A customer wants a deck. They have read that composite never needs treating, that it gets hot in summer, that timber is cheaper, that timber needs sanding every year and that neither claim is entirely true.
They have been deciding for two months, and the enquiry that arrives is really a request for someone to explain it honestly.
Decision 1: compare on maintenance, not marketing
What each material actually requires: cleaning frequency, whether treatment or oiling is needed and how often, and what happens if maintenance is skipped for a couple of years. This is what customers live with.
Decision 2: compare on cost over time
Composite costs more to install and less to maintain. Timber is the reverse. Showing both, with the point at which the cost difference evens out, helps customers choose for their situation rather than their first impression.
Decision 3: be honest about appearance
Timber silvers and moves. Composite holds colour but can look uniform, and some boards get warm in direct sun. Saying so plainly is what customers remember when they later hear the same thing from someone else.
Decision 4: explain what sits underneath
The substructure decides how long any deck lasts, regardless of the surface. Explaining what you use, and why it costs what it costs, distinguishes a proper installation from a cheaper quote.
Decision 5: fence materials and posts
Panel type, timber grade, whether posts are concrete or timber and how they are set. Posts are where fences fail, and customers comparing quotes rarely realise that is the difference between the two prices.
Decision 6: capture the project
Once the material question is settled, the quote needs lengths, heights, photos and access, as described in fence and deck quotes that need lengths and photos.
Customer: Should we go composite or timber for our deck? Assistant: The comparison page sets out both honestly, including maintenance, expected lifespan, how each looks after a few years and the cost difference at the size you are considering. Could you tell me roughly how large the deck would be and whether it is in full sun or shade? That affects which is usually recommended.
Ground conditions and slopes
Sloping gardens, soft ground, clay, tree roots and drainage all affect what can be built and how much groundwork is needed. Explaining that the substructure and post setting depend on what is underneath, and that a site visit confirms it, prevents a quote given over a photograph from unravelling on the first morning.
Guarantees and lifespan
Customers ask how long it will last and what guarantee applies. Publishing the guarantee, what it covers and what voids it, is more credible than a lifespan claim.
Lighting, steps and balustrades
Most decking projects involve more than boards. Steps, handrails, balustrades and lighting change both the cost and the permissions that might apply where a deck is raised. Explaining which elements add most to a quote lets customers decide where to spend rather than being surprised when the figure arrives.
Choosing a contractor
Customers weigh materials and contractor together, comparing on clarity in the way described in what clients ask before choosing a solicitor and questions to ask before buying an AI receptionist.
After storms
Damaged fences create urgent enquiries where material choice is decided quickly, as covered in storm damaged fence requests after a windy night.
How SpideyChat handles it
SpideyChat for builders and contractors answers material questions from your published comparison and captures project details. You can see handover on the demo, and plans are on the pricing page.