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A backyard deck provides hours of fun for your family. You'll have a place to lounge, cook food outdoors, or to sit beside the pool. Choosing the material for your deck can be daunting since there are so many choices. Two of the main options are wood and composite wood, but there are several varieties of each to consider. When you compare benefits, you may find composite wood is best for your needs. Here's a look at why composite wood is better than wood and how to choose the right material for your deck.

Reasons Composite Wood Is Better Than Wood

The main reason composite wood is best is that it requires little maintenance. Wood is natural, but it also wears out as it ages. Rain, UV exposure, and insects cause wood to gradually decay. You'll need to stain the deck regularly and keep up with repairs so it doesn't splinter, rot, or fall apart. Some more expensive types of wood are more durable, but pressure treated lumber, which is a popular type of decking, is a soft wood that shows its age quickly when compared to composite wood.

Composite lumber is manufactured with plastic and wood so it has the added durability and longevity of plastic. It won't rot or succumb to insect damage. You won't have to paint or stain it. Since it doesn't rot, you won't have to make repairs very often, but you'll still need to wash the deck to keep it clean. Composite decking costs more than pressure treated lumber initially, but it has a longer life and it requires less maintenance, so you get more for your investment.

Considerations When Choosing Composite Decking

Since the decking is manufactured, it can be made in a variety of colors. More expensive composite decking can look just like wood with the right color added and wood grain textures applied to the boards. Composite decking also comes in different prices, so you have options to consider. One thing to think about is the sun exposure on the deck. If your deck is in full sun all day, then dark colors will hold on to the heat, and the deck might be too hot for young kids to walk on with bare feet. Choosing a light shade might be best for a sunny deck.

Also, if the deck will surround a pool or if you want a texture that looks like wood, then you'll probably want a more expensive type of decking that has surface texture. Texture keeps the deck from being slick when it's wet and that could be important if you have kids running around a pool. Just like wood decking is made from different types of wood with different qualities, composite wood is made with different qualities that affect the durability and longevity of the deck.

Investing in high-quality materials ensures your deck will have a long life and that it has the most pleasing appearance, especially if you want a deck that looks like real wood. However, if price is important, then you can opt for a less expensive option and still enjoy the advantages of composite decking.