“Wood decking has historically been the most popular choice, accounting for more than half of all the newly built decks in America,” says Min Kim Bryant, CR’s market analyst who covers decking. “But that preference has also really been driven by cost, so it will be interesting to see if the trend continues.”
Wood and other materials each have their own advantages and drawbacks. Consumer Reports plans to publish full decking ratings for 22 lines in the coming weeks. But some results are already in, highlighting distinct differences among choices.
“Wood resists flexing better than composite materials, but composite, PVC, and aluminum decking all resist staining better than wood,” says Rich Handel, CR’s test engineer for decking.