Wood decks are the traditional, functional and esthetically beautiful choice, when building a deck. But often there are durability and maintenance issues that come with using wood. Depending on the climate where you live, the toll that weathering can take on wood can be significant, and the maintenance to keep wood in good repair and looking good can also be significant. If you are looking for an inexpensive, long lasting and environmentally friendly alternative to wood, you can go with some of the new composite materials available to construct your deck.