Which Deck Material Should You Choose?

Hopefully by now you’ve read our getting started section that helped you decide what size deck you wanted.  Now you can build your own dream deck at your own pace right here.

We have a lot to teach you here, and by the time you’re done with this lesson, you just might know more about decking materials than some deck builders!

  When we talk with folks about their specific choices in deck material- which is one of the biggest decisions to make- we find there is more confusion around this topic than anything else. Bear in mind that the deck building material you choose does not change the design whether it is a wood deck design with wood deck railing or a composit design.

Brownstone Azekdeck with Bronze spindles

Thank you so much Ray and by the way , the deck is a hit in the neighborhood.
Thanks for everything and please feel free to mention me if anyone needs
a reference.
Kindest Regards, Debra Ca.

(We didn’t list their full names here on the site, but let us know if you want to talk these folks or any of our other past customers.)

To get started, you’ll have a few choices to make:

           
Step 1:             What kind of material do you want
Step 2:             What color do you want?
Step 3:             What kind of railing do you want?
Step 4:             What color railings do you want?
Step 5:             What options do you want.

Step 1:

Choose between a man-made synthetic material or a natural wood.

Examples of each type of material:

Natural Wood	Man Made Synthetic
Cedar Wood Mahogany Ipe Pressure Treated Wood	Monarch Composite Trex Composite Azek PVC/Cellular

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The Pros and Cons of Each:

Man Made Synthetic Material

Pros

Cons

Never have to stain, seal and treat Stand up better to water Much better if your deck will be around a pool or spa Looks like wood- same great appearance No splinters! Easy to match the color to complement your house If you want a multi-colored deck, it’s easier to get this look with composite.  (Can you imagine having to stain a deck 2 different colors) No danger of shrinkage, rotting, or termites Gives a more uniform appearance throughout the whole deck Safer for children- doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals Rot resistant- the planks last longer than wooden decks

Some types more mold and mildew resistant than others Doesn't give the choice of colors like stain does Higher material cost during construction (but you will probably break-even as you’ll have no expense with maintenance.) All composites will fade a little bit- but it fades uniformly and most people won’t notice it. Upon a closer look, you can tell it’s not wood Some types will fade over time more than others Deck Insiders Tip: Foreman Joe teaches his customers that the darker colors hold more heat…in the summer time these darker colors will get hotter. Heat reflects off lighter wood, so it will be cooler on bare feet.

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Natural Pressure Treated Wood

Pros

Cons

You can select a stain to your exact liking. more choices in stain color than with the composite choices It is cheaper up front (read below to see why it ends up a tie game)

Requires yearly bi-annual staining, sealing, and treating Proper maintenance is critical. If your new deck isn’t maintained you run the risk of warping, cupping (when the boards curl up on the sides), and splinters. Because it’s a natural-made product, wood over time may become uneven in its appearance.  If part of your deck is shaded for example, it may be darker than areas that are prolonged to the sun. “Sometimes- if a deck isn’t stained within the first few months and if it gets direct sunlight, you could see some boards starting to warp,” Amos, Foreman with Decks R Us.

 

Step 2:

If you like the Synthetic Man Made Materials, you have a choice between a Composite material or a Cellular PVC material. 

Composite Decking :

• Made from a mixture of plastic wood flour, then heated up in a big bin and extruded into the form of deck planks.
• Better composites are denser therefore less penetration by water, moisture even food stains that could leave permanent stains.
• Doesn’t require annual staining like natural wood materials do
• Still requires regular cleaning like with a garden hose and a stiff brush, or a power washer for tougher stains.
• Mold can grow on any composite, especially if your deck doesn’t get much sun, or is real close to the ground.
• A real plus about composites is the appearance- you have a better choice in composite materials-many of which mimic the natural appearance of wood. 
• Monarch deck material for example, actually has dark streaks in the boards to make it looks like a real hardwood.
• But be mindful that the darker the color the more heat it will absorb.  This can mean some ‘hot feet” on summer days if you go barefoot.

Insider Advice from Joe:

“I can tell a good composite from a bad composite by the density of the material  or how hard it’s packed.  The denser your deck material, the less penetration by moisture, food stains –even scratches.  But if the material is not dense, then moisture, food stains and let say….decaying leaves can seep into the composite deck and maybe cause a stain. Some deck builders are still telling their customers that composites are totally maintenance free and well, that’s just not true. I personally think composite materials are a little overrated.  You see, warm air and moisture in any composite deck is a perfect recipe for mold to being growing.  ANY decking material is going to require some type of cleaning –at the very least.”

