If you love the warmth and beauty of wood, you’re not alone.
And thanks to modern decking technology, you no longer have to sacrifice strength and longevity to achieve the natural look. Composite and PVC deck boards can mimic the look of authentic wood, while significantly reducing maintenance and increasing durability.
If you’re weighing the options between wood, composite, and PVC decking, consider these 6 tips from Integrous’ Deck Design Team about how to get the best of both worlds.
Tip #1: Choose high-quality decking.
High-quality composite and PVC decking can mimic not only the colors but also the beautifully unique textures of real wood. We often recommend TimberTech decking to our customers, which blends colors and grain patterns to resemble real wood species. If you’re drawn to a stained wood look, check out their brown and tan colors.
One of our customers in Exton, Pennsylvania, went back and forth between two brown shades of TimberTech composite decking: Brown Oak and Dark Roast. They ultimately selected the latter (pictured below), which features dark and light markings to create a reclaimed wood look.
Tip #2: Color match the fascia with the deck boards.
Standard white fascia is often a crisp and classic choice when designing a new deck. But if you’re envisioning a more earthy look, color-match fascia will likely be the better choice. Instead of a stark contrast between the deck boards and the horizontal rim board underneath, matching those deck elements creates a cohesive wooded look.
You can see that cohesion in this deck we installed in Hockessin, Delaware. The home previously boasted a beautiful but high maintenance wood deck, and with this color-matched choice, the homeowner gets to enjoy a very similar appearance with much less work.
See before and after photos of this deck and other Integrous transformations.
Tip #3: Select a subtle railing material, and consider a drink rail.
Decks below 30″ in height often don’t require railings, which can be a good option if you’re hoping to reduce non-natural features on your deck. But if you prefer or require railing on your deck, opt for an unobtrusive option like bronze aluminum or stainless steel cable railing to blend in rather than draw attention away from the decking. Topping your chosen railing material with a single deck board can reinforce the wood tones and add functionality with what’s called a “drink rail.”
When this family in Lancaster, PA, decided to upgrade their wood deck, they completely revamped the layout and the functionality of their outdoor living space. But they carried over the natural aesthetic with two tones of TimberTech composite decking: Pecan deck boards and Mocha accents on the stairs, breaker boards, picture frame, and drink rail. The horizontal cable railing almost disappears among all these rich wooded tones that nod to the original deck material.
Walk through this project with these photos of the finished product.
Tip #4: Add privacy walls or planters.
Custom deck features like privacy walls or planter boxes present opportunities to make the wooden look more prominent. Then your carefully selected decking becomes not only a foundational feature under your feet, but a source of visual interest, solitude, and usability.
Our team enjoyed designing and installing this highly custom deck in Newtown Square, PA, which features three shades of TimberTech decking that celebrate the various species and weathering styles of natural wood. The main English Walnut boards and Dark Hickory accents resemble exotic hardwoods, and the Coastline planter boxes are designed to look like aged wood.
Tip #5: Cover the deck with real wood ceilings.
Many of our customers enjoy Synergy wood ceilings, constructed with pre-finished, kiln-dried wood stained in a variety of shades. With a unique grain pattern on each board, these ceilings elevate composite decking and help it appear even more natural.
See below how this deck in Plymouth Meeting, PA, creates warmth with top to bottom wood tones complemented by sand colored posts and beams. This deck also features stone work with a built-in kitchen and hot tub for all-over earthen hues.
Tip #6: Feature wood elsewhere on your property.
With a sturdy composite or PVC deck as the base, you can explore adding other wood features like a pergola or fence on your property. While these additions will weather over time, you can still confidently enjoy your deck as the foundational aspect of your property.
In this urban backyard in downtown Lancaster, PA, we installed TimberTech Coastline decking on ground-level deck platforms—a color which is already designed to look like weathered wood and will only blend in more with the red cedar pergola and fence as they age over time.
Inspired by the possibilities for your wood-tone deck? Call us at 610-430-0743 to set up a free consultation with Integrous’ Deck Design Team.