Manmade composite material and natural wood can both be used for decking, but there are some significant differences between them in terms of durability and cost.

Both composite and wood decking require framing with treated wood floor joists to support the decking. The spacing of the floor joists for a deck will vary depending on the type and thickness of the decking material, with composite decking requiring closer spaced joists than those for wood decking.

When installing wood or composite decking, keep these tips in mind:

• While wood decking can be screwed or nailed in place, composite decking is almost always screwed down to the deck framing.
• Depending on the type of composite decking, the screws may be driven through the face of the planks or hidden from sight.
• When installing wood decking that is still wet with preservative, butt the boards up tightly together since they will shrink upon drying.
• Wood decking costs less than composite, but it requires finishing with a sealer or stain after installation, as well as refinishing every few years.
• Wood decking also has a tendency to warp or crack from exposure to the elements compared to composite material.
• Both wood and composite decking will need to be cleaned from time to time to remove dirt, stains, and mildew.

Watch this video to find out more.

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One Comment on “How to Choose Between Composite and Wood Decking for Your Home”

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1. Evan Says:
   April 26th, 2010 at 2:59 pm

   After reading your article, I did a little research of my own and found an article that might be of interest to you and your readers. Wood Vs. Composite http://www.ricksfencing.com/blog/wood-vs-composite-which-is-better/ Hope this helps some of you with your decision!

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