Choosing between composite and wood decking is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning an outdoor living space. The right choice affects your deck’s look, lifespan, maintenance needs, and total cost over time. A to Z Supply helps homeowners and contractors navigate these tradeoffs every day and offers a full line of decking materials—not just gutters and roofing.
What Is Wood vs Composite Decking?
Wood decking is typically made from pressure-treated lumber, cedar, or other natural species designed to resist rot and insects. It offers a warm, classic look and can be stained or painted to match your home’s style.
Composite decking is made from a blend of recycled wood fibers and plastics, often with a protective cap that resists fading, staining, and moisture. It’s engineered for consistency in color and texture, and for significantly lower maintenance than traditional wood.
Composite vs Wood: Cost and Lifespan
When comparing cost, wood decking usually has a lower upfront price per board than composite. Keep in mind however, wood typically requires additional expenses for stain, sealer, or paint, plus extra labor for refinishing over the years.
Composite decking costs more at installation but typically pays off with reduced maintenance—no staining, sealing, or painting—and a longer service life when properly installed and supported. Over 10–20 years, many homeowners find composite’s total cost of ownership comparable to or even lower than wood, especially in climates with harsh sun, heavy rain, or extreme freeze–thaw cycles.
Maintenance and Durability in Everyday Use
Wood decks need regular attention to stay safe and attractive. Homeowners should inspect for splinters, rot, and loose fasteners, and re‑stain or seal every few years to protect against moisture and UV damage. Furthermore, mold and mildew can develop if the deck is not protected and cared for properly.
The upside is that individual damaged boards can often be sanded, patched, or replaced to blend with the rest of the deck, extending its usable life without a full rebuild. With regular cleaning, sealing, and inspection, quality wood decking—especially pressure‑treated lumber and naturally durable species like cedar—can last for decades while maintaining its structural strength.
Composite decking, by contrast, generally requires only periodic washing with mild soap and water to remove dirt and pollen. Its capped surface resists cracking, warping, and splintering, making it an excellent choice for families, pets, and anyone seeking a low-maintenance outdoor space. However, although composites resist rot and splintering, their surface can still be scratched by furniture or pet claws.
Additionally, some products may stain from grease, sunscreen, or leaves if spills are not cleaned promptly. Many composite boards, especially darker colors, can become noticeably hotter under direct sun than typical wood decking. Moreover, organic debris like pollen or leaves left on the surface can support mold or mildew if the deck is not kept clean and well-drained.
Appearance, Feel, and Sustainability
Many homeowners still love the natural variation, grain, and feel of real wood, especially cedar or other premium species. Wood decking offers a warm, natural aesthetic that many homeowners love. Thanks to its genuine grain, color variation, and comfortable underfoot feel it suits a wide range of architectural styles. Because it can be stained or painted in different colors, wood also provides long-term design flexibility, allowing you to refresh the deck’s appearance as tastes or exterior color schemes change without replacing the structure, and it remains a renewable, biodegradable option when sourced responsibly.
Modern composite boards, on the other hand, have made major strides in realism. They now offer multi-tone colors and embossed grain patterns that closely mimic natural lumber. Many lines also incorporate recycled materials, which helps reduce demand for virgin timber. Even so, some homeowners still feel composites look more uniform or manufactured than real wood. Furthermore, most products are not designed to be sanded and re-stained if you want a completely new color later. Composite boards are also harder to recycle and will not biodegrade like natural wood at the end of their life.
Actionable Tips for Choosing Your Decking
To make a confident choice:
- Clarify how much time you realistically want to spend on maintenance
- Consider how long you plan to stay in your home and compare long-term costs, not just upfront price
- If possible, handle sample boards in person—feel the surface, compare colors, and imagine hot summer days underfoot.
Where to Buy Decking Materials in Joplin, MO
For homeowners and contractors asking where to buy decking materials locally, A to Z Supply is your one-stop source in the Joplin area. The team can help you compare composite and wood options, plan framing and fasteners, and estimate quantities so you don’t over- or under-order. In addition to decking, A to Z Supply offers roofing, siding, fencing, windows, doors, sheet metal, garage doors, trusses, and more—proving that the company goes far beyond gutter materials.
Ready to start your deck project? Contact A to Z Supply for expert guidance, quality decking supplies, and local service that supports your build from planning to completion.