What's the real difference between composite and wood decking? Which is better?
Alright, let's just get this out of the way, because it's probably the question I hear most often. There isn't really a "better" material, just one that's "better for *you*." Wood, often pressure-treated pine or cedar here in Colorado, is a classic choice. It has that natural look, smells fantastic, and usually costs less upfront. You can stain it pretty much any color you like, and if a board gets messed up, swapping out just that one piece is usually pretty easy. The downside? Maintenance. You'll be cleaning, staining, or sealing it every couple of years, especially with our super intense sun and dry air here in Highlands Ranch. If you skip that, well, it'll splinter, fade, and eventually rot.
Composite, on the other hand, mixes wood fibers with plastic. It's more expensive to put in, sometimes a lot more, but it's practically maintenance-free. You just hose it down now and then. It won't splinter, rot, or attract bugs. The color stays consistent, and it usually comes with a long warranty. Any drawbacks? It can get hotter than wood in direct sunlight. And even though it's tough, if a board gets seriously damaged, it can be harder to perfectly match and replace years down the road. Plus, some folks simply don't care for the "plastic" feel of it. So, if you're handy and don't mind a bit of upkeep, wood's a great option. If you want to build it and then basically forget about it, composite is your best bet. Think about your budget, how much time you want to spend on maintenance, and what kind of look you're after.
How long does a deck construction project actually take from start to finish?
This one's tough to give just one answer for, since so many things can change the timeline. But I can give you a realistic breakdown. First, there's the design and permitting phase. Even for a pretty standard deck, getting plans drawn up and approved by Douglas County can take a few weeks. Sometimes it's even longer if we need revisions, or if your property has specific HOA rules, which we see all the time in neighborhoods like Westridge or BackCountry. We can't even pick up a shovel until that permit is in our hands, can we?
Once we have the permit and all the materials are ordered, the actual construction time for an average-sized deck (let's say 300-400 square feet) usually runs about 1-3 weeks. That covers digging footings, pouring concrete, framing, putting down the decking, installing railings, and any stairs. If it's a multi-level deck, has complex curves, or includes extras like built-in benches or pergolas, it'll take longer. Weather plays a huge part too. We can't pour concrete when it's freezing, and nobody wants to be installing decking in a hailstorm—which, let's be honest, we definitely get here. So, from the moment you say