For all practical purposes, you have two options when it comes to choosing outdoor decking: wood or synthetic decking, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Wood Decking

Types of Wood Decking: Outdoor decking can be made from just about any kind of wood.  Redwood, western red cedar, and ironwood are popular choices because they are naturally insect resistant, while pine is less expensive, but not quite as durable.  When choosing wood for outdoor decking, durability and cost are the biggest factors.

Advantages of Wood Decking: Wood decking is beautiful, easy to work with, and durable.  A properly maintained wood deck can last for fifteen or twenty years.  It’s readily available and less expensive than synthetic decking.

Disadvantages of Wood Decking: Outdoor decking made of wood rots over time when exposed to moisture.  Some woods, like redwood, are less susceptible to rot than other materials, and keeping the wood treated and sealed helps prevent rot, but eventually, all wood will rot. Termites and carpenter ants love outdoor decking made from wood.  Once again, some woods, such as redwood and cedar, are more naturally insect resistant.

Outdoor decking made of wood must be maintained for it to last.  It has to be cleaned and all mold, and mildew has to be removed with a bleach solution, and it has to be sealed periodically to make it more water-resistant. Wood, especially soft or uncured wood, can warp when exposed to weather, as it is in outdoor decking.

One disadvantage of wood decking is that we are using wood, which is a renewable resource, faster than it grows.  Forest depletion contributes to global warming and other environmental problems.  Using grown and harvested wood helps reduce the environmental impact of outdoor decking made from wood.

Synthetic Decking

Types of Synthetic Decking: Outdoor decking can be made from either plastic or composite materials.  Plastic decking is usually made from recycled plastic, and composite decking is made from recycled plastic and wood scraps.

Advantages of Synthetic Decking: Synthetic decking is an environmentally-friendly option, because it is made from recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Outdoor decking made from synthetic materials is nearly maintenance-free.  It requires only cleaning, and never needs sealing, painting, or staining. Outdoor decking made of composite materials looks and feels remarkably like wood.

Disadvantages of Synthetic Decking: Outdoor decking made of synthetic materials may sag in high heat, and over time, heat expansion can make plastic decking brittle. 

Outdoor decking made of synthetics has to have a sturdy, usually wood, frame and foundation.  It is not sturdy enough to use for weight-bearing supports.  In addition, the wood and synthetics expand and contract at different rates with heat and other weather conditions, which can result in the warping and popping in fasteners. Synthetic decking is slightly more expensive than wood decking.

Outdoor decking can be made of either wood or synthetics, and both have advantages and disadvantages.   Compare the available products, and you will find the one that works best for your deck.

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Wood Waterproof Decking

Wood is one of those natural, and therefore biodegradable, materials. Although some treated wood products can survive contact with the soil for years, it’s better if concrete or other durable material is used for the foundation of the deck. Wood should be treated to protect it from insect and sun damage and then sealed to provide a waterproof decking surface. Water sealer should be reapplied about every three years.

To restore an existing wood deck, make sure that all molds, moss, and other natural vegetable matter is removed from direct contact with the wood surface. Full strength bleach or a treatment product containing bleach should be used before applying treatment and water sealer. If you have containers for growing flowers and herbs on your wood deck, check for wood rot around the drainage areas.

Waterproof Decking Materials

You may want to build your deck out of waterproof decking materials from the start. Decorative concrete, stone, plastics, aluminum, and vinyl products are all attractive and waterproof.

Modern decking materials are available in a wide choice of textures and colors. Polyethylene, for instance, comes in many colors and can resemble wood. Just remember to look for a textured, slip-resistant surface, and choose one with UV protection to prevent fading from the sun and plastic degradation. Once your waterproof decking is protected from the number one destroyer of decks, you should be prepared to do battle against number two.

Besides being durable, today’s waterproof decking is easily found in home improvement stores stocked with the necessary hardware, accessories, and matching railings. Remember to ask for the instructions that are specific to your chosen waterproof decking material so that you will be aware of any special safety or construction issues. And be sure that you are familiar with your zoning and building codes before you begin a deck project. Nature isn’t the only danger to decks.

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Wooden Decking vs. Composite Deck Materials

Besides the choice of wood, the next popular option is that of composite deck materials, which are made out of recycled materials that are then combined with wood waste. Most composite decking materials are, in fact, made from a blend of wood industry by-products, such as wood fibers and sawdust, and some form of plastic, such as polyethylene or PVC. These composite deck materials look like wood, and can come in an assortment of colors. Although they work fantastically for decking, they will typically not be suitable for handrails unless they are reinforced substantially.

Composite decking materials are credited because they have an engineered resistance to rot and insects, and are also able to avoid cracking, splitting, or weathering like other natural woods. The cost of these forms of decks are often more expensive than one such as pine, in some cases even twice the cost; however, a homeowner stands to save thousands on maintenance costs over the deck’s lifespan. The leading drawback as of yet on composite decking is that stains can be a major problem. Molds and mildew are also common enemies of composite decking.

Wooden decking requires a lot of maintenance, such as sanding, resealing or painting, in order to maintain the desired look and to hold up over time. Treated wood does retain certain resistance properties, but will eventually give in to rot over time. This decking should be sealed or re-stained at least every couple of years, in order to help maintain its look, as well as prevent rot.

Also, over the course of time as wood weathers and loses moisture. By using stains and sealers you can help to stabilize this moisture loss and maintain the look of the wood. In untreated wood, stains and sealers can also help to prevent decay.

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Unfortunately, most redwood comes from the old-growth redwood forests in California.  This is a renewable resource, but we are using our forest products faster than they are growing, so it is not infinitely renewable.

Why Do We Love Redwood Decking?

The very characteristics that make redwood trees live for hundreds and hundreds of years are the characteristics that make redwood decking a favorite choice.  It is naturally fire resistant, naturally resistant to insects and to rot, and the wood is easy to work with and doesn’t warp.  It’s durable and beautiful, whether sealed to protect the rosy color or allowed to weather to a silvery color.

Environmentally Sound Redwood Decking

There are two ways to have your cake and eat it, too.  Two ways to have a beautiful redwood deck without depleting old-growth forests.

FCS (Forest Council Stewardship) Certified redwood decking has been grown and harvested according to specific environmental standards.  FSC supports forest management that is environmentally friendly, while still harvesting and using forest products sensibly.  FCS products are certified in growing and processing, and you can trace an FSC product’s life backward to the land it was grown on.

The other way to have a redwood deck without depleting forest reserves is to use reclaimed redwood decking.  When wood is reclaimed, structures that are scheduled to be torn down are salvaged instead.  All metal is removed from the wood, and it is re-milled and re-planed. 

Because redwood decking is naturally resistant to rot and insects, it does not need to be chemically preserved.  Chemical preservatives in wood can leach into the ground and may be dangerous, especially for children and small animals.  That makes certified or reclaimed redwood an environmentally friendly wood to use in building a deck.

The cost of redwood decking has risen in recent years and the quality has gone down because of forest depletion.  More knots and holes are allowed in premium grade redwood than before because smaller trees are being harvested.  Redwood decking is still available, and it is still a good choice for an outdoor deck, but there are many new materials available that look astonishingly like redwood decking, but are less costly and have many advantages over redwood. 

Whether you choose real redwood decking, or a synthetic version, you’ll love your redwood deck.

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