Concrete Patio vs. Wood Deck: Which Is Better?

Concrete Patio vs. Wood Deck: Which Is Better?

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Having a house is great, but even better is if you have a really nice outdoor seating area. When summertime comes around, having a nice deck or patio with some great furniture on it so you can relax outside, eat meals in the evening sunlight, and more, can be very cool indeed.

With that being said, you have two choices to go with, these being concrete patios and wooden decks. Both of them have their pros and cons to think about. What we’re here to do today is to provide you with all the basic information that you need about these types of outdoor seating areas so you can make an informed choice as to which one to build.

Concrete Patios and Wood Decks: The Basics

Before we get into talking about the main differences between concrete patios and wooden decks, let’s first take a closer look at what both of them are.

One thing that is interesting to note is that these two things are very different, and yet many people often confuse them with one another. What we want to do right now is to clear up any confusion that you might have.

What Is a Concrete Patio and What Types Are There?

The most basic way to explain this is that a patio is a specific type of outdoor seating area that is flush with the ground. Generally speaking, these outdoor patios are made out of concrete, but they may also be made out of gravel, stone, and other such materials.

Keep in mind that if you plan on installing a concrete patio, one of your most important considerations is that the ground underneath is completely flat and level, because a concrete patio needs a level surface to sit on. Simply put, a concrete patio is nothing more than a slab of concrete on the ground.

However, there are a few different types of concrete finishes that you can use to provide your outdoor patio with a very nice look including:

  • Basic: The simplest, easiest, and most affordable type of concrete patio finish that you can get is the basic finish. As its name suggests, it is just a smooth, polished, and dye-free finish. This type of finish is affordable to create, easy to maintain, and looks nice too.
  • Broomed: Another type of concrete patio finish that you can go with is the broom finish, which means that before the concrete dries, a broom is pulled across it to create a pattern that features a whole lot of small ridges. This can look very nice and it is ideal for patios where there is a lot of moisture involved because those ridges help add a lot of slip resistance.
  • Stamped: If you want to go for a really neat and unique look, you can always go for a stamped concrete patio finish, which means that special stamps with patterns on them were used to infuse the concrete surface with both patterns and colors.
  • Exposed aggregate: If you plan on building a concrete patio that surrounds a pool, something you might want to consider is using an exposed aggregate finish, which means that the topmost layer of concrete is pulled away to expose the rough material underneath.
  • Salt finish: The other main type of concrete patio finish to consider, one that is most often used outdoors, is the salt finish. Salt finish concrete patios look very nice, and they help a lot in terms of slip resistance too.

What Is a Wood Deck and What Types Are There?

On the other hand, decks are generally considered as being raised platforms that can be made out of many different materials. PVC, composite, and other materials can be used, but of course today we’re here to talk about good old wooden decks.

Generally speaking, wooden decks sit fairly high above the ground, are attached to the house, and can be accessed with a set of stairs or via the house.

There are two main types of wooden decks to consider:

  • Elevated: As the name implies, elevated wood decks are elevated off the ground and usually quite significantly, sometimes even up to the second or third floor of the home. Elevated or raised decks of this kind are great for lots that have slopes or for uneven ground. They are ideal for raised homes and for hilly areas.
  • Ground-level: The other type of deck for you to consider is the ground-level deck, which although the name suggests it, is not actually completely level with the ground. Yes, these decks are very low to the ground, but they still do have a very slightly raised structure that keeps them off the ground. Ground-level decks don’t require as much maintenance as raised decks, and they also don’t have to be attached to the house in order to be totally stable.

Concrete Patio vs. Wood Deck: What Are the Differences?

Alright, so now that we know what both concrete patios and wooden decks are, it’s time to figure out what the differences between them are, so you can then make an informed choice as to which one you want to build for your house.

Elevation, View,  and Privacy

One of the things to consider here is that patios are built flush with the ground, which means that they do allow for a good bit of privacy. On the other hand, because they are low to the ground, they don’t offer a good view of the surrounding area.

Wooden decks are the exact opposite. They are raised up so they don’t have the same level of privacy, but they do offer a good view of the surrounding area.

Cost of Materials and Installation

The next thing to consider here is that wooden decks can be anywhere from two to four times more expensive to install than concrete patios.

Now, of course, this is going to depend on many different factors, but with that being said, on average you can expect to spend around $30 per square foot for a wooden deck, whereas for a concrete patio you can expect to spend anywhere between $5 and $15 per square foot.

Maintenance

With a concrete patio, there is really not much maintenance that is required. Sure, you might want to seal it every now and then to help maintain its durability, but other than that there is not much that you need to do.

Wooden decks, on the other hand, are going to require more regular maintenance, including both cleaning and repairs, as well as measures that need to be taken in order to prevent the wood from rotting. That said, exactly how much maintenance your wooden deck is going to require will depend on the quality of the build and the materials.

Required Terrain for Construction

For concrete patios, the ground underneath needs to be completely flat and level. If the ground is not flat and level, you are going to run into problems if you do not first flatten it.

On the other hand, due to the fact that wooden decks can be built using beams and support joists, they can be built on hills and unlevel terrain. Wooden decks are definitely more versatile in this sense.

Durability and Overall Lifespan

The simple fact of the matter is that concrete is a lot more durable than wood, and this is true in terms of water resistance, fire resistance, and impact resistance.

On average, you can expect to get well over 30 years of life out of a concrete patio, whereas a wooden deck is going to last for 10 to 20 years.

Need to Be Attached to the House

Depending on the type of wooden deck you want to build, it will probably need to be attached to the house for stability, whereas a concrete patio can be completely freestanding.

Aesthetic Qualities

Yes, you can use stamped concrete to put patterns and colors onto concrete, but the simple reality is that wood usually does look better. That being said, whether you find wood or concrete to look better is really a matter of personal preference.

Ability to DIY

When it comes down to it, pouring a slab of concrete is much easier to do than building a deck out of wood from scratch. Yes, this does depend on the complexity of the patio or deck you want to build, but generally speaking, pouring some concrete is less work than building a full-scale wooden deck.

Home Resale Value

Wooden decks can add up to 75% of their original cost back to the resale value, whereas concrete patios usually don’t add much resale value to homes.

Which of the Two Should You Build?

If you want something simple to build and maintain, something cheap, and something that is close to the ground, then a concrete patio is the way to go.

If you want something that is raised up, is ideal for uneven ground, looks fantastic, and you have some extra money to spend, then a wooden deck is a good choice.

Summary

There you have it folks, everything you need to know about wooden decks and concrete patios.

Now that you know what the main differences between them are, you can now make an informed decision as to which one is best for your home.