Real wood? Plastic? Recycled? What’s the right choice in decking?

Well it all depends on the project and the look you are going to want to end up with. It seems like there is a new product out each week. They all claim to be the best and are the answer to all our deck woes.

First let’s get real on a few points. All decks in our area need to be cleaned annually to keep their appearance and life up. All decks will get slippery when wet and the Washington green slime attacks in the winter. All wood will need to be taken care of to keep the look. Still want a deck?

The new plastic products are a good choice for holding up here. They all scratch and have limited colors. I have used several of the plastic type materials and have been disappointed. First the fasteners are not as easy to set as they claim. One factory rep I talked to admitted this and said to use finish screws. This works much better but it is not simple.

The wood look has not been recreated in the synthetic decking. Cedar, Redwood, or Ironwood are real and have a natural feel. The real issue is cosmetic and cost — what are you going to want to live with. Like vinyl siding you had better get the color right the first time.

The plastic deck is made with wood fiber in it to help give it a “real” look and protect from UV. These are longer lasting products than wood but are higher priced. As a safety tip you should check how your deck attaches to the home to see if you have bolts or just nails holding the deck up. If you have nails only invest in some lag bolts. A common failure is the nails pulling out and the deck failing. The new I codes will only allow a bolt-in system but the current code allowed nailing over the years. Don’t forget concrete as a material with the colors and patterns they are great for the ground level patio.

(Editor’s Note: Rick Courson is the owner of Cedar Bay Homes and specializes in custom, Built Green homes. A nationally recognized Green Building pioneer who speaks nationwide on the subject, he is also the current president of the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County. He may be reached at (360) 698-8242 or R_Courson@msn.com.).