Who knew choosing decking could be so complicated?
Decking is a fantastic upgrade for any garden, not to mention it helps you avoid the upkeep of mowing the lawn.
But with so many options out there it can be hard to choose the right one for your garden.
To help you make the right choice, we’ve laid out this complete decking guide, including types of decking, their pros and cons plus some extra tips so you can ensure you get the perfect deck for your home.
Types of Decking
The main types of decking materials that you will be faced with in any store will be softwood, hardwood and composite (although there is also anti-slip decking which we’ll cover later).
In this section, we’ll cover what each of these materials are, when they are best used and when you may want to avoid them.
Softwood Decking
Softwood decking comes from fast growing trees, like pine, which is quickly replaceable.
This makes this decking material the cheapest option, but it does have some drawbacks.
Softwood is weaker than hardwood and composite decking, and won’t last as long.
It also requires the most maintenance.
Top things to know about softwood decking:
- The cheapest decking material
- Easy to install
- Requires most maintenance (cleaning and treating with oils is recommended for longevity)
- Lasts up to 25 years when well maintained
- Colour and finish is easily changed
You can find more information on softwood decking here.
Hardwood Decking
Hardwood decking comes from slower growing trees like Oak, which can be far rarer and therefore are usually the most expensive decking option.
Hardwoods can pay off though; not only are they very aesthetically pleasing but they usually last longer than softwood and require much less maintenance.
Top things to know about hardwood decking:
- The most expensive material
- Harder to work with (but eDecks provides plenty of guidance and support if you’re up for the challenge!)
- Requires much less maintenance than softwood
- Can last for over 50 years
- Can look the most impressive
You can find more information on hardwood decking here.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is a modern material made from both wood and plastic, and because of this unique mix, it can look incredible while carrying features that pure wood can’t.
It’s very waterproof, requires very little maintenance and can easily last for over 50 years.
Tops things to know about composite decking:
- Can be quite expensive
- Comes as both decking tiles or boards
- Least likely material to get mould or algae growth
- Easy to maintain
- You can’t stain or change the colour
- Some tiles come with LED lights built in
Related content:
Pros and cons of composite decking
Extra Tips For Getting The Perfect Deck
Getting the perfect deck doesn’t simply require choosing the right material (unfortunately). So we’ve added some of our top tips here to help you get the best deck possible.
Anti-slip decking
If you live in a particularly wet part of the UK, or you’re planning on adding a high-risk slip area to your deck, like a hot tub, you may want to consider how you’ll make your deck safe to use.
There are plenty of options on offer, from anti-slip decking boards to inserts you can place into a different decking material.
It’s important to consider which might be best for you before rushing into buying the wrong thing!
Types of Decking Explained From Experts
Which Type Of Decking Should I Choose
Which Boards Should I Choose?
The type of decking most suited to you depends entirely on your requirements.
To get a better idea of the type most suited to you, choose the option most important to you below –
The most affordable & simplest decking boards are undoubtedly pressure-treated softwoods.
They are widely available from a majority of DIY stores & their availability means you can afford to be picky with who you buy from.
However it’s still important to buy your boards from a reputable supplier, or you may risk poor quality boards which have been stored improperly & may be warped & cracked.
And remember that what you gain in affordability – you lose in maintenance commitments & product lifespan.
“I want something with very little upkeep’
If you’re looking for minimal maintenance then you should probably steer clear of wooden structures.
To keep them in good nick they need sanding down & treating at least once every three years – as well as more regular cleaning & upkeep to keep the deck free of organic matter.
And while hardwoods are fairly durable, those with low-maintenance requirements are recommended to look at composite or PVC solutions.
Because these make use of plastic materials, they are generally resistant to mould, moisture, insects & UV rays.
This means they generally won’t split, warp or fade and need very little ongoing maintenance.
Because of its incredible resistance to the elements, PVC decking is generally recognised as the ultimate in low-maintenance decking boards.
“I want the decking to look natural’
The look & feel of your deck is of course a matter of personal opinion – what looks good to one person might not look so great to another.
But most experts agree that hardwood decking boards are difficult to beat for their natural allure, deep warm colours and their beautiful surface textures.
The dark reds & browns which the wood achieves naturally can sometimes look artificial when used in composite & PVC imitations.
However manufacturers are getting better at making PVC & wood-plastic composites look like the real thing.
Nevertheless, our experts feel that if you’re looking for that real ‘wow’ factor, you can’t go far wrong with a beautiful hardwood deck.
“I want a decking board which is easy to install’
One of the reasons pressure-treated softwoods are so popular (aside from their affordability) is the fact they are so easy to work with during installation.
It is incredibly versatile & can be cut & fastened with incredible ease.
However if it’s easy installation you’re looking for, you might want to look into the custom fastening systems which are available with more premium builds.
Many hardwood, composite & PVC decking structures offer these systems as standard & help make the installation much easier as the boards simply click into place with joist fasteners.
“I want a structure that will have a long life-span’
One of the reasons pressure-treated softwoods are so popular (aside from their affordability) is the fact they are so easy to work with during installation.
It is incredibly versatile & can be cut & fastened with incredible ease.
However if it’s easy installation you’re looking for, you might want to look into the custom fastening systems which are available with more premium builds.
Many hardwood, composite & PVC decking structures offer these systems as standard & help make the installation much easier as the boards simply click into place with joist fasteners.
Ready To Hire A Decking Company
If you are ready to hire an installer after reading this guide then get in touch with a local company.
At LC Joinery, we can cover the whole of Fife, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth and Falkirk.
