Our testing exposes samples made from aluminum, composites, plastic, and wood to extreme conditions for multiple years
The best decking materials will withstand harsh weather, while also resisting stains and providing slip-free footing.
By James K. Willcox
Pretty much any deck will look great when it’s brand-new, but a deck built with subpar materials will start showing its age in a year or two. Fast-forward a decade, and a wooden deck that was beautiful that first summer might have warped or cracked wooden boards. Even a composite deck might have a faded finish or a sagging section between joists.
Most decks in the U.S. are still made from wood, such as pressure-treated pine or cedar. However, many others are constructed using alternatives that promise better durability, including aluminum, vinyl, and composites, which are made from a combination of wood fiber and plastic and designed to resemble real wood.
Not all wood alternatives perform equally well, though. “Only one type of decking that started with strong performance when it was brand-new managed to hold up well over a span of three years,” says Li Wang, who leads decking testing at CR. “On the flip side, plenty of deck boards started with only mediocre performance when they were new and got worse over time, sometimes discoloring or fading as they aged.”
For a look at all the considerations, start with our decking buying guide. CR members can also jump right to our decking ratings or read on for the best decking from our tests. Unless otherwise noted, the prices listed are per linear foot.
Best Overall Decking Material
LockDry Aluminum Decking
If the idea of aluminum decking makes you picture bleachers at a sporting event, think again. These textured and painted planks from LockDry resemble wood, just like other alternative materials. But they blend the strength and slip resistance of wood with the stain resistance and weathering resistance of composites. (Aluminum decking lands one of our top scores for resistance to staining.) LockDry decking installs over wood or metal joists, just like other decking materials, and comes in lengths up to 40 feet, making it ideal for anyone building a large deck who doesn’t want visible seams. (Most wood or composite options max out at a 16- or 20-foot length.) The price is on a par with what you’d spend on other high-end wood alternatives.
Best Wood Decking
Natural Western Red Cedar
Cedar has long been prized for its natural ability to withstand weather extremes, and in our tests, it lives up to that reputation. In addition to its strong initial performance, we give our cedar samples an above-average rating for weathering, meaning the material continues to perform well after three years of extreme exposure to both hot and humid and hot and dry air. Typically sold in lengths up to 16 feet, cedar is widely available at lumber mills and home centers. Even with recent price increases, it is typically less expensive than most composites.
Natural Ipe
Ipe, a pricier alternative to cedar, gained popularity about a decade ago when builders began using the beautiful Brazilian hardwood for high-end outdoor projects. It’s best known for its strength; contractors frequently complain about drill bits breaking off in these boards. In our tests, that strength helps it earn an excellent rating for resistance to flexing as well as a solid score for weathering. But it earns a below-average score for staining. Ipe is largely sold through lumber mills and special online retailers or from a contractor. Because it can be challenging to install, it may not be the best choice for DIY projects. It’s about six times the price of pressure-treated pine, so even small mistakes can add up quickly.
Best Composite Decking
Envision Evergrain
Simply put, Envision’s Evergrain line of deck boards is the best composite decking we’ve tested. It’s notable for being among the strongest composites out there and is particularly adept at resisting flexing. It’s also exceptionally resistant to slipping and staining. The downside? It’s pricey. At about $6 per linear foot, it’s among the pricier composite options in our ratings, though it doesn’t cost quite as much as premium exotic hardwoods like ipe.
TimberTech Harvest Collection
Like other composite decking brands, TimberTech makes multiple lines of products. The Harvest line is its least expensive, just above what you’d pay for natural cedar. But it performs better than most of the other composite materials we’ve tested, including pricier boards from TimberTech. In addition to resisting stains and surface damage, Harvest is notable for its slip resistance. (We find that many manufactured boards have a slicker surface than natural wood.) The boards are available in lengths up to 16 feet and can be purchased online and at home centers.
Fiberon Horizon
The Horizon line from Fiberon is a premium composite decking option designed to replicate the deep, natural color patterns of real wood. In terms of pricing, it falls about halfway between Fiberon’s entry-level options and its premium deck boards, but it’s still at the higher end when compared with other composites. In our tests, the boards are particularly adept at resisting staining, earning an outstanding rating. They do a decent job at resisting surface damage and excessive flexing; they hold up fairly well over time. Optional grooved sides make them easy to install using hidden fasteners, a nice touch if you’re handling the project yourself. The boards are sold in 8-, 12-, and 16-foot lengths from building supply stores and can be ordered online through home centers.
TimberTech PRO Legacy Collection
The TimberTech Pro Legacy Collection, the top line in the company’s composite Pro series, earns high marks for resistance to both flexing and staining. The boards are “capped,” meaning the ends are covered to protect against moisture to keep mold and mildew at bay. Each board has a hand-scraped texture and a blend of colors to simulate a real wood finish. There are five colors to choose from, and the company suggests using hidden clip fasteners due to the unique surface texture of these boards.
Best Plastic Decking
CertainTeed EverNew Vinyl
CertainTeed EverNew Vinyl tops our ratings of PVC decking, with strong scores for resistance to flexing, staining, and surface damage. It can be installed with concealed fasteners and meets AFA recommendations for slip resistance. PVC or vinyl decking has several positive attributes, including low maintenance, longevity, and light weight, making it easy to install. On the downside, it can have a higher initial cost, can be harder to repair if a board cracks, and some people don’t like the “plastic” look.
How We Pick the Best Decking
Decking comes with trade-offs depending on which brand, material, and species you choose. As a rule, wood tends to resist flexing better than composites. Composites, on the other hand, generally resist staining better because they have a manufactured outer shell that’s nonporous. For this article, we’ve whittled down the best decking option within each material type, ensuring that all of the deck boards here have the following in common:
They’re strong. Every option here earns at least decent marks for resistance to flexing. The best of the bunch ace that test, so they’ll hold up under grills and outdoor furniture, no problem.
They’re slip-resistant. The options we’ve highlighted are less likely to turn a spilled drink or some residual rainwater into a major accident.
They hold up in weather. Some decking may rot or discolor due to years of exposure to rain and sun. These options all proved their ability to retain their good looks even after years of exposure to the elements.
How CR Tests Decking
For wood alternatives, we test individual product lines from brands such as Azek, Fiberon, and Trex. With wood, we simply test by species (like yellow pine, cedar, and ipe). Wood of a particular species should perform similarly, regardless of where it’s milled or sold.
In our Yonkers, N.Y., test facility, we use specialized instruments to test each decking sample for resistance to flexing to ensure that boards won’t bow or bend if you’re entertaining a crowd or if you park a heavy grill in one spot all summer long. Next, we size up which materials resist common stains, such as ketchup and mustard, and which offer some slip resistance—particularly important if you’re installing a deck near a pool.
We also drop weights of various sizes on the surface of each board to see which samples dent on impact. And we send more than a dozen samples of each material to two areas with extreme climates: hot and dry Arizona, and Florida, where the humidity presents a different challenge to certain materials. We assess those samples annually for three years, evaluating their appearance and retesting for all the attributes above to see how age and exposure to the elements affect overall performance. Wood products are tested without a stain or sealer.
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