It's the question we get asked on almost every site visit: should I go with timber or composite? The honest answer is that both can work well in Mauritius — but they perform very differently depending on where your property is, how much sun and salt air it gets, and how much maintenance you're willing to take on over time.
Here's how we actually think about it when we're scoping a job.
The core difference
Timber decking uses natural hardwood — typically species like merbau, teak, or iroko — cut and finished for outdoor installation. It looks warm and natural, and a well-built timber deck can last 20–30 years if it's properly maintained. The catch is that "properly maintained" in a tropical coastal climate means re-oiling every 12–18 months, checking for board movement after wet seasons, and dealing with the odd split or raised fixing over time.
Composite decking is engineered board — a blend of wood fibre and polymer — designed to look like timber but with almost no maintenance requirement. No oiling, no staining, no seasonal treatment. The boards don't swell, split, or fade the way natural wood does, and modern composite has come a long way in terms of texture and finish.
How Mauritius's climate affects each material
UV exposure
Mauritius gets intense, sustained UV — particularly on the west coast, where properties face afternoon sun with very little shade. Untreated timber goes grey within a season if it isn't oiled regularly. Even well-maintained timber will show the sun over time. Quality composite boards, by contrast, are UV-stabilised and engineered to hold their colour for 15–25 years without surface treatment.
Salt air and humidity
The closer you are to the water, the harder salt air is on any organic material. Timber absorbs moisture, and in coastal conditions that cycles continuously — wet season swelling, dry season contraction. Over years, this works on fixings and joints as much as on the boards themselves. Composite is largely inert to moisture and salt, which is why we recommend it by default for any deck within direct sight of the ocean.
Heat and foot traffic
One thing composite can struggle with is surface temperature — dark composite boards in full sun can get very hot underfoot. We always factor this in when specifying board colour and finish for poolside installs. Lighter colours and textured surfaces manage this well. Timber stays cooler but requires slip-resistant treatment around pools.
When we recommend timber
- The property has consistent, reliable maintenance — whether from the homeowner or a caretaker
- The look of real wood is a non-negotiable for the client
- The deck is in a shaded or semi-sheltered position away from direct ocean exposure
- The budget allows for proper hardwood species and finish from day one
When we recommend composite
- The deck is directly coastal — Flic en Flac beachfront, Wolmar, La Preneuse lagoon-facing
- The client is an overseas property owner who won't be on-island to maintain the deck regularly
- It's a pool surround where slip-rating and chlorine resistance matter
- Low long-term cost of ownership is the priority over upfront material cost
Our honest take
For most villa and holiday property owners in Mauritius — especially absentee owners — composite is the more practical choice. It costs more upfront, but over a 10-year period the maintenance saving usually outweighs the difference. If you're on-island full time, love the look of real wood, and are committed to annual oiling, timber is a genuinely beautiful option. The worst outcome is choosing timber for the look and then not maintaining it — within a few seasons it looks significantly worse than composite would have.
What to ask before you decide
When we do a site visit, we'll look at your sun exposure, proximity to the water, whether there's existing structure we're working around, and what your maintenance reality looks like. The quote we give you will reflect the right spec for your property — not a generic recommendation. If you're weighing this up for a specific project, get in touch and we can talk it through before you commit to anything.