The decking field guide
Decking materials explained
Nine material families, explained in plain language: what they offer, what you give up, and what to ask before you buy.
Pressure-treated wood ↗
Lowest initial board cost
Watch for: checks, splinters and moisture movement.Cedar & redwood ↗
Natural softwood appearance
Watch for: dents, grade variation and weathering.Ipe hardwood ↗
Dense natural hardwood
Watch for: more demanding cutting and fastening.Cumaru, Garapa & other hardwoods ↗
Different tones and hardwood choices
Watch for: species-specific movement and installation.Capped composite ↗
Less routine refinishing
Watch for: heat, scratches and line-specific performance.PVC / polymer decking ↗
Wood-free board options
Watch for: thermal movement and reflective heat.Modified wood ↗
Real wood with altered properties
Watch for: process- and product-specific limitations.Engineered bamboo ↗
A distinctive manufactured natural-fiber option
Watch for: manufacturing system matters.Aluminum decking ↗
An alternative to wood-like boards
Watch for: system details, acoustics and finish damage.Sources & reading context
These material summaries explain general selection tradeoffs. They are not laboratory ratings. Check current documents supplied with the exact product for installation, care and warranty requirements.
- USDA Forest Service: wood-plastic composite research — background on material construction.
- ICC-ES: evaluation reports — product-specific evaluation context.
- Technical source register · Comparison methodology
Editorial review: November 3, 2026. Product lines and documents can change. Operated by Ipe Woods USA, a hardwood supplier.
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