When planning a backyard decking project, the choice of material is crucial for ensuring durability, aesthetics, and long-term value. Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir stands out as a strong contender, offering a unique blend of benefits that make it an excellent choice for decking. In this blog, we'll explore the reasons to consider ThermaWood Hem-Fir for your next project and compare it to the pros and cons of composite decking.
ThermaWood Hem-Fir decking in waterfront outdoor room leading to private pier. Durable ThermaWood was also used on the door casings and ceiling soffit.
5 Reasons to Compare ThermaWood Hem-Fir to Composite Decking
What is Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking and why would you want to consider it instead of composite decking for your outdoor living space? Here are just a few excellent reasons:
ThermaWood Hem-Fir is ideal for piers and waterfront decks, and can be weathered classic gray while staying very durable.
1. Strength and Durability
ThermaWood Hem-Fir is high-quality grade Hemlock that undergoes a patented thermal modification process that enhances its natural properties. This thermal modification process is different than most used today - it incorporates medium high temperatures under pressure, in a vacuum kiln, to achieve exceptional performance results. No chemicals are used, making it a non-toxic, sustainable, and durable choice for outdoor decking. The thermal treatment also reduces the wood's moisture content, making it highly stable (minimal expansion and contraction). This minimizes the risk of warping, splitting, or cracking over time.
Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir leaving the vacuum kiln
More information and photos that can help with your project can be found in the Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Decking. Download now!
2. Cost-Effective
ThermaWood Hem-Fir provides a similar aesthetic appeal and durability at a more affordable price point. In fact, it is comparable in upfront cost to composite decking but offers the added benefits of real wood.
3. Longer Lifetime and Better ROI
The enhanced durability of Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir translates to a longer lifespan for your deck. With proper maintenance, this decking material can last for decades, providing a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to both untreated wood and many composite options. Its resistance to decay and pests further ensures that your investment remains protected over time.
ThermaWood Hem-Fir decking lumber in stock
4. Sustainability and Recyclability
ThermaWood Hem-Fir is a sustainable choice for decking. It is responsibly harvested in North America to the specifications set by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification - Pacific Northwest. It has a small carbon footprint from forest to thermal modification then to our distribution centers.
The thermal modification process itself does not involve the use of harmful chemicals, making it a non-toxic, environmentally friendly option for families that can be safely recycled at the end of its life cycle.
5. Natural Beauty and Feel
Real wood is gorgeous. One of the primary advantages of wood over composite decking is the natural beauty and feel that only real wood can provide. ThermaWood Hem-Fir retains its natural clear vertical grain and texture, offering a warm, organic aesthetic that enhances any outdoor space.
The heat modification darkens the natural appearance and gives it a rich brown color range that has been compared favorably to the look of Western Red Cedar. Its natural appearance can be further enhanced with stains and finishes to match your design preferences.
RELATED: See it for yourself! Request a sample of ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking now
So how do all these factors inform your decision when deciding between thermally modified decking and composite? Let’s dive deeper.
RELATED: Check out the thermally modified wood deck project photo gallery
Ready for more? Get a copy of the Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Right Decking Material, download here:
Comparing ThermaWood Hem-Fir to Composite Decking – What’s better for your project?
Composite decking is commonly known for being low maintenance and having a long lifespan. Wood decking is generally thought of as less durable and higher maintenance. But that isn't necessarily so.
How Does the Strength Compare?
What are the facts compared to real wood? Composites often lacks the strength and stability of natural wood and are more susceptible to the common threats of UV, storm damage, heat, and wear and tear.
This might also be true about some unmodified softwoods, but the thermal modification process creates a significantly stronger, more stable, and lower maintenance decking lumber. With a durability more like hardwoods, resistance to storm debris damage, warping from heat, scratching or gouging from wear and tear is much higher than plastic-based composites.
ThermaWood Hem-Fir was chosen for the siding and rooftop deck on this mountain home since it can withstand all seasons and lots of wet snowfall. The exterior used ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding, as well.
Is It Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly?
