Popular Toronto Decking Materials
There is nothing like relaxing on the deck in the summer season. In the center of it all is your beautiful new deck crafted, in pressure treated, cedar, other hardwood like ipe, or even composite materials. Wood of course is the most popular and preferred decking material in Toronto. While new and different decking materials are available in the market place, nothing can beat the natural beauty of wood, including cedar, redwood, pressure treated southern yellow pine, teak, ipe and more. Next to pressure treated, cedar decks is the next most popular wood choice for Torontonians.
How to Choose the Best Material for Your Toronto Deck
Choosing the type of material to build your Toronto deck is a very personal one. There are pros and cons for each and every decking material. If you hire a Toronto deck builder, he will of course recommend the type of wood they work with and value more. Although, a range of wood is used for making decks in Toronto, Cedar and Ipe are the front runners for premium deck materials. Another popular but much more expensive decking option is composite decking materials (made of wood and certain recycled materials) in a variety of designs and colours. The biggest advantage that composite materials have is that they require very low maintenance. Finally, the deck material of choice in Toronto is pressure treated lumber due to its affordability and weather resistance chemical treatment.
Cedar Decks Toronto
Generally speaking, if you are looking for an elegant finish of wooden deck, you have to go for Western Red Cedar. The Western Red cedar has the best quality out of the species of cedar offered across the GTA and Canada. To preserve the natural beauty of your cedar deck, you can protect your cedar deck with a clear or semi-clear stain that comes in shades of reddish brown with some silver grey streaks and can be worked on easily. It is important for owners of Toronto cedar decks to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the cedar. Once protected with the appropriate stain, even cedar decks in Toronto can easily survive the extreme weather condition in Toronto, like extreme cold, rains, sun and snow.
The Western Red Cedar decking is lightweight, stable and does not have tendency of chapping. One of the exclusive features of cedar decks Toronto is a distinctly sweet organic aroma of Cedar. This natural characteristics of cedar r feature is resistance to pests. It is comparatively less expensive than Composite class of material.
Ipe Decks Toronto
Some higher-end and custom deck builders in Toronto love working on ipe deck wood because of its hardness. Ipe is an exotic hardwood from the Brazilian Rainforest. Ipe is loved for its natural durability. Ipe Decking is strong and scratch resistance is its great quality bedsides resistance to moisture absorption hence requires very little maintenance. Unlike cedar, re-staining within 5 years is sufficient to let the deck stay strong and neat looking one for over 20 years. Ipe is also resistant to fire, pest and mold resistance. Sounds great, right? Why isn’t every deck in Toronto made of ipe? The answer is the price. Ipe is more than 5 times pressure treated. A heavy premium that only homeowners with the most discriminating taste and budget is willing to splurge.
Composite Decking
Last but not least is composite decking. Most Toronto home owners chooses composite decking material because of its resistance against decay and virtually zero maintenance. The combination of wood and plastic substrate is processed together to create a well bonded form with a great finishing. Today’s composite decks in Toronto are much admired for their finishes and shades of colour. These decks are virtually maintenance free and sold with 20 years or more warranty.
DECKING MATERIAL YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM

Trex Composite Decking
Trex decking is a composite material that is both high-performing and low-maintenance. It provides the charm and beauty of real wood without the hassle. With its realistic grain pattern and timeless color choices, Trex decking has a luxurious and refined look that is highly desirable. This composite material is incredibly durable and built to last. It is resistant to fading, staining, scratching, and mold growth. Additionally, it will not rot, crack, or warp over time. Trex decking is also insect-proof and splinter-free, ensuring that it is safe and comfortable for families with children and pets.
To give you peace of mind, Trex decking comes with a 25-year fade and stain warranty.
AZEK PVC Decking
AZEK offers a range of high-performance decking materials made from capped polymer and PVC, engineered to resist scratches, stains, mold, and mildew. These decking boards are built to last and retain their beauty over time. AZEK’s decking materials are protected by Alloy Armour Technology™ (AAT), which is the latest innovation in materials science.
AZEK’s decking materials are designed to resist scratches, stains, insects, moisture, mold, and mildew, and come with a 30-year limited fade and stain warranty as well as a lifetime limited warranty. With this level of protection, you can be confident that your AZEK decking will not experience cupping, cracking, or other issues that can impact its appearance or performance over time.


