Deck Material Comparison: Wood-Plastic Composite, Wood, and PVC

When you are planning an outdoor deck, perhaps the most significant decision you’ll have to face is which type of material to use for the deck build.

While most deck builders use pressure-treated lumber for the substructure (i.e., posts, beams, joists), decks can be built using a completely different material. The top three most common decking materials are the following: pressure-treated wood, wood composites (composite material made of wood fiber and plastic), or PVC.

Pressure-Treated Wood

Pros	Cons
Cheap, sturdy	Splintery
Easy to acquire	Costly maintenance
Easy to install	Shorter service life

As a classic and still the most common deck material, wood decking is usually softwood that is pressure-treated, such as hemlock, fir, or pine.

More premium types of wood decking include mahogany and exotic hardwoods, such as teak or ipe. These expensive lumbers are usually not pressure-treated, but rather, they must be finished to keep them from weathering to a gray color.

What are the pros of wood decking?

When you want to save money, don’t want anything to be complicated, and plan to install the decking yourself, natural wood is your best choice. Standard wood decking is sold at local lumber yards and home improvement centers, while exotic woods must be ordered through a specialist lumber dealer. Solid wood decking also has a natural look and feel that other materials don’t.

What are the cons of wood decking?

If you’re not willing to regularly maintain your deck by scrubbing or power washing it and repainting it every two or three years, you should try to avoid natural wood decking. Also, be well aware of the cost of refinishing during the lifespan of wood decking. Long-term maintenance costs for wood decks should be factored into the initial cost of materials. Wood decking may also need to be replaced sooner than other decking materials because it is prone to rot and decay.

What is the cost of wood decking?

Pressure-treated lumber is easily the cheapest way to build a deck. Redwoods are comparable to wood composites, while exotic hardwoods can be much, much more expensive. Pressure-treated lumber is also the least expensive material to use for non-deck components such as stairs, guards, and railings.

Wood-Plastic Composite

Pros	Cons
Environmentally friendly	High initial cost
Low maintenance	Smaller joist spacing
Hig-performance

Wood-plastic composite (WPC) is a mixture of high-density polyethylene and wood particles along with preservatives and additives. Wood composites are environmentally friendly because they are made from recycled wood fiber and plastic recycled from milk jugs and detergent bottles.

What are the pros of wood-plastic composite decking?

If what you need is a low-maintenance material, wood-plastic composite will be your best bet. Some composites can also resemble exotic woods, giving you the best of both worlds. If you have kids or like to go barefoot, composite wood will keep you from splintering. But the great thing about wood laminate flooring is that it’s guaranteed not to rot or crack, and it doesn’t require stain or other protective finishes.

What are the cons of wood-plastic composite decking?

WPC decking is more expensive initially than wood. Many composite products require joists to be spaced no more than 16 inches apart; if your joists are 24 inches apart, you will need to add more joists to your composite decking.

What is the cost of wood-plastic composite decking?

Wood composites are about twice as expensive as pressure-treated lumber, but not as expensive as, or even less expensive than exotic hardwoods.

PVC

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	Most expensive
Never rots	Not environmentally friendly
	Special fasteners needed

Also known as plastic or synthetic decking, this material is made of porous polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is lightweight and some PVC decking is capped, which means a protective shell is added to the surface to make it more moisture-resistant.

What are the pros of PVC decking?

If you want a lightweight material, you may give PVC decking a try. Like wood composites, PVC decking will not rot and will never need polishing. Some homeowners prefer the look of PVC over other materials. It resists invading pests, mold, and fading. PVC looks high-end, and since it doesn’t need to be repainted or stained, it’s extremely low-maintenance. PVC decking is also manufactured using a foaming agent, which makes it lighter and easier to move when installed.

What are the cons of PVC decking?

Compared to natural wood and WPC decking, PVC decking looks the least like wood. In addition, it suffers from all the same disadvantages as wood decking. Finally, composite manufacturers typically use a higher percentage of recycled materials, whereas PVC is often made from virgin materials. If reducing your carbon footprint is important, research the recycled content statements of the manufacturers you’re considering.

What is the cost of PVC decking?

PVC decking materials are typically 10% to 15% higher than wood composites.

Summary

	WPC Material	Wood	PVC
Lifespan	25 years or more	15-25 years under decent maintenance	30 years
Color Stability	Highly fade-resistant	Requires frequent painting	Fades easily
Termite Resistance	High	Becomes food for termites	High
Surface Hardness	Resistant to scratch	Prone to splintering and scuff	Gets scratched easily
Water-resistance	High	Relies on painting or oiling to resist moisture	High
Fire-resistance	Bfl-s1 fire rating	High risk of being lit	Highly inflammable
Eco-friendliness	Recyclable, made from recycled material	Contributes to deforestation	White pollution
Maintenance	Low-maintenance	Requires frequent, costly maintenance	Low-maintenance
Affordability	Cost-effective in the long run	Ends up costing more after several years	Very expensive
Weather-adaptability	Highly resistant to elements and weathering	Naturally prone to humidity and heat	Deformed easily due to heat
Safety	Non-toxic, 100% safe	Carries harmful paint	Fire-hazardous