When it comes to decking, you have a choice between plastic and wood, among other things. Both materials have their merits.
Every terrace is more or less exposed to the elements. During the winter months, the snow piles up here, from which meltwater often flows very slowly in the spring. This long-lasting exposure to moisture puts a lot of strain on decking wood and its substructure. In summer, on the other hand, it is primarily the UV exposure from intense sunlight that causes many types of wood to fade. All decking wood and alternative plastics are affected by temperature fluctuations and expansion processes all year round.
Overall, all of these points mean that each terrace is subjected to more or less heavy use throughout the year, depending on its structure. That is why choosing the right material is crucial for longevity and the joy of summer life in the countryside. But which material is actually better? Plastic or wood?
The following comparison shows you which criteria should be used when deciding between decking made of wood or plastic.
First a brief note on the materials
» Decking made of wood:
Douglas fir, Cumaru, and Bangkirai are most commonly used here. More on that below.
» Decking boards made of plastic:
Don't worry, it's not just any cheap plastic used here, but high-quality WPC material. You can read more about this here:
» https://www.casando.de/gartenundfreizeit-terrassendielen-wpc/
Criteria for choosing and comparing materials
» Position of the terrace/climatic conditions:
Constant exposure to moisture is the biggest enemy of the terrace covering. A north-facing terrace will dry out on its surface during prolonged periods of drought, but the substructure will take a long time to dissipate the moisture that has penetrated. However, moisture also penetrates the wood from below.
Therefore, north-facing terraces should never be covered with wooden decking boards, but with their alternative made of WPC decking boards. atThis also applies to a limited extent to east-facing locations, because when the sun has reached its highest point, an east-facing terrace in front of the house has long been in the shade.
Climatic conditions also result from the regional location. Longer periods of rain are much more common in the north of the low mountain ranges than in the southern Black Forest or in Lusatia. You can ask your responsible weather office for these statistics when you are about to decide between wooden floorboards or WPC.
» visual appearance:
Plastic floorboards:
The WPC material consists of a mixture of wood fibers, polyethylene and additives such as UV blockers and color pigments. The material is pressed under high pressure during the manufacture of the planks and is given its uniform decor.
Wood Floorboards:
However, it is precisely this uniform decor that many builders regard as a disadvantage in terms of visual quality. They love much more the varied grain and the play of colors of the naturally grown wood. But here, too, there are still big differences between completely monochromatic hardwoods such as Massaranduba and other types of wood that already contain three to four different shades within one plank.
The decision between decking made of wood or plastic is always closely related to durability. It is undisputed that WPC always looks artificial, despite high-quality decors, but it is still the better compromise in moisture-stressed terrace locations and regions. It also always depends on how you set up your terrace or what style you want to follow.
» mechanical stress:
Wood Floorboards:
Terrace boards made of hardwood have good to very good mechanical strength. However, it differs within the different types of wood.
Plastic floorboards:
With WPC, the difference is primarily in the manufacturing process. WPC decking boards in the low price segment consist of a hollow chamber system, while high-priced ones are made of solid material. This results in a significant difference in mechanical strength. Cheap hollow chamber floorboards from unknown manufacturers can become brittle in winter and tear or deform in high summer temperatures.
» Differences in installation and care:
Wood Floorboards:
Even when laying hardwood decking boards, many more mistakes can be made than with plastic. Most frequentlythe use of inferior squared timber made of pine or spruce for the substructure is widespread. The different expansion coefficients lead to the fastening screws tearing.
Hardwood floorboards can also expand up to ten millimeters in width of the standardized sizes. This creates centimeter-wide crevices in the summer, which can close completely again in the winter.
Another processing information is the laying direction. Decking boards are almost always grooved. When laying transversely in the direction of the slope, some of the rainwater always remains in these grooves, which has a more negative effect on wood than on plastic.
On hardwood decking, all cut edges must always be treated immediately after processing with a wood preservative in the form of oils or glazes that is suitable for this type of wood. The constant recoating of the entire surface must be done about once a year. Unless you love the silvery-grey patina that UV exposure develops on untreated hardwood.
Plastic floorboards:
All of the processing and care requirements just mentioned are not applicable to plastic floorboards, which can be screwed onto almost any surface and are only subject to normal cleaning.
» Environmental aspects and types of wood:
If you have no other floorboards to consider than wooden floorboards, then you should also consider the following aspects:
Environmental aspects:
Douglas is the only hardwood decking species that is sustainably grown in Europe. All other woods from which decking boards are made come from the tropical forests of India or America. However, the extraction of tropical timber is an environmental catastrophe and the timber used on European terraces also comes from tropical forests. They grow very slowly and need the tropical climate of the rainforest. Therefore, they cannot be grown economically on plantations. Nevertheless, some of these tropical woods are also felled sustainably and the products from this sustainable management bear the FSC seal. You should therefore pay attention to this seal when shopping.
Types of wood:
Douglas Fir, Cumaru, Bangkirai, Massaranduba and Garapa are the most commonly used. But they also differ in their strength class, freedom from torsion and tendency to splinter, with Cumaru and Massaranduba being the most durable.
Bangkirai meanwhile leadsoften lead to complaints due to ignorance. Almost every one of these planks has a greater or lesser number of holes that look like woodworm infestation. However, they come from flying insects that die off immediately after logging. These holes are therefore harmless and Bangkirai enchants many builders with its diverse play of colours.
Conclusion:
Which material you ultimately choose is of course entirely up to you. Both materials have their advantages. Wooden floorboards score points, for example, with their individual decor and good mechanical strength. Plastic floorboards, on the other hand, mean that they are easy to lay and also very easy to care for. So you are spoiled for choice. When making your decision or when planning your garden, always consider the location of your terrace and the climatic conditions. That alone can make your decision easier or even take it away.