Why Non Wood Decking Is the Better Choice
September 21, 2021
Close your eyes and picture a deck — is the first image that comes to mind one made of wood? We get it: Wood feels familiar, inviting even. But for all its charms, wood comes with hidden costs and serious drawbacks. If you want to truly live your best life in the great outdoors, non wood decking is the way to go. Your next step? Learning your composite decking options.
Non Wood Decking Benefits
✓ Real-wood aesthetics, but without the discoloration.
✓ Premium durability for a long-lasting outdoor living space.
✓ Minimal maintenance needs for easy outdoor living.
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Why You May Think Wood Is Good
Above: A deck made from Ipe hardwood. While the deck looks richly hued now, just wait — Ipe can quickly fade to a striped silver when exposed to UV.
Given its familiarity and relative availability, it makes sense that wood has earned its fair share of positive connotations. But spoiler: If you really want the advantages listed below? You won’t opt for wood.
Wood Decking Myth: A Better Life Outdoors. Reality? Costly & Quick-to-Fade
Many wood enthusiasts believe wood to be the most inviting, comprehensive, and earth-friendly building material for their deck. The problem? That’s just not true.
Deck as Haven?
You likely think of a deck as a retreat from the worries of life. But wood’s fading aesthetics and costly, unending maintenance needs quickly hijack even the most beautiful wood deck from being a retreat to yet another item on the to-do list — and your monthly credit card statement.
Easy to Understand?
Wood is wood, right? Not quite. You have a wide selection of wood to choose from. And even “simple” pressure-treated lumber complicates life fast — just try to keep volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wood deck stain from leeching into the ground around your home. (Hint: You can’t).
Sustainable?
“Wood is natural, so it’s sustainable, right?” Wrong. Wood decking causes deforestation. And those prized tropical hardwoods, like Ipe? They contribute to deforestation in some of the world’s most treasured habitats, like the Amazon. Not exactly a greater, greener future, is it?
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a better outdoor living space that actually lives up to these benefits, without caveats? Well, you’re in luck — enter non wood decking.
Composite Decking vs Wood: Which Is Better?
Spoiler: Wood didn’t stand a chance. Learn how our enduringly beautiful decking kicks wood to the curb
Why Non Wood Decking Is Better
Non wood decking delivers all the benefits you love about wood — like its familiar, inviting texture and nuanced beauty — while transforming your deck to a true low-maintenance retreat.
The Reality of Non Wood Decking: Your Optimal Life Outdoors
Enjoy the outdoors without the worry thanks to low-maintenance, masterfully engineered decking like TimberTech® capped polymer and capped composite decking.
TimberTech composite decking options not only offer the same benefits you think you can only get with wood, but expands upon them. So you get the high-performance decking you deserve.
Deck as Haven
Some say “wood has an aesthetic charm that simply can’t be beat” — except by UV rays and moisture, that is. Man made decking material options deliver the nature-inspired, real-wood aesthetics you love, without the fast fading you don’t. So you’ll enjoy the beauty of your outdoor haven for years to come.
Easy to Understand
Don’t be nonplussed by non wood decking. Instead of a multitude of wood species to choose from, we have the colors and grain patterns you want, for a deck tailored to your personal style. And as for installation? Our composite decking options share many of the same best practices as wood.
Sustainable
Think man made decking material can’t be sustainable? Think again. Our sustainable composite decking options are all made with a majority of recycled material, including hard-to-recycle plastics and recycled wood fibers — so no trees are harmed in the making of our decking products.
Composite Decking Options: Why TimberTech Wins
TimberTech composite decking delivers superior performance that not only outperforms wood — but beats the composite competition.
And there’s more where those benefits came from. The superior options from TimberTech offer advantages wood can only ever aspire to.
Superior Durability
Made with high-performance polymers from core to cap, TimberTech AZEK® capped polymer decking delivers unbeatable durability — and an impressive lifespan of 50+ years.
That means decades to make memories with generations of your family on an enduringly beautiful deck.
Truly Low-Maintenance Living
Cross off sanding, staining, and sealing from your to-do list for good. TimberTech capped composite and capped polymer decking provides a gorgeous, inviting, splinter-free space that requires minimal maintenance — just an occasional clean and rinse with the correct brush and cleaner. So spending time on your deck can actually mean taking a moment for yourself — not your deck.
Greater Long-Term Value
With its superior durability and minimal maintenance needs, TimberTech decking allows you to minimize long-term costs, so you end up saving money over time. Plus, using a sustainable, man-made decking material can help improve your home’s resale value, making it a smart investment.
Choose TimberTech for a Better Deck in the Great Outdoors
While you may think a man-made decking material can never be as good as real wood, the truth is, it’s even better.
Experience the great outdoors with greater peace of mind by choosing superior composite decking from TimberTech. Start your deck planning journey by ordering up to four free samples from our composite decking options.
See & feel the TimberTech advantage
Our Advanced PVC and Composite Decking lines combine recycled materials with all the beauty of traditional wood, making them the ultimate eco-friendly decking materials.
