Composite vs Hardwood Decking: An Honest Comparison

Composite decking is sold as the board you never have to think about again. After many years of supplying Ipe decking to gardens across the UK and Europe, we see a more honest picture. This page compares composite (WPC) and Ipe hardwood decking on the points that matter in a British garden: heat, wear, wet weather, looks after ten years and cost per year of use.

What is composite decking?

Composite or WPC decking is a mix of wood fibre and plastic, pressed into a board. It does not need oil, it is uniform in colour and it is widely available. The plastic share is also what drives its weak points: it gets hot in direct sun, it moves with temperature and a scratched or faded board cannot be sanded back to new.

Why Ipe hardwood decking holds its own

• Lifespan: Ipe is durability class 1 and lasts 25+ years, even without maintenance.
• Hard wearing: Ipe is one of the hardest and densest decking timbers available. It resists dents from garden furniture and dropped pots far better than the softer top layer of many composite boards.
• Cooler underfoot: natural timber does not build up heat the way a plastic based board does on a sunny afternoon.
• Ages well: left untreated, Ipe weathers to an even silver grey. Oil it and it keeps its warm brown colour. Composite tends to fade and cannot be brought back.
• A second chance: a dirty Ipe deck can be cleaned and oiled and looks new again. A damaged composite board usually has to be replaced.

The honest downsides of each

Composite: no oiling, but it attracts dust and can show dark spots in damp, shaded spots. It expands and contracts with temperature, so gaps and fixings need care, and it is hard to recycle at the end of its life.

Ipe: a higher price per board than budget composite, and if you want to keep the brown colour you oil it now and then. Think of oil like wax on a car: it repels dirt and water and keeps the timber more stable, but Ipe does not need it to last.

Fitting: hidden clips on both, but not the same result

Our Ipe decking boards are 2.1 x 14 cm with a groove along the long side for stainless steel hidden clips, black coated, and a tongue and groove joint on the ends. The short lengths click together end to end, with a bevelled edge that forms a neat double V where two boards meet. Boards sit 8 mm apart on joists spaced 40 to 45 cm, ideally Ipe joists, with weed membrane underneath. See how to lay decking with hidden clips for the full method.

Cost per year, not cost per board

Budget composite is often cheaper to buy. Spread over the life of the deck the picture changes: Ipe keeps going for 25+ years, so the price per year of use is very competitive. Work out your own figures with the decking calculator or read our guide to decking costs.

Our verdict

If you want a deck that looks better every year, stays cool and solid underfoot and adds real value to your home, Ipe hardwood is the stronger choice. Composite suits a short term or very low budget project. Want to see and feel the difference first? Order a free sample or browse our Ipe decking boards.

Advice from our team

Call us on +49 2821 7483051, or send us photos of your garden for advice on the best boards for your project.

Frequently asked questions

Is composite decking better than hardwood?

Composite needs no oil, but it gets hotter in the sun, moves more with temperature and cannot be sanded back to new. Ipe hardwood is harder, stays cooler and lasts 25+ years, even without maintenance.

How long does Ipe decking last compared to composite?

Ipe is durability class 1 and lasts 25+ years. That is why the cost per year of use of an Ipe deck is very competitive with composite.

Does Ipe decking need maintenance?

No, Ipe lasts without maintenance and weathers to a silver grey. If you prefer the warm brown colour, oil it now and then. Oil also repels dirt and water.

Can I fit Ipe decking with hidden clips?

Yes. Our Ipe boards of 2.1 x 14 cm have a groove on the long side for black coated stainless steel hidden clips and click together at the ends.