Is Composite Decking Worth The Extra Cost?

The time has come to replace your deck, and you have a couple of quotes in front of you. One is for composite decking -- it's high. The other is for wooden decking -- it's cheaper. If you're on a tight budget, you may be tempted to just go with the wood decking and call it a day. But there are some benefits of composite decking that make it worth that price. It does also have a few drawbacks. Here are the drawbacks and benefits of composite decking that you need to know about in order to make an informed choice.

Benefit: Composite decking does not require staining.

Staining and sealing a deck can take days of your time each summer. If you would rather spend your summer having fun, then you may want to pay the extra cost for composite decking. It does not require staining or sealing like wood. The composite itself is pre-colored and is water-resistant, so water rolls right off of it. 

Drawback: Composite can look fake.

Composite is made to look like wood, but if you look closely, you can tell the difference. If having natural wood structures in and around your home is important to you, then you may want to steer clear of composite. Keep in mind, however, that the higher-quality composite decking will look more convincing that the lower-end options. Make sure you look at the exact decking you're considering buying before you plan to have it installed.

Benefit: Composite decking does not attract termites.

If termites are common in your area, keeping them away from a wooden deck can be tough. You may need to fumigate the soil around the deck and install stone all around the deck to avoid having these insects chew a wooden deck to pieces. Composite, on the other hand, is unappealing to insects. You may save money in the long run by going with composite and never having to do any pest control.

Drawback: Composite decking is heavy.

Wood is heavy too, but not as heavy as composite decking. If you want to install or repair the deck yourself, you will need a lot of helpers with composite. On the other hand, you can probably install a wood deck with minimal help from friends. 

Is composite decking right for you? The information above should help you make that decision, and if you need any additional help, you can always reach out to a professional deck installation company.


Share