Decking Material Comparison

Decking Material Comparison

Choose with evidence.

Compare up to three actual products. Mandatory requirements come first. Blank scores remain unknown; these are your judgments, never measured material ratings.

How this comparison works

Open a saved comparison

Choose a JSON record downloaded from this workspace. It stays in your browser. Review the names below before replacing the current comparison; export any current work you want to keep.

1. Identify the products and screen requirements

Use the exact product, grade and profile from a quote or product document. A material family such as hardwood or composite is not a complete candidate. Leave requirements unresolved until you have their source basis.

Candidate 1
Candidate 2
Candidate 3

2. Set the importance of each preference

0 excludes a preference from arithmetic. It never removes a mandatory requirement.

3. Read the possible score ranges

Bars show the possible preference score when missing ratings could be anywhere from 0 to 5. They are not statistical confidence intervals.

012345Product AProduct BProduct C

On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus the table region and use the arrow keys.

Comparison results and requirement screening
CandidateMandatory requirementsPossible score / 5Active criteria scored
Product APending requirement review0.00–5.000 / 4
Product BPending requirement review0.00–5.000 / 4
Product CPending requirement review0.00–5.000 / 4

What to resolve next

Requirements take priority over preference scores. For unknown scores, the point span shows how much that single missing rating contributes to the range at your current weights. It does not measure risk or prove that evidence is adequate.

Product A

  • ? Exact product identity is missing
  • ? Requirement and source basis are missing
  • ? Mandatory requirement review is unresolved
  1. Appearance acceptanceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  2. Care routine fitUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  3. Exposure evidenceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  4. Installation compatibilityUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
Review this candidate

Product B

  • ? Exact product identity is missing
  • ? Requirement and source basis are missing
  • ? Mandatory requirement review is unresolved
  1. Appearance acceptanceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  2. Care routine fitUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  3. Exposure evidenceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  4. Installation compatibilityUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
Review this candidate

Product C

  • ? Exact product identity is missing
  • ? Requirement and source basis are missing
  • ? Mandatory requirement review is unresolved
  1. Appearance acceptanceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  2. Care routine fitUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  3. Exposure evidenceUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
  4. Installation compatibilityUnknown; 1.25 points of possible range
Review this candidate

4. Rate preferences and document each judgment

Candidate 1

Product A
Exact product not yet identified

Edit identity and requirements
Appearance acceptance · Unknown

Compare a labeled sample in the intended light. Record whose appearance preference this is; color preference is not durability evidence.

Care routine fit · Unknown

Compare the actual cleaning and refinishing instructions with the time, access and routine the owner will accept. A low-care preference does not remove required care.

Exposure evidence · Unknown

Use documents covering the exact product and intended exposure. A general species description or unrelated test does not establish project suitability.

Installation compatibility · Unknown

Check the supplied profile, supports, fastening system and installation instructions together. A preferred installation method cannot override a mandatory requirement.

Candidate 2

Product B
Exact product not yet identified

Edit identity and requirements
Appearance acceptance · Unknown

Compare a labeled sample in the intended light. Record whose appearance preference this is; color preference is not durability evidence.

Care routine fit · Unknown

Compare the actual cleaning and refinishing instructions with the time, access and routine the owner will accept. A low-care preference does not remove required care.

Exposure evidence · Unknown

Use documents covering the exact product and intended exposure. A general species description or unrelated test does not establish project suitability.

Installation compatibility · Unknown

Check the supplied profile, supports, fastening system and installation instructions together. A preferred installation method cannot override a mandatory requirement.

Candidate 3

Product C
Exact product not yet identified

Edit identity and requirements
Appearance acceptance · Unknown

Compare a labeled sample in the intended light. Record whose appearance preference this is; color preference is not durability evidence.

Care routine fit · Unknown

Compare the actual cleaning and refinishing instructions with the time, access and routine the owner will accept. A low-care preference does not remove required care.

Exposure evidence · Unknown

Use documents covering the exact product and intended exposure. A general species description or unrelated test does not establish project suitability.

Installation compatibility · Unknown

Check the supplied profile, supports, fastening system and installation instructions together. A preferred installation method cannot override a mandatory requirement.

5. Test a priority before deciding

Every row below changes only the selected weight. Other weights and your candidate ratings stay fixed. Overlapping ranges leave the preference order unresolved.

Appearance acceptance: alternative weights
WeightProduct AProduct BProduct C
00.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
10.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
20.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
30.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
40.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
50.00–5.000.00–5.000.00–5.00
Machine-readable data

Work remains in this page until you export or choose an inquiry handoff. Reloading clears the comparison; download JSON to reopen it later. A handoff stores your review in this browser tab until removed; it does not send it.

Compare labeled samples, not promises.

Surface study / fictional samples

Three fictional samples: varied brown grain, embossed brown pattern and smooth taupe surface, in one neutral studio scene
Illustrative surface study. These are fictional samples, not identified products or measured performance evidence. Detail views crop the same master image.

One scene. Three surfaces.

Compare surface character under consistent illustrative light. Choose a sample to separate a visible observation from an evidence requirement.

What remains unknown

None of these appearances establishes product identity, mechanical suitability, service life or approval for your project.

The next useful question

Obtain actual labeled samples and exact product documents, then record the requirement and its source in your comparison.

Build a product identity record

Visualization: these surfaces illustrate comparison questions. They do not identify an actual product or establish performance.

Build a product identity record

BEFORE YOU RANK THE BOARDS

Which tradeoff
changes your choice?

Start with the way you will use the deck. Then compare the exact products against that brief.

Define the project priorities ↗

Comfort underfoot

Turn heat and feel into specific questions about samples, exposure and evidence.

Review surface comfort