Composite

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Composite deck building material is made from plastic and has the appearance of real wood without the rot, decay and maintenance.  The trade off for these features is the cost.  The price of an Ottawa deck built from composite materials doubles the cost of installation. 

The short answer is that they cost more to manufacture.  The increase in cost is related to the materials used and not so much the labour of building the deck.    If you were to refinish your deck every 2 years, Decks Ottawa estimates the cost of sanding and staining at approximately $800 for a 200 square foot deck.  That works out to $400/year and when compared to the 25 year lifespan of a composite deck… are they really more expensive? 

The upfront costs are higher yes but the time and money spent on wood backyard decks do add up. It’s more realistic that Ottawa customers only refinish their decks every 5 years so you will have to consider all factors to get a true comparison on price.

The biggest advantage is the zero maintenance required.  Unless stained bi-annually, natural wood will fade and rot as it is exposed to UV light and moisture.  Never having to deal with shrinking and fading wood is a really nice feeling.               

Ottawa winters put decks under harsh conditions in terms of temperature and moisture exposure.  With composite decks you won’t have to worry about shrinking or twisting wood, splinters, or fading.  The durability of composite decks is significantly higher when compared to wood decks. 

Outdoor products get a lot of exposure to UV light.  Composite decks have a coating which blocks the UV light from the sun, resulting in a bright deck with the original color that is guaranteed for years after it was installed. 

Composite deck material is really a fancy way of saying plastic!  Being that it is not real wood, some composite deck material look like real wood and some just look cheap.  So when shopping for your deck it is important to look at the aesthetic aspect of the material.  

If it’s wet outside composite decks can become slippery.  If it’s raining outside then you probably won’t be using your deck, but it is an important point to consider.  

Old wood can be sanded and stained to look as good new!  With composite decks once it shows signs of wear or gets damaged there is no option other than covering up the affected area, replacing the damage or living with it (all aren’t ideal solutions).  If you take care of your deck then it won’t be an issue and the material used in composite decks is incredibly durable.