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Cellular PVC Decking

• In the same family of material as the vinyl siding, but it has a lot more of a wood grain.
• Because it’s mostly vinyl, moisture won’t penetrate into it.
• Because it’s not porous, food stains like…BBQ grease, spilled wine, ketchup, or even something like… mold and mildew are much easier to clean
• Cellular PVC Material is much harder than composites, therefore it doesn’t scratch as easy.
• Cellular PVC decking usually only came in lighter colors, however there are companies that now make some very nice wood tone colors but remember, the lighter the colors, the cooler the deck.
• Because vinyl cannot take a lot of heat, most cellular PVC decking only comes in lighter colors, but remember, the lighter the colors, the cooler the deck.
• Dark color vinyl on anything- a house or a deck- is rarely seen because they can’t handle heat well without an inside core.
• Doesn’t fade nearly as much as composites
• Cellular PVC decking is about as maintenance free as you’ll get an outside deck
• Just a lot more durable and forgiving than composites
• Does not get nearly as hot as composite

Decks R Us has worked with a few different Cellular/PVC materials, and hands down they like Azekdeck the best.

• The life time warranty
• Has almost no issues with mold, mildew or staining
• Doesn’t crack or split
• Doesn’t scratch as easy as Composite Materials
• Holds its color very well-hardly any fading
• Usually runs the same price as Monarch
• Has perfectly matched rail colors

        We like it because our customers like it- John Decks R Us owner

Choices in color if you choose Azekdeck

• The choices in solid colors:
  Brownstone
• Clay
• Gray
• Kona
• Fawn

• The choices in natural wood colors:
  Sedona
• Redland Rose
• Morado
• Acacia
  
• Tahoe

Hi John,

We have LOVED our new deck with the roof. We eat all of our meals out there, and have done a lot of entertaining over the summer.
The craftsmanship was excellent, you finished on time (early, actually), and everything went very smoothly. I would recommend your work to anyone.  Thank you!

Melinda We.

(We didn’t list their full names here on the site, but let us know if you want to talk these folks or any of our other past customers.)

I Don't Like Trex Decking...

When composite decking came out in the early 1990’s, it was introduced under the brand name Trex.   It’s easy to understand why so many people today still refer to all Composite Decking as “Trex” but actually there are many types of composite decking.  It’s almost like calling all tissues “Kleenex”.
Home owners will call and say, “I don’t want a wood deck, I want a Trex deck.”
But what they really mean is they want a composite.
It’s kind of like Kleenex and tissues.
Kleenex is a really popular brand of tissues, but there are other choices.
Trex is just one of many composite decking manufactures,

“I’ll bet 90% of the folks that call us who call in talking about a Trex deck actually mean a composite“ explains Decks R Us Mose. “although they have come a long way I personally don’t think Trex decking is all that it’s cracked up to be.  Sure, it was a great alternative to wood at the time, but other types of composites have really come a long way.  Trex for example is not the most “maintenance free” material available to customers”

Mold and composite built decks :

If you have a composite deck and the material is not dense enough, water will eventually seep into the boards.  And once you get a little bit of pollen, dirt or even some decaying leaves you have all the ingredients needed for a mold problem.  And all that these ingredients need, to cause an outbreak of mold or mildew is a little sunshine.   If your new deck will be close to trees and the thought of periodically cleaning the mold off doesn’t appeal to you, make sure you have selected a composite that is very dense. 
So you can see where any brand of composite (Trex, Evergreen, Timbertech, Monarch) eventually could develop a mold build up.  Because by its make up- the natural wood ingredients found in all composites-just because you chose a composite doesn’t exactly mean 100% maintenance free.

Ask the Experts: “Okay……So What Man Made Material Should I Choose?”

“I get asked a lot which material I would choose “says owner John.  “But I really hate to answer that.  I think it’s my job to be sort of a ‘deck teacher’ and explain to my ‘students’ the differences between all the choices, then  help them make the best decision.”

In a nutshell:

IF…you really want as little maintenance as possible…
AND IF…you don’t mind the lighter color selections…
THEN…..go with a Cellular PVC material like Azekdeck

OR,

IF…you don’t mind a little more maintenance (but still not as much as with natural wood)…
AND IF…you really want the look of natural wood….
THEN….go with a Composite material like Monarch.

Maybe one of our customers put it best, “For us, it really came down to whether we wanted looks or maintenance.  Either way- I’m so glad for the extra time you guys took to really-I mean REALLY explain it to us.  We are delighted with our decision and with our deck.”

Teak & Mahogany Monarch

Tigerwood & Teak Monarch

Brownstone & Ivory Azekdeck

Ray’s Eye on Trends …

We are starting to do more and more decks with 2 colors of composite material. It makes for a unique look that you won't find on the deck next door. It sets your deck apart from the neighbors.
Another way to set your deck is apart is by using either composite deck rails or wood deck railing in 2 tone color and maybe even decorator spindles. I’m starting to see customers go with a mahogany colored deck, mahogany colored rails then choosing black or brown spindles.
I’m also seeing more innovative floor board layouts. Folks are considering diagonal layouts, herring bone styles, or even a diamond layout to give a real sharp look and a real custom feel.
On an average deck (400 square feet) consider 2 or 3 different directions in your floor boards.

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Step 3:

Natural Wood has been the standard for decks until the past 10 years.  If you prefer Natural Wood, select the type of wood you like: Pressure Treated Wood, IPE, Mahogany, or Cedar Wood.

Pressure Treated Wood-

A great Pressure treated deck with black spindles in the rails.

