Composite Vs. Natural Timber Decking: Pros & Cons

As you plan your new dream deck, one of the crucial choices you’ll need to make is what type of decking product to use. Do you stick with traditional timber, or take a leap forward and opt for the increasingly popular composite timber decking? Here we explore the pros and cons of composite vs. natural timber decking.

Up until the early 90s, timber was the only decking solution, but, nowadays, customers have a plethora of options to choose from.

The warm and natural look of genuine wood, which has always attracted homeowners, is no longer an exclusive timber advantage.

Thanks to research and development in the composite market, we now have composite materials which look and feel like natural timber. NewTechWood, for example, features multi-chromatic colours, entirely emulating the rich natural look of timber and even variations of colour hues found in natural timbers. 

Both decking materials come with a range of options and have their own benefits and drawbacks. It’s good that the decking world develops and homeowners have a better choice of different materials, but the question is: how do you narrow down the search for an ideal decking material? 

The best piece of advice is to compare the features and benefits of all timber and composite timber products and identify the product which offers the optimal value for money. 

To help you make an educated decision about what’s best for you and your home, we’ve created this guide, comparing the most important features of composite vs. natural timber decking.

Look and feel 

Homeowners are accustomed to timber, a traditional decking material with a rustic and warm appeal. While early generation composite decking tended to look artificial—more like plastic—third-generation composite materials much more closely resemble real timber deck boards. Some of them, like NewTechWood, even feature an embossed grain pattern and colour variation, so no two boards are alike. 

On the flip side, composite decking will maintain the same look and colour for longer, with no ongoing maintenance. So, if you’re after a hassle-free deck, composite is the obvious choice.

Some composite decking materials have UV and fade protection, meaning the deck will look the same year after year.

You can, of course, keep your natural timber deck looking good, but that includes regular maintenance (sanding, oiling and painting) at least twice per year. Some homeowners prefer to spend their spare time enjoying the deck, rather than working on it (or paying professionals to do regular maintenance). 

Life span

Timber decking can last for a long time if it’s well maintained. You can replace certain deck sections relatively easily, or simply sand them, but this all requires regular upkeep with associated costs.

Unlike timber, which will only last only if it’s carefully looked after, composite timber can last around 20-30 years with almost no maintenance. Most composite decking brands just need to be cleaned regularly, and, best of all, there is no need to treat or stain it to prevent moisture and its consequences. 

family Dinner on low maintenance composite timber deck

Maintenance

When it comes to maintenance, composite timber certainly wins the race—unlike a timber deck, you can “set and forget” your composite deck.

One of the most prominent advantages of composite timber materials is that they require no ongoing maintenance. Occasional sweeping or washing is all you need to keep the boards looking immaculate.

Timber decking, on the other hand, must be painted, stained, and sealed regularly to defend against the elements and extend its life. 

Moisture and mould

One of the critical issues with timber decking is that boards readily absorb water. As a result, timber decking is susceptible to warping, splintering, cracking, and rotting—even when stains, sealers or paint are applied regularly.

Newtechwood Solid Grooved board fully capped

By contrast, high-performing composite materials from the third-generation composite timber is fully capped around all four sides. Advanced manufacturer technology, such as UltraShield, offers 360-degree complete protection around all four sides of the board, including the tiny area of curvature and groove area.

The result is a fully capped board, which provides core protection and resistance to moisture and mould. This means composite decking boards can even be installed around pools and other wet areas.

Deck boards that are capped also offer maximum protection against staining.

Splinters

While timber decking will eventually splinter during its life span, composite decking is made with small wood fibres co-extruded in plastic so that it won’t splinter. This is especially important for walking on the deck barefoot and for the safety of children and pets.

Composite-Decking-is-Termite-Proof

Insect Damage

Unlike most wood decking, composite decking is not prone to damage from termites and other wood-destroying insects.

However, with both decking options, natural timber framing is required for the installation. So, even if you’re building a composite timber deck, you still need to think about protecting your timber frame from termites. 

Surface Temperature

Timber decking has an advantage over composites when it comes to summer weather, as it is slightly less hot in the direct sun than composite timber decking.

There is no such thing as an ideal material. Although the plastic finish on composite timber boards provides almost perfect product core protection against the weather, UV and moisture, they become slightly hotter in the full sun. 

