Which Deck Material Is Right for Your Home?

When you’re looking to add or replace a deck for your home, look for a high-quality material that works best for you and your family’s needs. Do you need a low-maintenance deck that won’t require much upkeep and time away from your already busy schedule? Are you willing to sacrifice time to maintain a beautiful yet higher-maintenance material, or is the overall project budget your primary consideration?

These are only some of the questions you should be asking when you’re choosing a material for your deck. To help you pick a deck that you’ll enjoy this spring or summer, we’ve outlined some of the pros and cons of the most popular deck materials.

Deck Materials: Know Your Options

Choosing the right deck material for your backyard becomes easier once you know what to consider. Budget is one important factor that’s top-of-mind for many homeowners. You should also consider how much sun and use your backyard gets, which colors are preferred, and how much cleaning and maintenance will be involved.

While saving money upfront is great, maintaining some decking materials can be more high-maintenance, meaning you might be spending money and time every year cleaning and resealing your deck. You should also consider safety and how the material will feel under bare feet. If you get a lot of sun or have a pool, you won’t want a material that too easily burns your feet or creates slippage.

Wooden Decking

Wood is a classic, affordable material to use for many home projects, and always seems to be in style. You can achieve a beautiful deck with all types of wood while sticking to your budget.

However, your wooden deck will need attention every year and can be high-maintenance. It will need to be swept and cleaned regularly and resealed every couple of years. Even with regular maintenance, a wooden deck can splinter, warp, and rot over time.

For improved longevity, you can choose to frame your wooden deck with pressure-treated natural wood. This wood choice provides a strong and affordable deck, making it a great choice when trying to stay within a budget. Furthermore, wood can last almost 20 years and be stained to match the color of the other materials used to build your deck.

Composite Decking

Composite decking materials are built to last and because they are made with both plastic and wood, they most closely resemble an all-wood deck. The plastic helps the decking material to last longer, and expands the range of colors to choose from.

Composite decking can be more expensive than wood, but is still a fairly affordable option. It is built for more wear than wood, and won’t require as much maintenance. You will just need to use a deck cleaner or pressure washer to clean off residue, mold, or mildew that can naturally accumulate over time.

Cellular PVC Decking

If you don’t mind that your deck doesn’t look like wood, cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decks are a great option. The material is usually recycled and resistant to all kinds of wear. PVC is available in many colors, and some colors can mimic the look of a wooden deck from afar.

PVC decks are generally less expensive than composite decks, providing an affordable deck upfront and requiring less regular maintenance.

Vinyl Decking

Vinyl has been the rising star of deck material in recent years. Vinyl is durable and beautiful with a long list of options for colors and styles.

Vinyl decks are slip and heat-resistant, meaning they’re perfect for backyards with pools and little shade. The best part is that the material requires little to no maintenance.

The many benefits of vinyl decking, however, come with a price. It is typically the most expensive of all the decking materials, but is designed to save you money and time in the long run.

Get Your Deck Ready for Spring and Summer

Warm and sunny weather is coming! Many homeowners are eager to get outdoors, and it would be a shame to have an old, structurally compromised deck or no deck at all. Whether you choose wood, composite, PVC, or vinyl, you can have a new deck in no time that will be the talk of the neighborhood.

Learn more about our spring deck special! To discuss your backyard needs and choose the deck material that is right for your budget and backyard, give Advance Inc. a call today.