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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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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Client Reviews

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Excellent

Choice Windows, Doors & More, Inc.4.8

Choice home remodeling built a sturdy, beautiful, four- season room for me. I am very happy with the results. The team kept me updated during every step of the project. The work crew was professional, polite, helpful, and easy to work with. They arrived on time and cleaned up every single day. I was very impressed that they provided me with a Daily schedule for the project so I would know who would be coming to do the work and at what time.

Response from the owner:Thank your Rosanne for taking the time to leave us a review. Our whole team is thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience!

Pleased with the product (new sliding door) and the expertise and workmanship. Very friendly. Cleaned up well.

Response from the owner:Thank you Cheryl for the five star review. We are pleased to hear you had a positive experience with our team and hope you enjoy your Okna sliding patio door for years to come.

Awesome!!!

Response from the owner:Thank you Aaron for the five star review!

I recently hired Choice to replace 12 windows and a sliding glass door in my home, and they did excellent work. I want to provide this review for anyone in the Lancaster County area looking for new windows: save yourself some trouble and just hire Choice. The original windows and sliding door in my house were cheap builder grade units that were ~25 years old and all failing in one way or another. I did my due diligence and requested quotes from five different contractors, including a big box home improvement store and a couple of the national window chains. To make a long story short, Choice was the best price, the best product, and the most comprehensive installation work! Everyone who I worked with at Choice, from the sales, finance, and install teams, was extremely friendly and professional. They installed wonderful, PA-made Okna windows and doors, and they installed them properly; no shortcuts taken (unlike some of the other contractors who I received quotes from). The install team were great; they had all the work done in exactly the time they quoted, and they were very mindful of being as clean as they could. They also informed me that some of the existing windows were installed very poorly, with very little insulation and flashing. They installed the new windows correctly, and the difference was immediate and incredible. I could not be happier with the work they did and the products they provide. The new windows and door at my house are such a huge improvement over the old ones. If you're looking for a contractor for your next home improvement project, look no further!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Devon, for the wonderful review! We work hard to provide not only quality products and expert installation, but also an easy and helpful experience from the very first contact. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share about your experience with us!