Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-05-25 Origin: Site
When it comes to finding the ideal type of decking materials, knowing where to start can often be hugely important. Indeed, while many different types of decking materials are available, these aren’t always right for every scenario. With this thought in mind, we’re looking at some of the best decking material options on the market – and how these might work for your needs.
It’s not always easy to determine which decking materials best suit different scenarios. With this thought in mind, knowing about the different options can undoubtedly help.
Let’s face it – wood is one of the most commonly seen when we think about decking materials. And, of course, this is for a good reason; after all, wood can provide a myriad of potential benefits overall. As such, it’s perhaps no surprise that wood has rapidly grown to become one of the most popular decking materials on the market – though it may not necessarily be the best for everyone.
The benefits of natural wood decking are numerous. Of course, the most obvious of these is the aesthetic appeal; it’s hard (though not impossible) to rival the beauty of natural wood and the subtle differences between every plank. Moreover, as a natural material, wood can be an excellent way to reduce your reliance on synthetic materials, making it popular among the eco-conscious.
But, of course, there are several critical drawbacks that need to be addressed with wooden decking. the biggest of these has to be wood’s tendency to rot over time when exposed to the elements, which can severely degrade its strength and prevent it from being easily maintained. Without the necessary care, it’s also not uncommon for wooden decking to become dangerous and slippery, so this is highly important to keep in mind as part of any decision-making process.
If you absolutely adore the aesthetic of wood but are feeling a little unsure about wood’s natural tendency to rot and get slippery with age, you may want to consider looking at an alternative instead, and wood composite could be the perfect option!
Wood composite is a unique type of material that’s made from a combination of wood fiber and plastic, giving it the best of both worlds in terms of properties. As a result, wood composite is often considered exceptionally durable and resistant to rot. Moreover, it doesn’t need as much regular maintenance as natural wood, making it easier to look after as well.
With that being said, if you want the highest-quality finish from your new wood composite decking, it’s critical to keep in mind that not all wood composites are created equal. As such, make sure you’ve taken some time to consider the different wood composite suppliers to find one that can provide premium solutions for your property’s decking.
If you’re not sure that wood is the type of aesthetic you’re looking for, you might want to consider giving PVC a try instead. PVC, known as polyvinyl chloride, is a synthetic plastic polymer type widely used in modern manufacturing and domestic applications. The material offers a wide range of features that help make it incredibly popular, so it could be a good option to consider.
Generally speaking, the main benefits of PVC from the perspective of decking materials are its exceptional chemical and weathering resistance and its ease of maintenance. In short: unlike other materials, keeping PVC in good condition is surprisingly easy in many cases. However, it’s worth noting that PVC is fully synthetic and generally doesn’t offer the same aesthetic appeal as other types of material.
A lesser-used material that can actually work surprisingly well for decking is stone – especially as paving slabs atop the decking frame. Stone decking is ideal for applications needing minimal inputs in terms of maintenance, thanks to the material’s excellent durability, resistance to weather conditions, and stylish overall finish. However, it is vital to keep in mind here that stone decking is generally a lot more expensive than other decking options – a pivotal factor to consider when looking at your optimal choice of decking.
A cheaper but less aesthetically pleasing alternative to stone, concrete can lend itself easily to many different decking designs – and can potentially even be tailored to the client’s specific style requirements. As such, if you have been looking to invest in a decking material that’s going to resist weathering while delivering exceptional durability overall, concrete could be right for you.
However, if you decide to go for concrete decking, try to make sure that you’ve chosen a design that will match the property; indeed, the aesthetic of concrete decking is often very specific and doesn’t necessarily match every design, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve started out with a garden design that matches the functional and efficient design that concrete often provides.
For a more commercially focused decking material or to add a little style to a contemporary property, polished aluminum decking might be a good option. Of course, the benefits of metal decking materials are relatively easy to see; they won’t warp or rot, which can be a major worry with wood decking in particular, and they’re highly durable in almost any weather condition. Be careful, though; in wet weather, aluminum is one of the most slippery types of decking material available.
Better yet, compared with other materials, aluminum decking is usually designed to reflect heat (rather than absorbing it), reducing the temperature on the base of your foot when walking on it. As such, if you’re looking for a material that’s good for areas of the garden that receive a huge amount of sunlight all year round, reflective aluminum decking might be a viable option to consider as part of your final decision.
Knowing where to begin your search is crucial if you’ve been looking to invest in the best decking materials. Luckily, there are many different decking materials out there that you could potentially choose, and we’ve summarized just a handful of these today to help. After all, starting out with the right type of material is crucial for decking, and materials such as WPC can be ideal in many cases.
For further questions, please contact us at info@mexytech.com.