Composite vs Timber Decking: Which Is Better for Your Garden?

Upfront cost: timber wins, but not by as much as you might think

Pressure-treated softwood decking is the cheaper option to buy and fit. As a rough guide, a supplied and fitted softwood deck typically comes in somewhere around 100 to 150 pounds per square metre, while a mid-range composite deck is more often in the 180 to 280 pounds per square metre bracket. Exact figures depend on the sub-frame, access, ground conditions and the boards you choose, so treat those as ballpark ranges rather than quotes.

The gap narrows over time. Composite boards cost more on day one, but a timber deck needs cleaning, re-staining or oiling roughly every one to two years to stay looking decent. Over a 15 year period, the cost of treatments, plus your weekends spent doing them, eats into timber's head start.

Maintenance and our local weather

This is where the North West climate really tips the scales. Bolton sits on the edge of the West Pennine Moors and gets noticeably more rain than the national average. Damp, shaded gardens grow algae on timber quickly, and untreated or neglected softwood can become slippery and start to soften within a few years.

Composite boards do not need staining or sealing. They still need a brush down and an occasional wash to shift dirt and algae, especially under trees or in north-facing gardens, but that is a job of an hour or two a couple of times a year rather than a full sanding and re-coating weekend.

• Timber: clean annually, re-stain or oil every 1 to 2 years, check for soft spots and lifting boards
• Composite: brush regularly, wash with soapy water once or twice a year, no staining ever
• Both: keep the gap under the deck ventilated and clear of leaves so the sub-frame stays dry

Lifespan, feel and looks

A well-built and well-maintained softwood deck typically lasts 10 to 15 years in our climate; a neglected one can fail in far less. Quality composite boards usually carry manufacturer warranties of 20 to 25 years, and because they do not rot, the boards themselves often outlast the timber sub-frame beneath them, which is why we pay so much attention to the frame and its ventilation.

Aesthetically it is a matter of taste. Timber has natural grain and can be re-stained any colour, but it silvers and weathers unless you keep on top of it. Modern composites look far more convincing than the shiny plastic boards of ten years ago, though the colour you choose is the colour you keep. Composite also stays more slip-resistant when wet, which matters on a deck used year round in a rainy town.

So which should you choose?

Choose timber if your budget is tight, you enjoy garden maintenance or you want the flexibility to change the colour later. It is also the more forgiving choice if you think you might reshape the garden again within ten years.

Choose composite if you want a fit-and-forget deck, your garden is damp or shaded, or you plan to stay in the house long term so the higher upfront cost pays back. For rental properties and busy family homes around Bolton, composite is usually what we end up recommending, simply because it keeps performing with almost no attention. If you are unsure, a site visit will settle it quickly, as ground conditions and sunlight often make the decision for you.