![]() Those early disruptions, coupled with a continued shortage of raw material, have caused the prices for pressure-treated decking boards to double since last year. “Early in the pandemic, supply-chain disruptions caused a shortage of the chemicals used to make pressure-treated wood.” “The problem really first emerged with pressure-treated pine,” says David Logan, director of tax and trade policy analysis at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). It was also the first segment of the market to be affected by the COVID-19 shutdown last spring. Pine is a softwood that’s treated with a chemical application to help it resist rotting in outdoor applications, such as a deck. More often than not, it’s also the wood used for framing any deck, even those made with a composite material such as Trex or Azek. Pressure-treated pine is the most popular choice for wood decking boards. The biggest appeal of alternative decking is that it never needs to be stained and requires little if any maintenance. Wood in general also offers better slip resistance. “Wood resists flexing better than composite materials, but composite, PVC, and aluminum decking all resist staining better than wood,” says Rich Handel, CR’s test engineer for decking. ![]() But some results are already in, highlighting distinct differences among choices. Consumer Reports plans to publish full decking ratings for 22 lines in the coming weeks. Wood and other materials each have their own advantages and drawbacks. “But that preference has also really been driven by cost, so it will be interesting to see if the trend continues.” “Wood decking has historically been the most popular choice, accounting for more than half of all the newly built decks in America,” says Min Kim Bryant, CR’s market analyst who covers decking.
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