Cost

This is arguably the most important factor for some when buying decking. Usually, composite decking is the more expensive option because it takes a lot more time and effort to create. Timber is simply cut and sawn before sold, while composite decking is a mixture of wood and plastic meaning a lot more work is required to make it. So if you’re looking to keep costs down, a timber decking is the right way to go.

Appearance

Typically, people looking to put decking in their garden want it to look like ‘real wood’. They like the natural look and feel of it. If this is you, you may be more inclined to buy timber decking because composite lacks that ‘real wood’ aspect. Another advantage of timber is you can change the colour whenever you want with different stains and oils. In comparison, composite decking will keep the same look and colour for a longer period of time without the need of treatments. This consistency can be more appealing to some as with timber you risk having slight colour variations due to the natural wood. It’s also this consistency that gives composite wood that ‘fake’ look. It all comes down to whether you want a natural look or a consistent colour.

Maintenance

While timber may generally appear a lot nicer, it does require more maintenance to keep it that way, unless you want ‘silvered’, natural hardwood decking – in this case, if mildew appears, your timber only requires a clean with a pressure washer orbital surface cleaner or wood reviver gel every 2 – 3 years. But, if you like the fresh new look, you’ll need to buy treatments to apply to the timber after using a simple stripper or a cleaner in order to protect it from greying, scratches and the effects of UV, and this should be repeated yearly. However, if maintained properly, timber decking will last you a lifetime. On the other hand, composite decking only needs to be cleaned on a regular basis making it easy to preserve. This will last you a good twenty to thirty years. When it comes to scratches or any damages to your decking, timber is an easy fix – you can simply strip it back and treat it again, not very time consuming at all. In comparison, the plastic content inside composite wood makes it impossible to repair and also more prone to scratches than natural wood.

Strength

A major drawback with composite decking is it’s a lot weaker than natural wood. You may find this is easily overcome with the use of joists and supports that wouldn’t be required with timber decking. But this will also increase costs making composite even more expensive than it already is.

Environmental Impact

When looking at timber decking, be sure to look for the ones that are FSC certified. This ensures the timber has been sourced ethically and to the highest environmental and social standard. You might also come across some hardwoods that are SVLK certified which assures the timber originates from legal sources. Composite decking is believed to be environmentally friendly as most manufacturers produce zero waste and make composite from recycled wood and plastic. Ultimately, both timber and composite decking can be eco-friendly if sourced correctly.

If you’ve come to the end of this article having made the decision to purchase timber decking over composite, then you’ve come to the right place. We supply a selection of premium grade, hardwood decking that come in all different sizes and lengths. The biggest decision you have to make now is which hardwood to choose from. Take a browse through our hardwood decking section and find the one that’s best for you.

We look forward to your order!