expectancy of the decking material you are considering
Wood is more prone to crack and splinter from the weather and can also rot from water damage if not maintained properly. However, a wood deck can be repaired and re-finished to keep it well maintained and looking good. Composite decking does not splinter or crack but it can fade or warp. It also tends to scratch fairly easily and can stain. The only way you can repair a composite deck is to replace the pieces that are scratched, faded or warped.
Tip 3 Consider how resistant the decking material is to pests and rot
Natural wood is susceptible to both rot and insect damage. Composite decking is pest resistant but the wood fibers in the composite material can rot.
Tip 4 Consider how important your deck’s appearance is to you
Natural wood decks can be very beautiful and add a lot of enjoyment and value to your home. There are many stains available which give you a lot of options for color. You can also re-stain a wood deck if the color fades. Composite wood products resemble natural wood but have more of a uniform look. It can fade and once it does it cannot be re-stained. It will need to be replaced.
Tip 5 Consider the cost of each material
Composite wood products are generally more expensive than natural wood.
Natural wood and composite wood products all have their strengths and weaknesses. You will need to weight each factor to determine which decking material best suits your budget, time for maintenance and aesthetic requirements before making your final decision.
