Deck Boards Wood vs Composite

When choosing between wood vs composite deck boards, the first thing you must consider is the pros and cons of each.

 

Wood Deck BoardsWood Pros: Wood is a natural product so it’s obviously going to look great with its natural coloration. It can also be sanded down easily if needed for repairs or changes in appearance. Wood boards are easy to find at most hardware stores and usually come prefinished, making them easier to work with because you don’t have to worry about staining or painting before using them. Wood boards are fairly sturdy but not as much as composites which lead us to…

 

Wood Cons: Even though wood is fairly sturdy it will still break under pressure especially when wet or warped/twisted by heat exposure. This could lead to a potential injury so special precautions must be taken when working around wood boards. Wood is also susceptible to water damage which can lead to rot and warping, so if a board starts soaking up too much water it needs to be replaced otherwise you could jeopardize the structural integrity of your entire deck.

 

Composite Pros: Composite boards are very sturdy and do not need to be stained or painted before use. They’re usually made from recycled materials such as plastic which makes them ideal for environmentally conscious people who want to do their part in reducing waste and pollution. Composites come prefinished which means they don’t have that chemical smell while being worked with, unlike wood.

 

Composite Cons: Composite deck boards are manmade products, therefore anything manmade will have a more artificial look. They are also significantly more expensive than wood, sometimes 3 or 4 times as much. Composite deck boards cannot be easily repaired if damaged so any damage to the surface usually requires replacement of the entire board which can be costly and time-consuming.

 

People choose between wood vs composite decking for many different reasons but ultimately it’s just personal preference. One can’t be declared better than the other because they both have their strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered before being used.