Time for a new deck? The first step in designing your new deck is picking out which material to use. Take a look at the most popular types and choose which one is right for you:
Pressure Treated Decks
The traditional decking material most commonly used for building home decks. Pressured treated decking is made of, quite literally, wood that has been pressure treated.
PROs: Its low cost and reasonably low labor requirements make it a safe choice for the wallet. It is also fairly easy to replace boards if you need to do it yourself.
CONs: Wood can be high maintenance if something does happen due to warping, splitting, and splintering. Wood is also a soft and porous material so it stains and scratches relatively easily.
Average Cost: $8-10 per square foot
Composite Decking
Composite decking material is a mixture of plastic, wood fiber, and a binding agent. This type of material is seeing the fastest rise in popularity for a variety of reasons.
PROs: The composite material has low maintenance requirements and great value, making it one of the most popular decking materials on the market today. Composite decking has a natural appearance and comes with great warranties covering splintering, rotting, termite damage, and more.
CONs: The downside to this decking material is it is more susceptible to mold in moist conditions and will fade over time.
Average Cost: $10-12 per square foot
PVC Decking
Made up of polyvinyl chloride, PVC decking has become more rare to see but is still a great option. This material contains no wood.
PROs: It is guaranteed to never fade or splinter. This decking material is highly resistant to splitting and cracking. Its hard, dense make-up prevents mold and makes it scratch and stain resistant. PVC decking has a long life expectancy and is relatively low maintenance.
CONs: The main downside to PVC decking are its higher cost and limited selection of colors.
Average Cost: $10-15 per square foot
Capped Composite Decking
This material is formed when hard-shelled vinyl is wrapped around a soft composite core.
PROs: It’s extremely low maintenance and has the advantages of both composite and PVC decking materials. It is highly resistant to scratches, stains, cracking, and splitting.
CONs: If capped composite decking is not properly installed and maintained, excess moisture can cause mold to grow inside the deck’s soft core. It is also one of the most costly types of decking material.
Average Cost: $15-25 per square foot
North American Deck and Patio, LLC is a Maryland decking contractor with over 25 years of experience in the industry. We pride ourselves on designing and building the highest quality decks, patios, porches, and more. For additional help choosing the best decking material or for professional help on your project, contact us today!
Thousands of Happy Customers
“ Jim at North American patio and deck's came up with the most ingenious way of utilizing our small very slanted very water drained environment and turned it into a virtual oasis. Making this deck the envy of all our ambitions and gem for the community.”
– C. Cross
30+ Years of Industry
Experience
