If you thought about installing decking on your terrace, garden, or pool, the biggest dilemma is what material should we choose and use – solid woodwork or perhaps composite slats.
We can’t come up with any universal answer to what’s better, so the price is usually the one that plays a crucial role in our choice. And how are things now and which option is more worthwhile? We will try to find out whether composite decking is cheaper than wood.
The Pandemic Affected Price Changes
We have already stepped into summer, but it seems that some things are still not changing. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major economic changes around the world. These changes have been reflected in all spheres of our lives, including production. It seems that in the last two years, the price of real estate has skyrocketed for the same reasons.
Therefore, it is not surprising that many homeowners are interested in investing in improving their property – and improving the deck is generally at the top of the wish list of all homeowners. What is also noticeable, is that investment in homes is increasing financially because production has slowed down during the pandemic. That automatically led to higher prices for raw materials such as wood. Therefore, we can say that today, the costs of making a wood deck are not much different from the costs of building composite flooring.
How Did The Price Convergence Come About?
This is not so difficult to explain. Namely, with the start of the pandemic, many producers of wood raw materials, including timber, have drastically reduced their production. Many sawmills have even stopped working at the time.
However, this did not mean that housing construction would stop. In fact, the exact opposite happened, and due to such circumstances, a situation arose in which there was no longer enough timber for all large projects.
Projects began to be delayed, and raw material prices began to rise. Today we have come to the situation that the financial difference between wood and composite decking is no longer as it used to be.
The prices of composite and wooden decking today are very approximate, so it is now up to you which option you will opt for. You should definitely consider all the benefits and flaws of both options.
Should We Pick The Composite Deck?
Both materials have their pros and cons. However, we must think about the differences in materials. We already know that wood is subject to rot, but also to various damages – especially over time.
The wood color fades, so it should be protected with paints, varnishes – and we should also be careful when it comes to bending, cracking, and other damage. On the other hand, we also have a composite deck with the advantages that this material provides.
Composite floors have been very popular in recent years but not only for pool floors but also for backyards. According to dinodecking.co.uk, the transition to this type of material enabled even greater resistance to external influences. Such a decking is even easier to maintain compared to wood – that is, it does not need to be varnished.
Key Advantages Of Composite Materials
Composite flooring has its advantages primarily when we talk about maintenance and longevity. Since building a deck is not a small investment, and now the prices of wood and composite floors are approximate – then you must remember some of these advantages:
• Strong resistance to external influences
• Easy design
• Large selection of designs and shapes
• Price
• Longevity
What To Pay Attention To Before Installing Decking?
The first thing you need to do is decide what type of deck you want and where it will be located – because it will affect the type of frame and the amount of material you need. Most of the frames look very similar and consist of an outer box with beams that are equidistant from the frame. However, if you have a sloping garden, you will need to provide a flat surface for your decking.
When Investing In Decking Keep In Mind And Disadvantages
Some will say that wood decking is better for several reasons. It gives warmth to your home, it is a natural material – and until recently it was far cheaper.
However, as prices have changed significantly, consider some of the disadvantages of this option. Namely, wooden decking is more sensitive to weather changes, and its maintenance, painting, and varnishing are more expensive in the long run because you have to do it every two years.
Now, as an initial investment, wooden decking has become more expensive – so think twice about whether this investment is worth it.
Composite decking, on the other hand, is always more expensive to start with. However, it has some significant advantages such as easier maintenance and a longer lifespan. Eventually, you will do the calculation yourself.
Maintenance
Once you have decided on the type of decking what follows, is the installation and maintenance of the decking. If you tend to do it yourself, and you have enough time, or it relaxes you – then you can easily maintain it yourself.
With the right choice of coatings and hybrid oils – it can be a real pleasure. If you are not interested or you don’t have time for this type of work, you can always hire professionals to maintain the wooden decking floor.
With composite decking, maintenance is far easier. Simply clean such a decking regularly and protect it from UV radiation. That way it will last you quite a long time without any additional investment.
The Bottom Line
Finally, we can say a few things that you need to remember. Although wooden decking was until recently significantly cheaper – today the situation has changed. Due to the economic situation caused by the pandemic, many raw materials, including wooden slats, have become deficient.
That certainly affected the price of wooden decking. With that in mind, as well as the maintenance that wooden decking requires – perhaps the option of composite decking should also be considered. This kind of decking comes in a large number of designs, is easy to maintain, and can look very decorative. The final decision is up to you.