Composite or wood deck? Which is better?

ShelleyandJared

We are in the process of getting our 12x15 concrete slab patio covered and are going to extend the patio another 15 feet.  DH wants to put something over the concrete and we are having a hard time choosing which material to use: the composite wood or salt treated wood.  I know the composite is substantially more expensive and that is ok.  We want to do what is best.  The area gets a ton of sun (which is why we're putting a cover on half of it).  What are the pro's and con's.  Note, we are planning to only be in the house for another 2-3 years.  TIA!

lolc

Well the biggest con for a wood deck is that it is susceptible to termites. It can also bow and crack.

We added a wood deck onto the back of our house 2 to 3 years ago. We have sliding glass doors that go out to the backyard and previously had "makeshift" steps that the previous owners put there (really it was more like a ladder, and it looked horrible and wasn't functional) So we needed to do something and decided to go with wood since our budget was tight.

And every year that goes by, I get more and more nervous that the darn thing is going to go downhill before we are able to sell and we'll have to replace it again. Initially it was 2800, so I'm really hoping I don't need to shell that out again! There have been several pieces that have gotten visible cracks in them. Thankfully it is just cosmetic, but it's still unsightly. We also live in FL so I imagine the deck probably has termites.

I don't know much about composite, but if cost wasn't a big factor, I would go with the composite.

dirtyred

We have composite and love it.  We put it in for the low maintenance--no need to seal it, and it doesn't fade very much, so you only have to stain it if you want to. 

pdxmouse

I didn't know you could stain composite.

We're also researching deck options. This is what our graph looks like:

Composite

    Pros: Very, very low-maintenance, pretty much just needs pressure-washing once a year or so. Splinter-free.

    Cons: Can get moldy, especially in shade. Surface can be slick when it's damp (we're in the PNW). Expensive. Technology still being perfected, so quality and long-term use can vary a lot (reports of buckling, sagging, etc).

Pressure Treated Wood

    Pros: Cheap. Termite and rot resistant.

    Cons: Needs resealing and staining every 1-3 years, especially where it rains a lot. Current deck is pt and was already massively cupped and cracked when we moved in. Splinters.

Hardwoods and Cedar

    Pros: Pretty, oh so very pretty. Naturally termite and rot resistant. (Though usually posts and framing will be pt)

    Cons: Needs resealing and staining every 1-3 years, especially where it rains a lot. Expensive. Splinters.

 

 

Anyone more knowledgeable is welcome to correct my mistakes. 

mae141

Pressure treated wood doesn't get a lot of love over here, but I've never had any issues with it. No one in my neighborhood has composite, and I actually can't think of a single person that has it except for a couple of my rich friends.

Anyway, we had a pt wood deck when we moved in. It was 15 years old and in great shape. We stained and sealed it when we moved in to make it look a little nicer. The only reason we had to get a new one was because the stupid builder didn't put concrete under the posts so it was sinking.

My dad had a new deck built at least 10 years ago, maybe more like 12. He has never stained or sealed it and does nothing to keep it up. It still looks great. I know he should seal it, but he won't listen to me.

My point is, I don't know why people say pt wood is such a pain, because I don't really think it is. Especially if you're only going to live in your house for a few years, I say go with pt wood.

FoxinFiji

Mouse gave you all the pros and cons but see what other homes in your area have.  If you have and live in a higher end area composite or cedar would probably be expected by future buyers.  If not I think you can get away with pressure treated lumber but you'll need to keep up with washing and staining it every 2 years to keep it looking really nice for selling.