Comparison (Pros and Cons) of Various Deck Materials

Pressure Treated Wood

Pressure treated wood is the most commonly used material and has the lowest up front cost, but the following pros and cons should be taken into account:

• PRO - Lowest material cost
• PRO - Reasonable labor costs contribute to lowest up front cost
• CON - Highest maintenance
• CON - Warping, splitting, cracking, and splintering are not only to be expected, they contribute to high maintenance, even the necessity to replace boards and rails as part of the maintenance
• CON - Soft and porous material so it scratches and stains easily
• CON - Lowest life expectancy of 10-15 years and then only if properly maintained

Because of the benefits of pressure treated wood, it is the accepted standard for structural framing, supports, and posts needed for deck construction. It is specifically designed for direct contact with the ground.

Redwood and Cedar

Redwood, cedar, and other similar woods like cypress are the next step up from pressure treated wood and offer the following benefits and drawbacks:

• PRO - Less cost than hardwoods or man-made materials
• PRO - Labor costs for construction are lower than hardwoods
• PRO - Much less prone to warping than pressure treated wood
• PRO - If heart wood (the older part of the tree) is used, it is more resistant to rotting and insects
• CON - High maintenance and sealing (initially and regularly) is required for best performance
• CON - Subject to possible cracking and splintering
• CON - Soft and porous enough to scratch and stain easily
• CON - Life expectancy is only about 15-20 years even when properly maintained
• CON - If outer (newer) tree growth is used, life expectancy is shortened

Ironwood

Ironwood is the hardwood of choice for deck construction and offers the best performance and life expectancy among natural products, but the pros are at least equaled by the cons:

• PRO - Best performing and longest lasting of any natural wood
• PRO - Life expectancy is 40+ years when properly maintained
• PRO - Very hard and dense making it highly resistant to scratches and stains
• CON - High material cost
• CON - Labor intensive construction and the need for pre-drilling add to the higher costs
• CON - Moderate maintenance needed and still requires sealing (both initially and regularly)

Composite Decking Material

Composite deck material is a great alternative to wood which avoids many of the drawbacks to wood, and it is an environmentally friendly choice:

• PRO - Low maintenance
• PRO - No splintering
• PRO - Resistant to cracking, splitting, insects, and premature deterioration
• PRO - Good warranties and sometimes several decades of life expectancies with leading composite decking product manufacturers
• CON - High initial cost, more than pressure treated wood or cedar
• CON - Susceptible to mold in moist conditions, but not usually a problem in Lancaster County
• CON - Screw holes may swell with excess moisture, but most Lancaster County conditions do not pose this problem
• CON - Many composite materials do fade over time
• CON - Most composite material is soft and porous so it also scratches and fades easily

If you're considering composites, this decks.com composite interview will provide useful insights into choosing the right material.

Vinyl and PVC Decking and Railing Materials

Most of the remaining cons to composites are solved with vinyl and PVC products, but it still has a few cons you should be aware of when choosing this material:

• PRO - Low maintenance
• PRO - Will neither fade nor splinter
• PRO - Highly resistant to cracking, splitting, mold, insects, and other deterioration effects
• PRO - Hard and dense materials resists scratches and stains
• PRO - Excellent warranties and decades long life expectancies with leading product manufacturers
• CON - More expensive than pressure treated wood, cedar, and some composite materials
• CON - More limited selection of colors
• CON - Railing products may be subject to more long term flex, expansion, and contraction than wood or composite materials

In his Deck Advisor post on PVC products, Greg DiBernardo discusses PVC products and also compares them to the capped composites outlined below.

Capped Composite Material

If you are hoping for a best of both worlds solution between composites and PVC material, this melding of the two may be your ideal choice:

• PRO - Lowest maintenance
• PRO - Combines the advantages of PVC and composite materials by wrapping a hard shelled vinyl around the softer composite core
• PRO - Will neither fade nor splinter
• PRO - Also highly resistant to cracking, splitting, mold, insects, and other deterioration effects
• PRO - Hard and dense shell resists scratches and stains
• PRO - Excellent product warranties with leading manufacturers which often include additional performance guarantees
• CON - More expensive than either pressure treated wood, cedar, or conventional composite materials
• CON - Color selection more limited because of PVC cap or shell
• CON - Unless properly installed and maintained, moist conditions could potentially make the material subject to mold inside the composite core

Greg DiBernardo's Deck Advisor post not only provides a knowledgeable review of PVC, but compares them to the capped composites, which will be very helpful to you as you consider your choices.