Composite decking
Deck boards made from a blend of wood fibers and recycled plastic — no staining or sealing needed, but not maintenance-free.
Composite decking (and the related all-plastic PVC decking) is made from wood fibers bound in recycled plastic, often with a hard 'capped' polymer shell on newer boards. Its big advantage over wood is that it never needs staining or sealing — you just sweep it and wash it a couple of times a year with soap and water or a composite cleaner. It costs more up front but typically lasts 25–50 years. It isn't maintenance-free, though: trapped leaves and dirt grow mold in the board grooves, high-pressure washing can pit it or void the warranty, and the **wood frame underneath** (ledger, joists, posts) still needs the same yearly safety inspection as a wood deck. See [how to maintain a wood or composite deck](/guides/how-to-maintain-a-deck).