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Decking Decisions: Timber Decking vs Composite Decking, Which is Better?

by | Feb 19, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

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As you plan the deck of your dreams, one of the key decisions you have to make is choosing the type of decking to use. Two of the most common options are timber and composite decking. Since your deck is a long-term investment that you’ll enjoy for decades to come, it’s crucial to understand your chosen materials before starting on your building project.

Both timber and composite materials come in varying degrees of quality, so cost and quality aren’t the only factors you need to consider. Let’s take a look at the different advantages and disadvantages that come with each decking material.

What is Composite Decking?

Composite decking has witnessed a recent surge in popularity, attributed to its low-maintenance requirements. This innovative material eliminates the need for you to get it stained, sanded, or refinished — so it’s one of the most hassle-free deck ownership choices for homeowners and renovators. 

Even better, many composite decking options come with an inherent lifetime guarantee (or, failing that, a substantial 20-year warranty that ensures you get the most enjoyment out of your composite deck.

It’s also important to note that the convenience and quality of composite decking fetches a higher cost in comparison to timber and natural wood decking. Depending on the level of quality and warranty coverage, the average composite decking price tag can even be double that of natural wood decking products. 

But what exactly is composite decking, this marvellous decking material that offers so much durability and longevity? Let’s take a look.

 

What is Composite Decking Made of?

Composite decking is primarily composed of a blend of wood fibres, recycled plastic, and a strong binding fibre that holds it all together. Composite decks are meticulously designed and engineered to look and feel like real wood, but since they aren’t all-natural, they may not possess the authentic beauty or charm of a real wood deck. However, they are inherently quite versatile, as you can choose from an extensive range of colours and textures to mimic a natural look.

The other bonus is that many composite decking materials are manufactured with grooved sides, so you can utilise decking clips such as Modwood to provide a blemish-free and hidden fixing system.

 

Composite Decking vs. Wood Decking: Your Options

Many decking enthusiasts prefer natural wood due to its warm appearance that offers a timeless charm to match any design elements. However, it’s important to choose the right type of timber for your home, as this can affect the overall durability and maintenance requirements of your deck. 

The main choice for wood decks is hardwood, which offers strength, reliability, and unique textures, colours and grained aesthetics. Hardwood decks are relatively easy to maintain as they’re less likely to sustain stains, scratches and other marks. If necessary, they can be sanded down and resealed, but they don’t need to be stained to provide a beautiful, natural appearance.  

Merbau is the most popular and common hardwood decking choice, ethically harvested from the Pacific Ocean islands and Southeast Asia and boasting a natural resistance to decay. Other species available are Iron Bark, Grey Gum, Forest Red, Cypress, Blue Gum, Jarrah, Red Gum, Stringy Bark, Silverbark, Spotted Gum and Wormy Chestnut, among others.

A common inexpensive option if you’re going the timber decking route is softwood-treated pine, often called PT or pressure-treated. PT wood is made of sustainably harvested Radiata Pine, soaked in insecticide and anti-rot agents. Its natural colour is a balance between brown and green, but it can be stained if you want a more attractive colour. However, softwood-treated pine is more susceptible to warping, cracking and splitting than hardwood, so if you want a natural softwood deck, opt for weather-resistant cypress. This type of decking material has an attractive look and can resist cracking, warping and other types of weather damage.

However, if you’re after an all-around low-maintenance, durable, and resistant deck, then a composite deck is worth the investment. To help you decide, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons of both composite and wood decking.

 

Composite vs. Timber Decking: Pros and Cons

While both composite and natural wood and timber decking materials have their own merits, they also come with requirements and disadvantages that you should weigh carefully against your preferences before locking into a decision and starting construction.

Composite Decking Pros

  • Low Maintenance: There’s no need for sanding, painting, staining, refinishing, or varnishing to protect your composite deck over the years. 
  • Longevity: Composite decking is designed to last for many years, even with minimal maintenance.
  • High Resistance and Durability: Composite decking boards are incredibly durable, resistant, and UV-stable. Their resistance to termites, rot, mildew, and decay makes them an excellent choice for the Australian climate.
  • Low Fading: The colour of composite decking won’t fade over time like regular timber, although it will usually lose a little colour after its initial installation.

Composite Decking Cons

  • Not Real Wood: Though composite decking is carefully manufactured to mimic natural timber, it looks more even in colour and texture, so it can often be easily distinguished from genuine wood. It’s important to choose high-quality composite decking to avoid tacky or unattractive options.
  • Higher Costs: Composite decking has a much higher price point than timber decking in most cases.
  • Mould Build-up: Although composite decks are resistant to mould, they do need to be cleaned thoroughly once every two to three years to avoid mould build-up.

Timber Decking Pros

  • Wide Variety: Timber decking can be made from extensive varieties of hardwood timber species that offer genuine wood aesthetics and feels.
  • Rich Appearance: The colours and tones of timber decking range from deep reds to warm golds; you can select your preferred colour to match your house and other design features.
  • Comfort: Timber decking, when well-maintained, is more pleasant to walk on as it regulates heat better.
  • Graceful Ageing: As timber is a natural material, it ages gracefully and, even towards the end of its life, can offer a pleasing, weathered aesthetic.
  • Sustainability: When sourced from sustainably managed forests, timber is a more eco-friendly decking material as it is a renewable resource with a low carbon footprint.

Timber Decking Cons

  • Higher Maintenance: Natural wood decks tend to be more demanding as they require annual refinishing. This means sanding, removing last year’s finish and applying a new coat. But if you prefer the aesthetics of natural wood and you’re up for the upkeep, it’s more than worth the effort.
  • Complex Installation: Timber decking boards are usually supplied in random lengths, which can extend the installation process. 
  • UV Exposure: Timber decks, over long exposure to the sun and UV rays, will lose their natural colour pigments. This can result in greying and colour fading.

 

 

 Get Your Composite and Timber Decking from Tile Importer

Whether you’re reviving an old deck or building a new one, Tile Importer’s range of decking solutions offers style and durability. We have an extensive selection of options, including natural hardwood and softwood decking boards, as well as high-quality composite decking. Our diverse range of composite and timber decking includes boards from industry-leading brands such as Mod Wood and Merbau Deckstar. They feature beautiful and durable designs that enrich any residential project with enduring charm, longevity, and functionality.

For more information and enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact Tile Importer. We can offer you the best Australian timber and composite decking for you to elevate your outdoor space.

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