Up until a few years ago the traditional choice for a new deck would have been a natural timber using hardwoods such as Balhau, Iroko or Oak or one of the cheaper softwoods such as pine or cedar. Whilst the hardwoods do have greater resistance to decay and insect damage due to their natural oils which give them a higher level of protection, they are not maintenance free and do have a few drawbacks common to using any natural wood product in terms of durability and aging. However, clients today are looking for increased value from their investment in a new deck and composite decking has a few advantages over traditional timber.
Composite decking is generally lower maintenance as it doesn’t require staining or oiling and if selecting one of the wood-free brands such as Millboard which uses polyurethane, it also has excellent protection against rot as there is no wood content. The lack of wood content also means they won’t warp or split which can be a problem with wooden decks over time. It’s also possible to install the base framework using composites which have a longer shelf life than timber frames and thus increase the lifespan of the whole deck.
With a natural timber deck you do have the advantage of enjoying the wood’s characteristic colour but you do have to bear in mind that the decking boards when first installed will gradually fade in sunlight due to the effects of UV unless chemically treated unlike composites which tend to hold their colour better without treatment. This means selecting the right colour (and texture) of your composite deck is crucial at the start as it can’t be changed at a later date unlike natural timber.
Choosing the right colour and texture finish will very much depend on other elements in the garden such as adjacent paving or the home’s exterior wall colours where contrast can be used for pleasing effect. As with paved surfaces, there’s a range of colours and textures to choose from. Some give a modern, elegant appearance whilst others have been moulded from actual oak timbers to look like real wood giving them a rougher, more organic appearance.
