Behind the initial cost of buying traditional wooden decking; with it being, in general, more expensive, there are lots of factors and hidden costs that make wooden decking even dearer than composite decking. When most people opt for the option of going for traditional wooden planks they don’t realize how much effort, time and money needs to be put into keeping it looking it’s best.
Tending to your decking is a job that must be tended to all year round. Often water and soap just aren’t good enough to treat a deck so oils need to be used. Oils rubbed into the surface can act as a decking protector that can waterproof and also enhance the beauty of the deck. The problem with this is that it needs to be re-applied regularly, using precious time and effort, not to mention the cost of the actual oils.
Without treating your wooden decking, water can become quickly trapped within cracks and joints which can freeze with low temperatures and expand causing the wood to crack, water can also cause mold to grow beneath the surface which could eventually overtime could cause the decking to smell.
Now, let’s assume you are faithful about maintenance (most homeowners aren’t) and maintain and treat your deck every month, it’s very likely that you will be needing at least a small repair, with that being a sand down to reduce the splinters or even screws just being replaced.
Traditional timber can retain a lot of moisture and once exposed to sunlight this moisture is evaporated which can cause the decking to warp (change shape) or shrink which is a difficult and expensive problem to deal with.
Traditional wooden decking has a shorter lifespan than most composite decking designs. A traditional wooden deck receiving constant attention will still need replacing after 10 – 15 years. You will then need to buy an entirely new deck, alongside the cost of digging the old one up.
Weatherproof decking needs little maintenance and treatment and is unlikely to need a repair, not to mention most boards last for up to 25 years. The Outdoor Look is an innovative and contemporary garden design company, specializing in providing the highest quality artificial garden solutions to transform your modern outdoor space. From artificial hedges to the most innovative and impressive composite decking products on the market, for more information visit our composite decking range now.
