Fencing & Decking · 5 min read
Composite decking vs timber decking
Composite costs more up front and takes the maintenance away. Timber is cheaper and asks for your time.
Up-front cost
Composite boards typically cost noticeably more than softwood. The frame, groundwork and labour are broadly similar for both, so the difference across a whole project is smaller than the board price suggests.
Maintenance
- Timber: annual clean, plus staining or oiling every one to two years
- Composite: an occasional wash, nothing else
- Timber will silver and can splinter if neglected
- Composite holds its colour, with mild initial weathering
Appearance
Good timber looks better than mediocre composite, and good composite looks better than neglected timber. If you know you will not maintain it, composite is the honest choice.
Lifespan
A well-built softwood deck that is kept treated will last 10 to 15 years; the frame usually fails before the boards. Composite boards commonly carry 20 to 25 year warranties, so the frame specification becomes the limiting factor — which is why we build frames properly ventilated and on solid footings.