There are tons of reasons why it makes sense to install wooden decking in your outdoor space today. First, this decking option helps to enhance the overall functionality & appearance of the outdoor area. Besides, decking can help provide your home with outdoor space for entertainment. It also increases the value of your home.
However, for you to get the most out of your decking, you need to factor in many things, including how to choose the right wood. Two common wood options for wooden decking in Singapore today are composite wood and solid wood. The rest of this post will focus on how to make the right choice from these two wood options for decking.
1. Durability
Your choice between solid wood and composite timber depends on many factors, such as durability, budget, safety concern, maintenance and many more.
In terms of durability, it’s worth knowing that both solid wood and composite wood for decking can last for years with proper care. But composite wood is more durable due to its composition.
In case you don’t know, composite wood for decking in Singapore comes with a blend of recycled plastics and wood fibers. This combination makes the wood highly resistant to rot, insect damage, and decay. These aforementioned issues can easily affect traditional solid wood because of its organic composition.
Bottom line: if durability is top on your list, then your better bet is to go for composite timber for your wooden decking.
2. Safety concern
Your safety is certainly important when choosing a suitable wood for wooden decking in Singapore. During the winter months, you’ll have to care for your solid wood deck the right way to avoid slip hazard. This is usually not a problem with composite wooden decks, as they are resistant to rot, decay, and insect attacks.
3. Aesthetic appeal
In terms of aesthetic preferences, many people often favor traditional solid wood over composite wood for wooden decking. Of course, this is simply because solid wood has a unique and authentic appearance.
It’s pretty simple; in solid wood, there are variations in colors, grain patterns, and textures – they contribute to why natural wood is more aesthetically appealing than composite wood for wooden decking.
4. Maintenance
As earlier mentioned, solid wood has an organic composition. Composite wood has a blend of these elements:
- Wood fibers
- Recycled plastics
- Binding agents
The combination of recycled plastic, wood fibers, and binding agents makes composite wood a very low-maintenance option for wooden decking. These elements make composite wood resistant to rot, insect damage, and decay. Since your decking will most certainly not experience these issues, you only need to maintain them less often. But with solid wood, you need regular maintenance and costly treatments to prevent these issues.
5. Sustainability
For sustainability preferences, traditional solid wood is better for wooden decking in Singapore. Just make sure the natural wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests.
As you already know, composite wood features wood fibers and plastic materials. This wood option is only sustainable if the plastic materials used for them are recyclable and have certifications to ensure sustainability.
6. Your budget
If you’re more concerned about your current budget, then the better option is solid wood for decking. This option is very cheap. However, it’ll most certainly require more maintenance and treatments.
Agreed, composite wood for decking is expensive upfront. However, it’s cost-effective in the long run, as it only requires low maintenance.
Wrapping up
With all that you’ve read so far, you’ll agree with us that the decision to choose between solid wood or composite wood for wooden decking depends on your personal preferences and budget. If after everything, you still struggle to choose the right wood option, you can consider professional help.
Star Landscape has a team of experts who can guide you on how to choose the right wood option for your home’s outdoor decking. These professionals can also help you to achieve high quality wooden decking installation regardless of your budget.