Decking materials
Find your kind of deck.
Explore the major decking material families, from natural wood to composite, PVC and specialty surfaces. Compare appearance, care and the complete installation.
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Composite decking
Composite is a family of products, not a single board. Wood-plastic composite combines wood fiber with polymers; the cap, core, profile and installation system vary by collection. Start with the way you want your deck to look and the care you are willing to do.
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PVC & capped polymer
Cellular PVC and capped polymer boards offer a wood-look surface without a wood-fiber core. They are worth comparing when you want an alternative to traditional wood or wood-plastic composite.
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Western red cedar
Cedar brings genuine grain and a warm natural appearance to an outdoor room. It suits homeowners who value wood’s changing character and are comfortable choosing a cleaning and finishing routine.
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Pressure-treated wood
Pressure-treated lumber can be used for deck framing and, when appropriate, the visible walking surface. Those are separate decisions: a composite or cedar surface can still sit on a properly specified treated-lumber frame.
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Redwood
Redwood is another natural-wood decking option with a warm appearance. It deserves a place in your material comparison, particularly if you like the look of real wood and want to assess alternatives to cedar.
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Hardwood decking
Hardwood decking offers a distinctive real-wood surface. Ipe, cumaru, tigerwood, garapa and products sold under mahogany trade names vary in appearance and specification, so compare the exact species and source.
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Modified wood
Modified wood includes different processes intended to change wood’s outdoor performance. Thermally modified wood and acetylated wood are separate families; neither is simply a new name for pressure-treated lumber.
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Exterior bamboo
Outdoor bamboo decking is an engineered exterior product, not ordinary indoor bamboo flooring. Compare the specific product’s intended use, installation requirements and care routine before treating it as a hardwood substitute.
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Aluminum decking
Aluminum plank decking creates a different surface character from wood and wood-look products. Some systems are designed around interlocking drainage details; others are not. Evaluate the complete assembly rather than assuming all metal decks work the same way.
Explore the guideMineral-based composite
Mineral-based composite is another material family worth comparing. For example, Deckorators describes its Surestone products as a combination of polymers and minerals without organic material. Always identify the actual collection in your quote.
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Pavers, tile & concrete
Not every outdoor platform uses deck boards. Porcelain pavers, concrete pavers and engineered concrete terraces expand the choices, particularly for roof terraces and specialized elevated assemblies.
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Waterproof deck systems
Keeping the area below a deck dry requires its own plan. A walkable membrane, a coating assembly and an under-deck drainage system solve different problems. Start by stating whether there is a patio, storage or occupied space below.
Explore the guidePlastic lumber & specialty boards
The decking market extends beyond wood, composite and PVC. Recycled-plastic lumber, reinforced plastic products and other specialty surfaces deserve careful product-specific review, especially when a proposal uses broad terms such as “synthetic” or “eco decking.”
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A starting point for your shortlist.
These are material families, not ratings for every product. Ask about the specific board or system in your estimate.
| Material family | What to compare | A useful question |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar, redwood & treated wood | Grade, grain, exposure and finish | What care will maintain the appearance I want? |
| Tropical & domestic hardwoods | Species, sourcing and installation | Can you document the exact species and source? |
| Modified wood & exterior bamboo | Product process and intended use | Who has experience with this specific product? |
| Wood-plastic composite | Cap, profile, finish and support | Which exact collection is included? |
| Mineral-based composite | Core, fastening and product guidance | How does this collection fit my layout? |
| PVC & capped polymer | Color, movement details and care | What is the approved installation assembly? |
| Aluminum plank systems | Finish, joints and drainage design | Is the dry-below function documented? |
| Pavers, tile & concrete | Loading, substrate and drainage | Who designs the complete structural system? |
| Walkable membranes & coatings | Substrate, transitions and waterproofing | Is this assembly suitable for the space below? |
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