Timber or composite decking: Which is better?

Photo courtesy of Arid Landscapes & Maintenance

In the past, there was little choice to be made when it came to choosing the material to use to build your deck: timber or timber. Selecting which timber to use was the main decision. Now that composite decking is available, there’s another interesting material to consider. So which is better: timber or composite decking?

Timber decking

Timber decking has a natural beauty and versatility that has long been appreciated in home-building projects. A clear finish allows the natural colours to glow, staining can accentuate or change the colour, or it can be painted in any of the seemingly endless range of colours now available.

If an environmentally-friendly choice is important to you, timber also has a lot to offer. Timber is considered a renewable resource, especially if sourced from a species of plantation-grown timber rather than one that is rare or threatens precious habitats for humans and animals. Choosing commonly available timber that has been harvested and milled locally minimises transport costs and is another favourable environmental factor.

Composite decking

Composite decking is not a natural product like timber, but it has some advantages that make it an increasingly popular choice. It is resistant to many of the problems that plague timber, such as termites or rot. It is available in a range of wood-look or painted finishes, and it doesn’t need painting or regular maintenance apart from general cleaning.

From an environmentally–friendly perspective, composite decking is an alternative that makes use of waste timber fibres combined with plastic which is recycled in most cases. Its durability and the fact that it doesn’t need painting or re-finishing mean fewer products are needed to maintain or replace it throughout its long life.

Your choice

Timber decking and composite decking each offer certain advantages. The choice will be more about personal preferences in the end. Natural products appeal more to some people and harmonise better with their environment, whereas others want a product that needs no extra finishing work or maintenance. Both types are easy to work with, so whether you do the work yourself or hire a builder, there’s little difference.

One cautionary note is that timber and composite decking materials should not be mixed. Choose one or the other. Every material, even among different timbers, can behave differently when it comes to shrinking or expanding. Timber joists should not be used to support composite decking boards, for example.

Whether you choose timber or composite decking, you’ll get the safest deck if you have it installed by a professional. Get quotes from decking specialists now!