Timbertech Composite Decking
Timbertech offers both capped composite and traditional composite decking that is significantly more durable and long-lasting than traditional wood. You can be confident that the color and texture of your deck will remain intact for years without requiring any sealing or staining.
Timbertech composite decking is engineered to resist mold, mildew, stains, scratches, insects, rotting, and fading. It is also splinter-free, warp-resistant, and does not cup over time. Additionally, the capped wood composite is designed with a protective cap on all four sides of the deck boards, making it even more resistant to the elements.
For added peace of mind, Timbertech’s decking comes with a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year fade and stain warranty. With this level of protection, you can trust that your Timbertech deck will maintain its beauty and performance for years to come.
Fiberon Composite Decking
Fiberon Decking is a trusted manufacturer of composite and PVC decking products that are designed to create exceptional outdoor living spaces for every style and budget. Their composite deck materials offer a high level of performance while also being eco-friendly. With Fiberon decking, you can enjoy the warmth and charm of natural hardwoods without the need for extensive maintenance.
Fiberon offers a wide range of colors and wood-look finishes, so you can choose the perfect deck to suit your taste and style. Whether you prefer a classic or contemporary look, Fiberon has a product to meet your needs.
To give you added confidence in your purchase, Fiberon decking comes with a 25-year product warranty. With this level of protection, you can trust that your deck will maintain its quality and beauty for years to come.


Zuri PVC Decking
Zuri® Premium Decking offers the beauty of exotic timber with the added benefit of long-lasting durability. This decking material is designed to create an outdoor living space that is truly exceptional. It resists scratches and slips, and is also highly resistant to color fading, mold, mildew, stains, insects, and rotting.
With Zuri decking, you can enjoy the aesthetics of exotic timber without worrying about the upkeep that traditional wood decking requires. This premium decking material is built to last, so you can create an outdoor environment that is second to none.
For added peace of mind, Zuri decking comes with a 25-year product warranty. This level of protection ensures that your deck will maintain its beauty and performance for many years to come.
Decks in Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is a popular wood species sought after for its exceptional appearance. It features a fine, straight grain and has an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. Its low rate of expansion and contraction also adds to its appeal. Being an environmentally-friendly product, it does not require any treatment. The natural oils found in red cedar make it resistant to moisture, insects, and decay. It is lightweight, easy to work with, and readily accepts various finishes, including paint, tint, varnish, oil, or wax. Additionally, it is highly resistant to warping and checking.
The advantages of Western Red Cedar include its economical price, beautiful wood grain, and natural stability.
On the durability scale, Western Red Cedar is considered a durable to highly durable product, with a lifespan of 15-25 years or more. Therefore, choosing Western Red Cedar for your deck can ensure a durable product for at least 15-20 years.
However, there are also some disadvantages to consider. It is a softwood and may contain knots, which can affect its strength. Due to this, it may not be suitable for heavily used surfaces or commercial decking.


Exotic Ipe Wood Decking
Ipe is an exotic Brazilian hardwood and is considered one of the hardest and strongest high-density hardwoods. It ages beautifully and is an extremely durable, 100% natural wood decking material. Ipe is several times stronger than red cedar and five times as hard as pressure-treated wood.
Ipe decking has a Class A fire rating, which is the same rating as concrete or steel. This hardwood decking material will last for a very long time. If you choose Ipe wood decking, you can expect it to last for 50 years or more.
The advantages of Ipe decking include its long-lasting nature, beautiful wood grains, natural resistance to Canadian climate, and the fact that it ages well to a grey patina color. It also does not require maintenance.
On the durability scale, Ipe decking is considered the most durable (50+ years). Choosing Ipe decking for your deck can guarantee a durable product for a very long time.
However, there are some disadvantages to consider. Ipe is a very hard wood, which can make it more challenging to install. It requires good professional tools and experienced Ipe decking installers.