How Safe Is A Wood Deck Versus A Composite Deck?
More and more homeowners are considering composite decks. Before you consider transitioning to a composite deck, it is important to know how it stacks up against wood in terms of safety.
#1: Wood Decks Are More Eco-Friendly
Composite decks contain potentially harmful chemicals from the PVC that makes them waterproof. These materials leach into the ground, and over time these toxins can pose serious health problems for people who come into contact with the soil around the deck. Wood doesn’t have any of those problems because it uses environmentally friendly cedar or redwood as its base material.
#2: Wood Is Stronger Than Composite Material
While many consumers believe plastic will outlast wood in durability, this is actually not true. While synthetic plastics do last longer than wood, plastic is not as strong as its natural counterpart. This means that if you are looking for a long-lasting deck, then a wood deck might be the better way to go, even though it is more likely to require maintenance in the years to come.
#3: Wood Decks Can Last For A Lifetime
While composite decks need continual care and upkeep, wood can naturally strengthen over time. If you take good care of your wood deck, it will only get stronger with age and use. You will never have to worry about cracks or other signs of failure from using your wooden deck because this material itself does not suffer from wear and tear like composites do when they come into contact with water over time.
#4: Wood Decks Are A Safe Place For Children To Play
Children love to play outside, and it can be tempting for parents to want a deck that is safe for their little ones. While composite decks are very hardy and would likely not crack if your child slips on them, they contain harmful chemicals that can leach into the soil around the deck. Wood is different in this regard because it does not have any of these same worries. You can rest assured that when you install wood decking on your property, you will know that your children are playing on a surface that won’t harm them or the environment in any way.
#5: Composite Materials Can Cause Problems With Plumbing
As time goes on, plastic materials tend to warp and crack. When this happens, the crumbs and peels that form tend to clog up your plumbing system, which can lead to costly repairs or even worse, flooding in your home. Wood doesn’t have this problem because natural fibers do not deteriorate over time like plastics will.
#6: Wood Is More Natural To The Environment
If you are looking for a material that is more harmony with nature than plastic composites are, then wood is definitely the better option here. Plastic uses non-renewable resources from trees that take hundreds of years to grow back when they are cut down for use in manufacturing processes.
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