Composite decking is made from plastics, which is less environmentally friendly than natural wood. Many composite decking manufacturers have recently made the effort to include recycled material in their decking. Still, they do not last as long as thermally modified wood decking and, at the end of its usefulness, cannot be reused or recycled and ends up in the landfills.
Mataverde is committed to offering responsible and sustainable wood decking products. ThermaWood Hem-Fir has a low environmental impact. The thermal modification process uses natural and non-toxic methods, using only pressure, high heat, and steam. This makes it a confidently sustainable choice for eco-conscious designers, installers and homeowners
How much maintenance will be needed
Maintenance is always a concern when choosing decking. How much will be needed to keep the decking clean and looking good? The general perception is composite decking is much lower maintenance than wood decking, which is not necessarily true.
Composites can be more brittle than ThermaWood Hem-Fir, and can chip and delaminate over time.
Composite decking is low maintenance, but is it lower than thermally modified wood decking?
Composite decking needs no painting, staining, or refinishing. That’s a big plus. But it can’t be refinished.
One complaint we often hear from customers replacing composite decking is that it fades unevenly where it was getting the strongest sunlight. Besides fading, plastic and composite decking boards can warp in summer heat, can crack in extreme temperature changes, or be otherwise damaged by everyday threats.
Composite decking can wear down in high traffic areas, creating a permanent path over multiple planks with dimmed finish and color, not the best look. Think the pathway from your door to grill, or under patio chairs. If composite decking gets damaged, it cannot be sanded to fix the damage.
Cracks or chips in the plastic finish can allow water inside the plank, requiring replacement to avoid decay and mold issues.
Plastic capped composite decking is much more likely to be scratched, gouged by furniture, and break or crack from impacts like flying storm debris or in high winds.
Plastic decking, even high quality brands, will bend and warp in the heat over time like on this 5 year old composite deck
ThermaWood Hem-Fir has the advantage of comparable characteristics to hardwoods.
You could choose to paint or stain your ThermaWood deck, refinishing when needed. But, it isn’t required. You can allow it to fade from sunlight naturally over time. This creates a coveted weathered gray with minimal maintenance needs.
Like hardwoods, thermally modified wood is more resilient against wear and tear, scratches, or storm damage than plastic composites. Scratches and wear and tear can be sanded out of real wood decking without replacing planks.
ThermaWood has exceptionally good moisture resistance throughout the plank, preventing the potential for cupping, checking, rot, decay, mold and mildew.
Some of our East Coast staff did an unofficial strength test on ThermaWood Hem-Fir
Click here to watch the video!
Decking Aesthetics and Feel
Composite decking finishes have come a long way in the last decade, with more natural wood-look colors. If you want a consistent block of the same color throughout your deck, composites do that very well.
But if you want to avoid the “cookie cutter” wood-look decking aesthetic, real wood is probably a better choice for you. Composites can’t mimic the naturally occurring color range and grain patterns of real wood.
When it comes to enjoyment of you outdoor space, plastic decking is an adequate and functional choice. It is smooth and pleasant to walk over. There are complaints online and from our decking customers that it gets overly hot in direct sunlight. This is a big cause for concern for babies, pets, and barefoot relaxation.
Real wood feels softer and more natural underfoot and holds less heat on sunny days. It is sometimes described as a “spa like” or “outdoorsy” feel by customers.
ThermaWood Hem-Fir was perfect for the water’s edge boathouse deck project shown here
ROI – Return on Investment
While composite decking may initially seem cost-effective, when compared to the superior durability and longevity of ThermaWood Hem-Fir, composite can’t compete with the ROI. ThermaWood Hem-Fir’s improved resistance to decay and insects ensures that your deck remains in excellent condition for many years. This reduces the need for customer callbacks, costly repairs or replacements. The maintenance is very low, comparable to composite decking.
Overall, ThermaWood Hem-Fir has proven to be a versatile, durable, and cost-effective choice for wood decking projects. Enhanced strength, natural beauty, and a sustainable and recyclable nature offers a greener option and excellent alternative compared to composite decking. With a higher return on investment and the timeless appeal of real wood, Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir is an investment in decking material that will pay off for your projects and your clients.
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