When you’re adding decking to your home, you need to think about whether to use genuine timber or composite. Genuine timber comes from softwood and hardwood trees, whereas composite comes from recycled plastic and wood. Each option comes with its own benefits, but here are just five reasons you should opt for timber.
- More Attractive Appearance
Composite decking has come on leaps and bounds, so it doesn’t possess the same cheap, inexpensive appearance it used to. That said, it still fails to replicate the natural warmth and authenticity of genuine timber. Your deck should be a statement piece, and any artificial materials will stand out. Small wonder genuine timber remains the premium choice.
- Harder to Scratch and Stain
Composite decking’s composition of wood and plastic makes it much easier to scratch than genuine timber decking, which is something you should consider when speaking to those custom deck builders to get the job done. Even worse, scratches won’t weather into character lines as they would when dealing with timber. Since it’s a porous material, composite decking is also more susceptible to staining. From dropped wine glasses to environmental factors, that’s something you should worry about.
- Easier to Repair
Genuine timber decking won’t scratch or stain as readily as composite decking. Even if damage does occur, repairs can be made with relative ease since timber can be sanded down and retreated. You can even remove entire sections if serious damage or moisture problems develop. Thanks to its plastic content, composite decking is significantly tougher to repair.
- Stronger Structures
The major structural difference between timber and composite comes down to strength. Composite is not a structural material, so it requires more support than timber. You’ll need to place joists closer together to prevent sagging and breakages, but both issues will still be more likely when you’re using a weaker material, and the added construction costs can really start to mount up.
- Easier to Recycle
Both composite decking and timber decking is eco-friendly. However, composite decking is a lot harder to recycle. At some point in the future, your decking will need to be torn down. When that date rolls around, your composite decking may end up being sent to landfill – in contrast, there’s always a demand for genuine timber.