Decks R Us uses a better grade of pressure treated wood than most deck builders.  We found that Cox Lumber makes some of the best pressure treated wood available and for the Mid Atlantic climate; their “#1 Natural Select” is the wisest choice.  “The #1 means it’s the best that’s out there-it has the best grade, “explains Ray.  “We run it through a mill here at our Lancaster facility so it’s nice and smooth and you’ll never see writing, or other imperfections on our #1 Natural Select.  I don’t think anyone else does that.   You won’t see the size knots in our decks like you would see from a traditional lumber yard.  It’s a lot better grade without those loose knots that will eventually fall out leaving you with a big hole in your deck.”

With pressure treated wood decks and pergolas, water repellent should be re-applied every year or two

 

 

Ipe-

IPE –pronounced “ee-pay” is one of the best wood decking materials available because it’s made from extremely dense wood with tight grains, and has one of the highest ratings for being insect resistant. “We do a lot of Ipe decks when a customer decides to go with wood,” says Elmer, Finish Up Crew Leader.  “Because it’s so dense, it is very strong and has a great classic look.  By going with Ipe, the price of the deck will go up with any builder- because the raw material deck builders get in is more expensive and it takes a little longer to complete because the wood is hard.”  Most Ipe decks are in a deep brown color but over time will turn grey over time if you don’t stain it.  But a warning- Ipe is more expensive than cedar and even mahogany- even though some homeowners can't really tell the difference between Ipe and mahogany.     

Mahogany-

A Beautiful Mahogany Deck & roof

Nothing beats the look of Mahogany.  It’s probably is the best look if you want natural wood.  But all the natural woods will have to be treated.  And mahogany is actually a little more expensive than composite decking, but a little less than Ipe. whether it’s used in furniture, in trim work or on a deck.  “I tell our customers to think long term.  You loose some of the cost effectiveness with mahogany verses Ipe, but, it’s going to end up being about the same as an Ipe deck once you factor in all the maintenance a mahogany deck is going to require to keep it looking good.  But MAN! Does it look good.”

Cedar wood-

Great cedar deck in cedar that fit well within the customer’s budget

Fresh cedar colors range from light browns and tans to almost a pink color.  If you do not treat your cedar, over time it will turn a silvery gray and eventually- a dark brown.  Be warned! Cedar wood decks require a lot of upkeep!  “When I sit down with folks, I make sure to give my professional opinion- and keep my personal preferences out of it.  So professionally speaking, I’m not crazy about Cedar decks…you see- it looks great when it first goes down but over time it starts turning a dingy gray color.  What ends up happening is your deck quickly looses that new look and gets old before it’s time.  And since it’s a softer wood, it doesn’t hold up to water as well as some of the other choices you have of course, it will also show scratches and dings.

   So What do the Amish guys at Decks R Us recommend?

At the risk of sounding like braggarts, we do know a thing or two about decks.  Here are some of the opinions of the deck experts:

“Hands down for the Synthetic materials.  After about the 4th time you have to take a Saturday to clean, scrape, seal and re-stain your deck; you’ll probably kick yourself for not going with a Synthetic material. 
Foreman Joe: “I like Azekdeck because unlike other composite manufacturers it won’t fade into different colors overt time…”
 Gideon who manages the shop: “I like Monarch... it doesn’t have the problems like other composite manufactures where there are different shades on the very same skid.  In the early years, we used to get some questions from homeowners because the boards don’t match even though the material came in on the same truck- same delivery.” 

 Elmer- Finish Up Team leader also likes Azekdeck.  “With some of the composites, it comes with a stamped grain on it but after a year, that stamped grain goes away leaving with you an ugly board.  Procell, for example doesn’t do that.”
 Ray prefers the Monarch.  “It’s denser than most composites-not as porous so it won’t get as much mold and mildew as the others and it won’t hold food stains, for example.  It’s also easier to clean.  “

Monarch Teak deck with white rails and lattice

Owner John, “It’s a tough call and definitely between Azekdeck and Monarch.  I may lean a little towards Monarch because all the monarch boards have these black streaks  running through it that makes it look like real wood.  Monarch also has some real attractive colors, But on the other hand Azekdeck is a little more durable.   We will use any material you want, but we use Azekdeck. and Monarch because we think they build the best deck for the money.”
                                                  
But what matters most is your opinion!

“I see my job as being the deck teacher.  I really try to teach our customers the difference between the materials-answer all the questions and help them make a really informed decision.  That’s why it’s important that I kind of “interview” people to find out important things like how they’re using it, how much time they want to spend maintaining it, and what their budget is.  Because once I know those things, I can help recommend something that’s exactly what they want.  I get a kick out of teaching people about decks.   By the time I’m done, I think some of my past customers know more about decks that some of these deck builders do!”

 Schedule your no-string, free consultation with us and we can first learn about what you are looking or, then give some free advice and –if you want- a customized proposal for the deck of your dreams.   Click here to set one up or call us on 800-854-0269

Congratulations!  You now know more about deck materials that some deck builders!
Now you’re ready to start thinking about the different options you have for your deck…like what kind of rails….lighting….steps….click here to keep learning about the options you have.