Natural or Synthetic Teak? A Comparison for Your Deck

The most common question when laying a new deck: natural teak or synthetic? Both look good, but they differ in maintenance, comfort and cost.

Natural teak

Pros: unmatched natural grain, warm feel, classic prestige. Watch for: it needs regular care, thins over time, greys in the sun and is expensive.

Synthetic teak

Pros: near-zero maintenance, doesn't soften in the sun, non-slip, a wide colour/pattern range, stain-resistant. Watch for: it doesn't perfectly reproduce natural wood's living grain; quality varies by brand.

Heat and non-slip

Quality synthetic teak can be made so that, even in dark colours, it doesn't heat up like natural teak in the sun, and it's highly non-slip when wet — an advantage for boats with children and heavy use.

Which suits you?

If classic looks and prestige are your priority and you can give it time, natural teak; if you want an elegant, safe deck without the upkeep, synthetic teak makes sense. We lay both under our teak decking service.