Environmental Impact

Although timber decking can come from sustainably sourced timber, composite decking is the more environmentally friendly product. This is because it is usually made from waste timber and recycled plastic.

This can really have a positive influence on minimising carbon footprint. For example, through NewTechWood alone, approximately 5.5 million kilograms of plastic is saved each month from being buried in landfill. 

Composite timber also prevents living trees from being cut down to manufacture timber boards.

Additionally, composite decking doesn’t require staining or sealing, therefore eliminating the application of fossil-fuel-based chemical stains and sealants.

Click to see full size image

Price

As price is one of the key criteria when choosing a decking material, the lower initial purchase cost of traditional timber decking is considered a benefit.

The cost of timber decking boards depends on the type of wood: softwood decking is cheaper than hardwood decking.

However, composite usually ends up paying for itself within 2-3 years, when including the cost of ongoing maintenance—let alone the working hours required. 

However, be aware that not all composite materials are created equal. The lower quality composite decking often won’t look as natural as some of the higher quality brands. The lower quality products also typically have a shorter lifespan. Opt for higher quality composite materials, which will look and feel more natural, require next-to-no maintenance and last longer.

Value for money

After you deliberate on all the benefits and drawbacks of both materials, don’t simply make your decision based on the shelf price. Take into consideration the best value for money. Upfront savings don’t equal a cheaper deck!

We agree that the rich, natural look of timber decking is stunning. Painting and staining the timber regularly will add to the upkeep and labour costs, making it costly in the long-run—and exhausting for owners.

Composite decking requires very little maintenance—meaning you have more time for enjoyment during the weekends. 

If you need a decking material that looks and feels precisely like timber but without the drawbacks and upkeep, NewTechWood may be a suitable solution for you.

For more information on composite vs. natural timber decking, or to find your local NewTechWood supplier, please contact our friendly team

Does a NewTechWood composite deck cost more than a timber deck?

In the short term, it does. However, when you compare the maintenance, material, time and labour cost on traditional timber decks every year the costs really add up. In less than three years, you will be able to see all the time and money you would have saved by using NewTechWood composite timber.

We are the wholesale importers and thus we only supply the stores that sell NewTechWood and are unable to provide pricing because we don’t sell direct to the public. You can find the stores who do sell NewTechWood on our website here: or you can submit an enquiry through our website, and we will make sure to connect you with the nearest NewTechWood reseller to get an exact quote for you.

NewTechWood is an American family-owned company, which began in Houston, Texas. They then built their own, quality controlled, manufacturing plant in China. The American owners now manage the complete manufacturing process on site. (Manufacturing in China enables them to provide top quality products at an affordable price.)

What state are you in? Please send us your postcode and we will advise the closest reseller store to go, see display, get free samples and quote for your deck. Otherwise, you can find where the stores are listed on our Store Locator page. They all carry samples as well. Some have large displays, and some do not – you can give them a call.

We’re wholesalers and we don’t do the installation. However, we have a list of recommended installers on our website and you can find comprehensive Installation Guides on our website.

Whether or not any building product meets an Australian building standard depends on the application and the class of building on which it is being installed. For this reason, it is best to consult your architect, or Planning Officer at your local authority, for the particular standard(s) you need to meet. This will determine how it is to be constructed/used to ensure it meets the required Standard(s).

BAL Fire ratings and energy efficiency ratings are not absolute values specific to a particular product, but apply to the way in which the product is installed, or the system of building in which the product is an element.  

NewTechWood Cladding does not have a BAL bushfire rating. Refer to your building engineer as you may not require a BAL rating, and may be able to be used with an engineered, fire-rated system in place. Refer to the Materials Safety Data Sheet downloadable here:

https://newtechwood.com.au/technical-information/

NewTechWood, like all wood plastic composite products, will expand in hotter ambient temperatures and contract in the cooler temperatures. The degree of expansion will largely depend on the type and ratio of timber & plastics used.

NewTechWood profiles will expand around 1.1mm per metre from a 15°C to high ambients.

Our hidden fix systems allow for this natural expansion & contraction to occur without affecting board creep or the design of the deck.

When installed properly, taking into account the ambient temperature at the time of installation and leaving a sufficient but not excessive gap, the spacings between the boards should always be negligible.

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