Nuteak vs Competition

Exterior Marine Decking options

Looks like Real Teak

Non-slip wet or dry

Cheaper than Real Teak

Low Maintenance

Pleasant feel under foot

Stain resistant (non-absorbent)

Sand-able and repairable

20 - 30 year warranty

Nuteak

Teak

Carpet

Foam (EVA)

Cork

Relatively low

Other Synthetic Teak Products

Few are non-absorbent

Nuteak vs. teak wood

The aesthetic of a new teak wood deck is incredible, so much so that Nuteak synthetic teak was designed to look exactly the same.
However when it comes to life span, maintenance and cost, teak wood cannot compare to Nuteak.

Teak Wood

vs.

Nuteak

Nuteak Synthetic teak sample

Teak that is treated with normal teak oil will start to turn grey within 4 to 8 weeks, whereas Nuteak will continue to look like a brand new teak
deck. Teak wood has great non-slip properties but so does NuteakNuteak is also lighter and slightly cooler under foot in harsh sun.

Nuteak vs. EVA foam

EVA Foam is cost effective and light weight. While EVA is not a bad looking product, it will not be mistaken for real wood.
The average lifespan of an EVA deck is less than 1 third that of a Nuteak deck.

EVA foam

vs.

Nuteak

Nuteak Synthetic teak sample

EVA Foam is cost effective and light weight. While EVA is not a bad looking product, it will not be mistaken for real wood. Marine EVA foam is made in a sheet with 2 different color layers, the nautical line is created by routing a groove through the top layer to expose the second color below.

EVA foam side profile

This means that there are many design options but the floor has grooves in it, so the more lines you have the more difficult your deck is to clean. With Nuteak, no matter the design, the surface is always flush with no grooves that collect dirt. The average lifespan of an EVA deck is less than 1 third that of a Nuteak deck. EVA foam is one of the lowest temperature marine flooring options available due to its aeration.

Nuteak side profile

Nuteak Profile

The average temperature however is only 2.5 degrees cooler than Nuteak, not a difference that you can easily detect with your feet. The aeration of the foam also means that stains are very difficult to remove and the product cannot be spot sanded but only replaced.

Nuteak vs. Cork decking

Cork is likely the most natural alternative to teak. As a natural product the lifespan, durability and ease of maintenance cannot compare
to Nuteak, however it does require less maintenance than teak.

Cork decking

vs.

Nuteak Decking

Nuteak Synthetic teak sample

Cork is also much more sustainable than Burmise teak because the cork is harvested without killing the tree. Cork trees are not particularly fast growing as trees need to reach maturity before they start to produce high quality cork. A cork tree will start to produce high quality cork at around 30 years of age and it can only be harvested every 9 years. This lengthy process contributes to the hefty price tag associated with marine cork decking.

Nuteak vs. carpet

Whilst some carpets do possess the nautical line, none will be mistaken for a real teak deck. Carpets do offer a reasonably good non-slip surface and comfort under foot.

Boat carpet

vs.

Nuteak

Nuteak Synthetic teak sample

The absorbent nature of carpet however makes it difficult to clean and it can take a long time to dry completely. This makes carpet susceptible to harmful mould and fungus. Nuteak is 100% non-absorbent which makes it easy to clean, durable and antifungal.