All homes are a work in progress. Whether you want to improve your quality of life or plan on selling your property in the future, there will always be reasons for renovations or additional rooms. One particular project that many homeowners consider is the addition of a Quality Composite deck.

Outdoor living has been a popular trend among homeowners recently. A deck serves as an expansion of living space to include the outdoors. It provides a lot of versatility to your home depending on your lifestyle. If you want to have a place to host a barbecue with your family and friends, a deck is a perfect way to add a functional space where you and your guests can relax and bask in the great outdoors. If you are the introverted type, a deck is an ideal space for you to be introspective as you read a book, listen to music, or simply look at the plants in your garden.

Installing a deck is easier than ever with readily available materials and deck plans as well as reliable deck installation contractors. Hiring a reliable contractor saves you construction costs and time. Almost all homeowners can transform a plain and boring porch into a trendy and functional living space. However, the question of what type of decking material should be your top concern. You want to have a decking that can last a long time without having to break the bank. And for that, we recommend composite decking.

What is Composite Decking?

Composite decking is one of the rising alternatives to traditional wood decking. As the name implies, composite decking is a building product that is made up of a mix of wood fibre and plastic. NexGEN Decking, for instance, is made of 50% recovered hardwood fibre and 50% UV-stabilised high-density polyethylene.

Reasons to Invest in Quality Composite Decking

Some homeowners are on the fence about whether composite decking is superior to traditional timber decking. If you are one of these homeowners, you need to know the following reasons to invest in quality composite decking.

1. High Durability

One of the biggest advantages of composite decking is its high durability. The combined wood and plastic material can withstand heavy foot traffic as well as exposure to the elements. Composite decking is suitable for all climates, even in places with harsh winters and blazing hot summers. Composite decks are guaranteed to last more than 25 years, with some brand even giving a lifetime performance warranty.

2. Minimal Maintenance

Unlike traditional wood decking, composite decking does not require frequent maintenance. In fact, it requires virtually no special type of maintenance at all. Just the occasional cleaning with soap and water or even pressure washing can do the trick. Compare that to timber decking, which needs to be routinely sanded, stained, and repainted. This maintenance process can cost a fairly large amount of money and takes up time that you could otherwise use for more productive and enjoyable activities.

3. Safety

Compared to timber decking, composite decking does not warp, crack, or splinter over time, so it is safe for you and your kids to walk on even barefooted. Small children can easily hurt themselves with just a small cracked plank. In addition, composite decking does not attract termites, so there is virtually no risk of damage to its structural integrity due to pests.

4. Environment-Friendliness

Decks made of pure wood need a large amount of timber. Unfortunately, this has a huge impact on the environment and can even encourage deforestation. Some timber decking materials also use finishing that is not safe to recycle and thus cannot be easily reclaimed. In comparison, composite decking is usually made from recycled wood, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

5. Savings

Composite decking is usually more expensive than traditional timber decking. However, it can actually give you a better bang for your buck in the long run. Because it requires less maintenance and lasts much longer than its wooden counterpart, composite decking does not need you to put more money for its upkeep. And if you decide to sell your property in the future, composite decking can give you a higher return to your investment.

Appearance-wise, composite decking is virtually the same as wood decking. However, its higher durability, low maintenance, and environment-friendliness make it the superior choice for your home.

About the Author:

Patrick Hogan is the CEO of Handle.com, where they build software that helps contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers with late payments. Handle.com also provides funding for construction businesses in the form of invoice factoring, material supply trade credit, and mechanics lien purchasing.