What Are Cheaper Alternatives to Wood Decking?
Wood decking is one of the most popular materials to use when building your outdoor area. It has many benefits ranging from this being a natural product as this is made from 100% timber and many homeowners prefer this due to its natural aesthetics. Many alternatives can look too synthetic due to the material these are made from. Wood decking is also preferred due to its durability and its affordability. Having mentioned this, wood decking can become susceptible to damage from weather and other natural factors. Over time this product may rot and splint due to this being a degradable material. There will be added costs after this has been fitted due to the cost of maintenance, such as painting and staining, which may make this a more expensive material in the long run.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is seen to be a superior product when compared to wood decking. Unlike timber decking, which is a natural product, plastic wood composite is a synthetic product manufactured by mixing plastics and wood fibres together. This enables the product to be more durable than wood, preventing it from rotting and splitting. Longevity guarantees the product will last up to 25 years – if maintained correctly and has the appropriate upkeep.
Plastic or PVC Decking
PVC decking is a more expensive alternative to wood decking; having said this, its upkeep and maintenance costs are as little as zero. Due to this, many homeowners consider this to be a cheaper alternative. Like composite wood decking, PVC is a synthetic material and will not get damaged quickly. What this implies is that PVC will last longer than timber when you install it outdoors. It will not swell or rot when moisture touches it. Aside from that, plastic decking does not crack, split or splinter when the temperature changes like timber.
Concrete Paving
A concrete patio is a cheaper alternative to timber. However, this may be more difficult to maintain than most wood decks. There are several advantages to concrete paving, such as its easy installation, low costs and maintenance free. Unlike decking, this doesn’t need yearly treatments, such as staining and painting. However, this is more susceptible to cracking and freezing. In spite of the fact that it is not as aesthetically pleasing, you can customise a concrete patio with a variety of patterns, finishes, and styles.
Which One Should You Choose
It’s entirely up to the customer which material they would prefer to use when installing this into their garden. One thing to bear in mind is that a product may appear to be cheaper than the rest, such as timber decking. However, the maintenance and upkeep costs make this product more expensive in the long run. Whereas if you purchase composite decking or PVC decking, the upfront cost may be more expensive, but again, in the long run, this will be cheaper. Concrete paving is also a great alternative for its affordability; however, this may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the other options.