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BUSINESS NEWS - Regardless of how well-maintained a deck is, it will eventually succumb to storm damage or wear and tear, necessitating regular maintenance.
The most significant distinction is in the frequency and intensity of maintenance and repair requirements, as well as the level of care each material necessitates.
Annual care is required for real wood. Lumber that has been exposed to the weather or has been damaged by water should be re-stained and/or sealed. Splintering and re-sanding are both possible outcomes of using a deck. Pest-damaged or loose boards will necessitate a new board.
People who don't want to deal with the trouble of frequent upkeep prefer composite decking. This is because composites do not require any of these procedures.
Nevertheless, to avoid stains and mould, composite surfaces should be cleaned on a regular basis and immediately if there is any static standing water or soil.
Here are, the applications of both wood and composite decking in a variety of scenarios in order to help you decide which option is best for your needs when sourcing decking in Cape Town.
1. Decking that needs to be durable
Expect to replace a wood deck every 15 or 20 years if you maintain it regularly. Your environment, the wood you choose, and the amount of care you're able to keep up with can all affect this figure.
Composite decks, however, tend to survive longer than real wood varieties. Manufacturer warranties of at least 25 years are offered by many composite products.
Composite materials, such as recycled plastic, take longer to decompose and are less vulnerable to environmental degradation than wood fibres across the range of available decking in Cape Town.
2. Decking that is exposed to pests and insects
Pests eat away at real wood's fibres and bore holes in them, which can lead to a deterioration of a deck's structural integrity. There is a distinct difference between marine pests and bees that can nest in wood decks that are located inland.
Exotic hardwoods and pressure-treated lumber do have some natural resistance to pests, but no biological wood is totally resistant.
Composite decking is made of synthetic materials that do not attract insects. Despite its natural fibre core, a composite board is completely pest-proof because of its capping on all four sides.
3. Aesthetic considerations
Composite decking from earlier generations was criticised for having a flat appearance that lacked the inherent colour and pattern variations found in wood. However, many deck suppliers now offer colour selections that more closely resemble the natural beauty of hardwoods like cedar.
Exotic hardwoods like tigerwood have no manufactured rivals, despite their beauty and rarity. As such, natural timber is the best option if you're looking for a hue that's deep and dramatic.
4. Cost considerations
There are many advantages to using wood decking compared to other materials, including its cost. When it comes to initial costs, wood is more affordable. However, when it comes to regular upkeep, composite is usually more cost-effective.
In addition to the brand of composite decking and the type of wood used, the price difference can be attributed to regional differences in supply and demand.
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