Composite decking boards combine two or more materials—typically wood fibers and one or more forms of plastic—to improve the appearance and durability of decks. Composite decking cuts and fastens like wood but performs better because it eliminates the imperfections of natural materials.

Composite decking is made from a combination of wood fibers and recycled polyethylene. The introduction of plastics into the wood material creates a board that resists moisture and insects, resulting in a deck that has around twice the lifespan of natural wood.

Composite decking material, as a market category term, refers to all engineered decking options (AKA all your decking options that aren’t just traditional lumber). Two major types of composite decking material are capped composite decking and capped polymer decking.