Introduction: Many people that are looking to building new outdoor projects such as decks, boat docks, and flower boxes are stuck with the question of which is the best one of the building materials to use for outdoor projects. There are two major classes of outdoor construction materials: wood and composites.

Wood can be either treated or non-treated wood. Both wood and composite materials have pros and cons, but it is ultimately up to the homeowner to decide what type of material is best to use when building their outdoor projects.

Outdoor Projects Made with Wood:

Wood has been the most popular choice for outdoor construction projects for many years because of its superior qualities. Wood it has great durability, reliability, and versatility. You can easily cut wood to fit any outdoor project design. Most outdoor projects have pre-designed plans that you can use as a DIY project. Wooden outdoor projects are aesthetically pleasing and can instantly add style or personality to your home.

Unfortunately, wood may not be the best choice of outdoor construction materials due to the beating it takes from the elements. Both sunlight and heavy rains can cause significant damage and deterioration to wood over time, so it is important that your outdoor projects are properly maintained which means you have to paint it every couple of years.

Outdoor Projects Make with Composites:

Outdoor projects made with composite material are much more durable than wood material. Composite building material is also known as plastic wood or plastic composite. Recycled plastic and wood byproducts are used to manufacture composites. These composite materials are a mix of wood and plastic. This combination allows the homeowner to reap the benefits of each material. The plastic element of composite material provides a shield against insect damage and excess moisture, while the wooden elements provide stability while protecting the plastic from UV damage. This combination means that outdoor projects made with composite material is the best to use if you don't want to be concerned with repairs and time consuming maintenance.

Because of the low maintenance requirements of composite construction material homeowners are using it for many outdoor projects. In many ways it is easier to work with than wood. It cuts more easily than wood and can be painted just like wood. Many people believe that composite is the best material to use because it does not require repeated staining or waterproofing as wood does. Composite materials come in a variety of colors too which eliminates the need to continuously re-paint. The only disadvantage of using composites material to build outdoor projects is that is more expensive than most wood. When you consider that it is maintenance free it comes out a lot less expensive in the long run.

For your next outdoor construction project I recommend using composite material. It can be purchased at any home improvement supply center and you will find that the prices are quite competitive with wood material.

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