Modular Home Deck: Wood or Composite?
In selecting which material to use for the modular home deck, home owners should take a stringent planning and research. A modular home buyer can either go for the most common material such as the wood, or you can opt for the composite decking material. For those who have low budget, an inexpensive pressure- treated wood is a good choice. But it may be hard to reach a decision when there is a better budget for a modular home deck. As a home buyer you may be torn between the tropical wood and the composite decking material.
Modular Home Built in Michigan
Understanding the different factors affecting each type of decking materials must be done before making any decision. These factors can either be the cost, durability, quality, and appearance.
Cost of the Modular Home Deck Materials
Ipe deck boards are a little more expensive than composite boards. The cost of composite decking varies from $2-$4 per linear foot of decking board. However, if you go with an alternative tropical hardwood you may find the materials costs are similar.
Ease of Installation
Tropical hardwoods take more time and effort to install because the materials are heavier and require special tools to cut and drill. In addition, a small percentage of the population will have an allergic reaction to the sawdust when cutting the deck boards (this isn’t an issue on an installed deck). Composite, on the other hand, is a lightweight material that is easy to work with, and the manufacturing companies have an array of accessories such as hidden fasteners, deck lights, and railing options that go with the decking material itself.
Ongoing Maintenance for Modular Home Deck
While a weathered gray ipe requires no ongoing maintenance to look good and perform well, most people prefer the color of an oiled tropical hardwood, and this takes yearly maintenance. Capped composite requires no maintenance beyond occasionally washing the deck.
Durability of Modular Home Deck
Ipe can last 30 to 50 years, while alternate tropical hardwoods can last 20 to 50 years. Most capped composite products are warrantied against fading and other issues for 25 years. However, some of the products are new enough that it’s hard to say how their long-term performance compares with a tropical hardwood.
Design and Look of Modular Home Deck
Contractors unanimously said that there was no difference in what they could do design-wise with wood as opposed to composite. If you would like curves, octagonal bump-outs, or diagonal deck slats, all of those design features can be attained using either material.
Many people fall in love with the shimmery color of an oiled ipe, or the gray industrial look of weathered ipe. However, there are many styles of capped composite that look like a tropical hardwood. Some contractors note that in the sunshine, the capped composite has a shine that looks plasticky. Others prefer the look of composite, especially given the maintenance requirements to keep up the rich brown color of ipe. “With composite, I can go back in three years and it looks almost identical,” says Parks. With wood, a lot depends on the maintenance.
In case you still have question about modular homes, you may contact Legendary Homes Inc in Jackson, Michigan. A representative will be happy to assist you. Meanwhile you can check our modular home price sheets by signing up to our blog.
