Wood vs. Composite Decking

For years, ALL decks were made of wood – good or bad. In the 21st century, we have choices. Deciding between wood vs. composite decking is one of the first steps towards planning your brand new backyard deck. There are compelling reasons to choose each material, depending on your budget, style, and willingness to do backyard chores.

At Choice Home Remodeling, we gladly install both wood and composite decking for our clients. In today’s blog, we’re highlighting the benefits of composite decking and wood decking. If you’re ready to get quotes for each, reach out right now – if you’d like more information, read on to see our breakdown of wood vs. composite decking.

Gorgeous composite deck in Lancaster PA

 

5 Main Benefits of Composite Decking

Composite decking has burst onto the scene as an eye-catching luxury alternative to tried-and-true wood decking. Composite decking is a high-tech blend of real wood and plastic. These are the 5 benefits of composite decking that homeowners love and how it contrasts to wood:

  1. No Re-Painting or Re-Staining – If you choose a wooden deck, you’ll have to make re-painting or re-staining a regular part of your yearly maintenance routine. If you neglect these important tasks on a wooden deck, it can grow the rot and mold that will ultimately destroy it. However, thanks to engineered plastic blend, composite decks are immune to rot and mold and thus will NEVER need massive maintenance.
  2. Composite Decking Doesn’t Splinter – There are few things worse than a long, jagged splinter poking up from the surface of your deck. Just like with yearly maintenance, composite decking makes splinters a thing of the past. While they may possess the beauty of real wood, these engineered decks simply don’t splinter no matter what. This is one of the main benefits of composite decking.
  3. Composite Doesn’t Fade – Composite boards come in a wide range of gorgeous colors and shades. What’s even better is that they keep that color throughout their decades-long lifespan. While wooden decks become washed out over time, composite stays vibrant like it’s new.
  4. Composite Won’t Warp – This advantage of composite decking helps it last far longer than any traditional wood structure. After spending years basking in the bright sun, wooden deck boards begin to warp or bend, eventually needing to be replaced. However, this is something that composite decking has corrected.
  5. Composite is the Next Big Thing – For some homeowners and outdoor designers, the wood vs. composite decking debate is settled right here. Composite is the next big trend in deck design and outdoor living. Thanks to all of these stylistic and practical advantages, composite decking is taking over. If you want a deck that’s cutting-edge right now and will be on-trend for years to come, you want composite.

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The Reason to Choose Wood Decking

While the advantages of composite decking are impressive, many homeowners still choose classic wood decking. That’s because wood decking is significantly more affordable. The price gap between wood and composite can make the difference between getting your dream deck this year and needing to save up for another year or longer. In addition, some homeowners who are okay with diligently re-painting or re-staining their deck fairly often will choose a wood deck and use the savings to add on an extra like a pergola or a backyard pavilion.

So, which one is right for you: wood or composite? Good question – we recommend getting quotes from our deck builders for both and weighing the price difference against the great benefits of composite decking.

Beautiful stained wooden backyard deck

 

Schedule Your Wood or Composite Decking Consultation

Comparing wood vs. composite decking can be a lot to think about, but fortunately you’re not going at it alone. At Choice Home Remodeling, we provide free decking consultations to all of our potential clients. During our in-house consultation, we’ll breakdown the advantages of each material – as well as give you a quote for each. If you’d rather visit us, we encourage you to stop by our showroom to see what we can build for you! Plus, someone from our design team will be there to discuss your dream outdoor space!

Reach out today to start the conversation – and to request your free consultation today!

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Pete was great and worked with us through every change we made until we got what we want. The installer was professional and an expert at doing the job. We were very happy with the work and the outcome.
Response from the owner:Thank you Doug for your kind words! We're are glad to hear that Pete and our installer made the process smooth and collaborative for you. It's always our goal to deliver quality work and ensure you're happy with the final result. We truly appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to work with you!
This was our first experience(and definitely NOT our last!) w/Choice and we found them to be outstanding throughout the entire process. The office staff as well as the installers were courteous, efficient, knowledgeable and eager to answer any question that we asked. We were also impressed w/ the quality workmenship displayed by Ryan, Dominic(windows) and Doug(doors and trim).
WE give the entire staff at "Choice" our highest recommendation!

Hank & Pat Berardi
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We're overjoyed to hear that your first project with us was such a positive one. It means a lot to know that our team's professionalism and craftsmanship made an impression. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments to Ryan, Dominic, and Doug. We truly appreciate your trust in us and look forward to working with you again!
My wife and I just had our front door replaced by Choice. The process of determining the door style, color, material, etc. was made simple and effective by Tim. His communication and follow up through the entire process was excellent. Install took only part of the day and couldn't have been handled any better. Our installer, Doug, was personable, hard working and clearly skilled in every aspect of removing our old door and installing the new one. We are thrilled with our new door and our experience with Choice. High Recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you John for the review. We are happy to hear you had such a positive experience from start to finish!
We picked Choice over Window Nation for a couple of reasons. There was no pressure , was cheaper , and we already knew the quality of work they do, having used them before. Very Happy with the work done again. Awesome job, and even got my wife's approval on the clean up!! Which is saying something!!
Response from the owner:Thank for Brian for the review and choosing to work with us once again. We are very glad to hear we have met the high approval of your wife!