Why lumber still beats composite for decks

Wood decks or decks constructed out of a composite product? The debate during the last decade or so has been fierce.

At first blush, composite decks appear to be superior: maintenance-free, longer lasting and overall better for exterior decks and pergolas. It can be tempting to buy into the hype of the new kid in town but don't forget one very important thing about wood: it is "classic" for a reason.

Wood has been around forever because it works. Lumber is the No. 1 choice for exterior products because of its durability, uncomplicated maintenance and timeless appearance.

Indeed, composite products are made to look just like wood. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, wood should just say "thank you" to the composite and accept its superiority. For more specific reasons why lumber beats out composite, consider the following:

Structural strength

Although composite products are regularly marketed and sold as appropriate for decks, the truth is this material is simply not as strong as wood. In fact, some composite decks are placed on frames constructed with the joists 12 inches apart, opposed to the standard 16 inches apart for wood boards, because composite tends to sag in the middle.

Repairs

One serious problem with composite decking arises when a repair or replacement is needed. Say you have a board that is damaged or mold-ridden and you need to remove it. It should be easy enough to nail in one board to replace the bad one,

With composite decking, each manufacturer makes their product distinct from others, so decking is not interchangeable between manufacturers.

If the company that originally made the composite product stops producing it or goes out of business, you are stuck with having no way to patch up the damaged portion with a like product.

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Why lumber still beats composite for decks