When considering deck replacement for your home, one of the most important decisions you have to make is what decking material to use. While you want your decking material to have a beautiful look that matches your home’s exterior, you also want it to be as low maintenance and long-lasting as possible to get the most out of the investment!
Here’s everything you need to know about selecting the right decking material — plus our top pick for the best all-around option for homes in Kansas City!
Things to Consider When Choosing Decking Materials
Before we discuss the different decking material options, you need to know what features to look for so you can make an informed decision. When replacing a deck, there are three main factors to consider: durability, aesthetic appeal, and cost.
Durability
An unreliable deck can be a dangerous safety hazard. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, only 40% of North America’s nearly 45 million existing decks are completely safe. If your deck is in the 60% that aren’t completely safe, you’ll want to ensure you use the right materials for a highly durable and reliable deck this time!
Whether you’re replacing your deck with a ground-level patio or a wraparound balcony, you want it to be safe and durable for the long haul. Your deck should be built to withstand everything from everyday use to extreme weather conditions.
Aesthetic Appeal
A deck replacement can make or break your home’s curb appeal, so choosing the right decking materials is essential when designing your ideal deck. For a seamless design that looks beautifully married to your home, you need to choose a decking material that fits with its overall look and has an aesthetic appeal of its own.
Fortunately, for deck replacement in Kansas City, Rolox Home Service offers a wide selection of stunning deck options through our friends at Deckorators®. With a variety of colors and patterns, beautiful railing, balusters, post caps, and even LED lighting, your deck replacement is guaranteed to give you the patio, porch, or balcony of your dreams!
Cost
Different decking materials have different price points. Some are more expensive to acquire than others and may be more complicated to install, requiring higher labor costs. What makes it worth choosing a more expensive material over the cheapest available option is its durability and longevity. While you might be tempted to go for the lowest pricetag, be aware: opting for the most affordable materials may end up costing you more over time, as those inexpensive materials will likely require more maintenance and need to be replaced sooner.
Common Deck Replacement Material Options
Now that you’re well-versed in the components of good decking materials, let’s get into the three main options for decking materials in Kansas City:
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Wood Decking
Wood is likely what you first think of when choosing a decking material because even when a deck isn’t made of wood, it often is designed to look like wood. Redwood and cedar are popular “softwood” choices for deck replacement because of their affordability in materials and labor costs. Still, the life expectancy is relatively short (15-20 years) and depends on the age of the tree used for the materials.
The hardwood of choice for deck replacement is ironwood because it has the best performance and life expectancy compared to other hardwood options. With proper maintenance, ironwood decks can last over 40 years. Unfortunately, ironwood is very expensive in both labor and material costs and ongoing maintenance.
The biggest downside of wood decking is the maintenance. No matter the material, wood decking needs to be sealed annually to prevent rotting and warping.
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Pressure-Treated Wood Decking
Pressure-treated wood decking is the way to go for the lowest possible up-front cost. Unfortunately, the benefits of this option stop there. Pressure-treated wood is the most high maintenance of any decking material and only has a life expectancy of 10-15 years. It’s also prone to warping, splitting, cracking, and splintering, requiring frequent replacement of boards and rails. The soft and porous material scratches and stains easily, so it’s not ideal for high-traffic decks.
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Wood Plastic Composite Decking
Last but certainly not least — and our personal favorite for every home — is wood plastic composite decking! This highly durable material can last as long as 25 years (and we warranty all 25 of those), plus it is incredibly easy to maintain. Composite decking doesn’t require annual sealing. All you need to do to keep it clean is wash your deck with a little soap and water as needed. Yes, that’s it!
While you’d think all of these perks mean composite decking will inevitably be the most expensive option out there, it actually isn’t! When you consider how quickly the maintenance and repair costs of wood decking add up, composite decking is worth every penny upfront for the low-cost maintenance.
The Rolox Deck Replacement Pick: Composite Decking!
No decking material beats wood plastic composite decking by Deckorators® and installed by Rolox Home Service. This versatile option can match any color, grain, natural hue of wood, or home exterior for a perfect fit every time. It gives Kansas City homeowners both the aesthetic appeal and the durability they want from a deck replacement.
Ready to give your deck the refresh it deserves? Schedule your free in-home estimate today!
