Composite decking pros and cons
Composite boards are made from a mix of wood fibre and plastic. They do not need staining, they do not splinter, and they hold their colour well. That makes them a strong fit for busy family gardens and for anyone who would rather not spend spring weekends with a brush and a tin of oil.
The downsides are the upfront cost, a less natural feel underfoot, and the fact that boards can get warm in strong summer sun. Damage is also harder to sand out than on timber.
Timber decking: the case for it
Softwood is cheaper, easy to cut and shape, and looks and feels like real wood because it is. For a smaller budget, a deck you might change in a few years, or a natural look in a planted garden, it is a perfectly good choice.
The trade off is maintenance. Softwood needs a clean every spring and a coat of oil or stain roughly every year or two to keep water out and the colour even.
Decking maintenance compared
- Softwood: annual clean, treatment every one to two years, check for raised fixings
- Composite: wash down a couple of times a year, no staining
- Both: keep leaves off and the gaps clear so water drains through
- Both: the subframe underneath needs airflow so it stays dry
Decking
- Timber and composite choices
- Strong subframe construction
- Steps and edges finished neatly
The part that matters more than the boards
Whatever goes on top, a deck is only as good as the frame under it. The subframe has to be level, properly supported and kept off wet ground, and on a sloping garden it is often the largest line on the quote. A composite board on a poor frame will still bounce and move.
This is also where height comes in. A low deck needs pads, bearers and joists; a raised deck needs posts, footings, bracing, a balustrade and usually steps, and costs from about £4,500 on our figures.
So is composite decking worth it?
If you plan to stay put for many years and value your weekends, usually yes. If you want the lowest cost now, or prefer the look of real timber, softwood is the better pick. We fit both and will give you a price for each so you can compare them on the same frame.