16 Pros And Cons Of Composite Decking

It Requires More Maintenance Than A Patio

Don’t be fooled by the contractors on here saying it’s not what it used to be. New names every year and ground breaking technology every year. Inside is wood fillers and recycled milk jugs, garbage bags etc. outside is a cheap “vinyl” capstock. These are the only products most contractors can get so of course they’re going to say they’re good.

While Bamboo is an outstanding flooring alternative, it’s also used in decks, and Cali Bamboo has several collections that use recycled bamboo in place of wood. There are two cheap composite deck lines from Dekorators with Classic and Vista. Both are capped composites but have a completely vibe with Classic geared more towards looking for natural tones and clean vertical patterns. Vista composite decking boards have contrasting variegation with two tropical colors and Driftwood. When did you purchase the home and was the deck recently done. If there is mold, you will have a problem with virtually all warranties. I had a 500 plus sq foot deck under construction and the delivered boards from TimberTech had mold, irregular finish plus the finish was flaking off where the pattern was irregular.

However, the next homeowner may not feel the same way as they may see it as a chore rather than a passion or hobby. A new homebuyer may view pressure treated wood deck as a structure that requires a lot of maintenance to create a long-lasting appeal. This can be a deal-breaker on the sale depending on the condition and size of the old deck.

Timber Decking & Fencing: The Drawbacks

• Unlike other decking materials, composite decks offer the look and feel of natural wood without the environmental impact of cutting down trees for timber.
• They are all combined and ground down under heat and pressure to form composite decking products.
• While PVC decking is created using synthetic materials, Trex decking is comprised of 95% recycled content and involves the combination of wood scraps and polyethylene.
• Although PVC decking is made using synthetic materials, Trex decking is made from 95% recycled content and involves the combination of wood scraps and polyethylene.
• The environmental impact is lessened by using reclaimed sawdust, offcuts, and household plastic waste.

On a hot summer day with the sun beating down, nearly any surface will get hot however composite decking is more UV resistant and helps resist fading from the sun’s rays. Unlike traditional lumber decking, using composite decking around pools can provide a smooth, clean surface for many years with little to no maintenance.

Which Type Of Composite Decking Should I Pick?

The average size of a deck is 400 square feet which means a 20’ by 20’ deck built with high-quality composite material could be priced around $5,600. This same deck built with pressure-treated pine lumber may go for around $3,000. However, the cost difference can be erased after 2-3 years of routine maintenance. MoistureShield carries a nice mix of capped and uncapped composite decking. Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to what their products are really capable of. Some composite decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb. Just like the mold, this issue is unpredictable and hard to understand which decking will have problems and which will not.

Reasons Why To Install A Composite Deck

A concrete patio can last several decades, but a composite wood deck has the potential to last just as long. It’s essential to take care of your decking according to its usage and your home’s local weather conditions to preserve its quality. Synthetic wood can last much longer than natural wood because of its resistance to rotting and warping. However, if you don’t maintain your composite deck by getting rid of standing water and cleaning the debris off of the panels, it may not last as long as a concrete or brick paver patio can.

For me, I’m not comfortable trusting the same companies who told us 20 years ago that their product was foolproof and failed that now they’ve REALLY made it foolproof. We purchased our current home, as new, nearly 18 years ago. It came with a deck that was made with early type (uncapped?) composite decking. The spindles and posts were also made of the same material. The home builder was so impressed by the product he wished that he had used it for the large deck, he had recently built, on his own home. I was excited about having something touted as being “maintenance free.” Over the years I have power washed it to keep the vegetation (moss? algae?) at bay. For the most part it has held up well and we have enjoyed the deck.

For now, I’d say the best way to avoid problems with composite decking are to avoid it altogether and stick with wood. It’s not like the old days where you had to simply choose between different species of wood. Today, there are still all of the wood options of yesterday, but now there are scores of different composite decking options. Visual appeal is important — after all, you will be spending a lot of time on your deck — so the style of composite decking you pick should be contingent on the style of your house. In other words, although composite decking might cost you more in the short term, it definitely gives great bang for its buck in the long term. Composite decking does not typically get hotter than pressure treated wood.

As we said earlier composite decking especially Trex decking has come a long way. Trex decking is hard to install – Many homeowners who may have previously built their own wood deck cannot seem to wrap their mind around installing composite decking. Trex decking is so easy to install that even an amateur can do it. Although Trex decking is more expensive than traditional wood decking, there are a lot of benefits to composite decking. The environment benefits of using timber are not straight forward. But there are plenty of reasons to choose timber as your decking and fencing material. The benefits and in the end it’s just not worth the effort and cost of upkeep.

Several other costs determine the overall cost of purchasing a composite decking material. The hidden expenses drive the decision to purchase items that are highly-priced but have higher quality and value. With the durability and ease of maintenance, the extra cost of composite decking is definitely worth the investment.

Consider the cost of installation of the traditional deck, with the costs of the constant cleaning, repairs and staining. The composite deck will certainly save you headache and costs in the long run. Composite decking materials have improved over the years as a number of quality products continues to be created each year. It can be overwhelming to choose the best composite decking material given the variety of styles, colors, and brands available. At AllPoint, we work with you to select the composite lumber decking based on your budget, site and code requirements, fastener choice, and style and color preferences.