The two most common building materials used to construct a balcony, deck, or patio are wood and concrete. A few significant differences between the two may assist your decision-making process. In today’s article, we will be discussing insects, maintenance, aesthetics, and availability.
Insect threat
One of the most significant issues with a wooden deck or balcony is the potential threat of insects, especially wood-boring insects. A wood deck or balcony may be susceptible to carpenter ants, termites, powder post beetles, or carpenter bees. In Ontario, the various wood-boring insects can cause significant structural damage as they feed and dig holes or tunnels to nest. Therefore, causing the wood to weaken and potentially collapse. Rather than spending money on pest control to get rid of unwanted pests, it makes more sense to invest in a redimix concrete patio or balcony and eliminate the issue. With a redimix concrete deck, patio, or balcony, insects won’t have a chance to breed and cause structural problems.
Maintenance
A wooden deck or balcony needs consistent maintenance. Expect regular cleaning and annual painting, staining, and resealing. Failure to maintain your timber addition will result in a short lifecycle. Wood is a delicate building material. It is more prone to scratches, stains, splintering, cracking, mold, and water damage. Depending on the quality of lumber you choose, wooden decks last roughly 10-15 years with proper maintenance. A redimix concrete pool deck, balcony, or patio can last up to 30 years with minimal maintenance requirements. Concrete is exceptionally durable; naturally, it is still vulnerable to some wear and tears over the years. However, cracks, spalling, settlement, or discoloration can be easily repaired. In some cases, homeowners graciously accept some minor surface imperfections. Minor imperfections add to the overall aesthetic and create a rustic appearance.
Aesthetic and design options
There are some differences between wood and redimix concrete regarding aesthetics that may affect your buying decision. Wood decks are often limited in terms of design options. Square, rectangle, or other linear shapes don’t suit all landscape spaces. A redimix concrete patio or balcony can be poured into any form you choose. Once the foundation is poured, your contractor can apply various stamps and finishes to compliment your landscape. Wooden decks can be painted or stained, and therefore the finished look will have one texture and always resemble wooden planks or boards. A redimix concrete patio or balcony will offer a polished look allowing homeowners to decorate any way they see fit. Suppose you like the idea of mixing textures; some homeowners choose to incorporate wood accents to their redimix patio. For example, a popular landscape trend is to include a wood pergola set into a concrete patio. Or you may choose to accent with wood furniture. You can combine both worlds while experiencing the benefits of a concrete foundation.
Availability and price
Lastly, we want to highlight availability. It is no secret that there has been a lumber shortage. It is challenging to get your hands on due to increased home building and home remodeling. When something is hard to find and in high demand, prices increase. Aggregates and additives used to batch redimix concrete are in abundance. It always was and always will be. Mobile redimix concrete is also pocket-friendly, regardless of availability. With mobile redimix, you pay for the amount of concrete used according to your project needs. Therefore, mobile redimix concrete is affordable, perfect for those on a budget.
Ultimately, the choice between wood and concrete is predominately based on the homeowner’s preference. However, it is clear that mobile redimix concrete is the optimal choice. Contact Stouffville Mobile Redimix for all your concrete pouring needs.