Why composite wood has replaced timber in pergola construction

December 17, 2021

Timber pergolas have been used across the UAE for many decades as an essential outdoor structure. They are used for not just for the extension of the outdoor living space but also to enhance the value of the villa. Although timber pergolas provide a very traditional look to the outdoor area, they have a large maintenance liability and are prone to rotting and degrading in the hot and humid climate of Dubai. This is the major problem with the timber pergolas and also the main reason timber pergola Dubai companies are now switching over to composite wood instead of timber for the manufacturing of pergolas.

What is composite wood and how it’s better than timber

Wood-plastic composite abbreviated as WPC and commonly known as composite wood, is a revolutionary alternative for timber. The WPC is a composite material made up of wood fibre and thermoplastics. Thermoplastics like polythene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, or polyvinyl chloride are used for creating the composite wood. Along with the wood fibre, the WPCs may also contain some filler materials like lignocellulose. It’s a great alternative for timber and is used by the pergola UAE companies for creating pergolas, decks, gazebos, fences, and many other outdoor living structures. There are many features of WPC that are making it popular option in the Dubai outdoor market including:

High quality

The wood composite material is European manufactured. It looks like wood but it is strong like metal. It is UV resistant, does not require painting, and requires very little or no maintenance.

Attractive appearance

The composite wood has an appearance like that of timber but has enhanced strength and durability. The wood plastic composite is a great material for creating pergolas, which have an attractive appearance like the timber, are sturdy, and long-lasting.

Long-lasting

The composite materials used for creating WPC are harder and stronger than the usual timber pergolas. They don’t rot or distortion in harsh Dubai weather like ordinary timber or wood. The WPC can easily withstand harsh Dubai weather and offer greater strength and durability. This is the main reason it is liked and adopted by the pergola UAE companies on a larger scale as an alternative to timber.

Environment friendly

The WPC is environmentally friendly too. The raw materials which are being used to fabricate WPC comprises of plastic waste materials which would otherwise cause environmental pollution if left untreated. This way it’s saving the environment from pollution and land fill. Hence the wood plastic composite is being highly recommended and used for creating outdoor structures.

Rot resistance

Outdoor structures made out of wood plastic composite have an appearance like that of timber but they have very low water absorption features. This makes them resistant to rotting and termites which damages the pergolas over time. Therefore, the WPC pergolas are durable and easy to maintain.

Cost-effective

The wood plastic composite pergolas are relatively well priced and are slightly more expensive than timber. In the long run, they prove to be more cost efficient than the timber pergolas because they need very little maintenance and will last many years longer than timber pergolas.