Composite decking has been around since the late 90’s. It was one of the only alternatives to wood until PVC came on the scene in the early 2000’s. Initially, composite decking was made up of a combination of plastic and wood fibers. This type of decking material offered superior durability and resistance to adverse weather, than its wood counterpart. One of the cons of this type of decking though was the exposed composite material was prone to staining, fading, and rotting over time. Composite decking has come leaps and bounds since those days though. The composite decking we have today Is a very different form than what initially came out, and addressed virtually every one of the prior drawbacks. It maintains a similar wood-plastic composite core, capped with a more durable casing. The casing protects the fiber composite, and makes the finished product appear very similar to a PVC deck board ‐ both require minimal maintenance, retain color, and are weather resistant. Composite deck manufacturers offer an excellent product with a durable, low maintenance finish that closely resembles real wood. Manufacturers of both synthetic and composite decking have come a long way in the past decade to very closely mimic the look of wood with high quality, low-maintenance materials. Clients enjoy minimal maintenance and enhanced design/color options when choosing wood-alternative decking. Some of the main brands in composite decking are TimberTech, Trex, MoistureShield, FiberOn.

Wood is still one of the most popular choices when it comes to decking materials. Though not as low maintenance, less resistant to the elements, and less longevity, wood is a very durable material and is more economical than other composite options. Pressure treated pine is most often used material. Midwestern Red Cedar is also an outstanding choice though as it is naturally bug resistant and also more resistant to rotting as well.