The Pros And Cons Of Composite Decking

Mold And Mildew On Composite Decking

This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of composite decking so you have all the information you need when you’re shopping for it. We all love to spend time in our garden when it’s warm outside. However, when it comes to having decking in your garden you need to make sure you have the right one for you. You should be aware that not all decking is the same. More and more people are now purchasing composite decking as there are many advantages of using it. Price is another con as composite decking may cost two, three, even five times more than a pressure-treated wood deck. Durability and resistance are among the major advantages, but you should know that hot coals can melt or deform the deck.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Composite Decks?

I have a composite deck at my house and I love having it! It’s been a few years since it was installed, but it still looks great even with all of the low maintenance that it’s had to have.

The consequence to you as the composite deck owner is that the nice, tight, wood-like joints in your deck when it was installed in July may be wide, unsightly gaps in February. And, since plastic does not expand and contract evenly, those gaps may still be there the following July. There is not a lot that can be done about it – it's the nature of the material.

List Of The Cons Of Composite Decking

Softwood decking is the most affordable decking solution due to softwood timber coming from mainly coniferous or evergreen trees that are fast growing. The boards are often grooved, although you can get them smooth too. Softwood timber is easier than hardwood to work with and widely available at many landscaping suppliers. Although pressure treated, the boards will need to be treated each year.

• Often, combining synthetic and organic materials seems to capture the best of both worlds , and creates a durable product that looks and feels similar to wood decking.
• So when your looking at the pros and cons of composite decking, take the time to make the decision is the right for you.
• The fact is, there are many products on the market depending on your location.
• As for materials, most composite products are manufactured from wood by-products, such as sawdust, wood chips or recycled plastics.

So, even if the factory's binder creates a perfect seal, and that's not possible, that perfection is soon compromised in the normal course of using the deck. Most manufacturers offer fade and stain warranties of up to 25 years.

Plastic Decking Boards End Caps

We will probably still need to replace about 30% of the decking, but most of it’s already there, so I’m not in any hurry to replace all of it. If you lie in a climate that sees a hot summer season most years, then you’ll want to select composite decking boards that have a lighter color to them. You can choose matte, smooth, or highly textured options while still working to avoid the heating issue with some of the choices that are on the market today. If you live in an environment where it rains frequently, then choosing composite decking with a non-slip texture could be an investment worth making. Homeowners that plan to install their deck somewhere next to a pool on their property will want to make use of this advantage as well. You’ll still get boards that look like natural wood and install on a pressure-treated frame, but you’ll also be reducing the risk of slipping and falling if your feet are wet. This advantage helps in the winter too if you plan to use your deck as part of your standard entryway.

Pros And Cons Of Softwood, Composite And Hardwood Decking

Even though the added costs up front makes it more expensive to build a deck, you can usually offset the expense with the lower maintenance costs down the road. If you’re not in a position to manage the extra expense, then natural wood is going to be the better solution to consider.

A company named American Woodstock produced automotive trimming out of extruded polypropylene and wood flour. At that time, however, wood-plastic materials have yet to have applications in the construction industry, at least not until the 90s.

One way to reduce costs is by reducing the amount of material used. It's a principal reason why a lot of lower-priced composite decking is flat on just one side and scalloped or grooved on the other. And, even though the savings per board is small, it adds up quickly over thousands of boards produced.

This is an important consideration for those who look for a suitable decking option for an outdoor kitchen, fire-pit, or an outdoor fireplace. In addition, planks can be easily scratched and you should be very careful when moving furniture, for example, as composite decks cannot be sanded. Like any material, composite decking offers many benefits, but has its drawbacks as well.

The decks are resistant to temperature changes, heat and cold and does not fade or lose color. The color of the boards lasts much longer than traditional wood stain or paint. When composite deck manufacturers compare their products to wood decks, they always compare to unsealed wood decks. Generally, a sealed and maintained wood deck lasts about as long as a maintained composite deck. Now that a little time has passed and some research has been done, these expansive claims are just not holding up.

But, the difference is not very large, and the gap is constantly getting smaller as coatings manufacturers improved their products for sealing and staining decks. Although some capstock and plastic deck manufacturersNote 1 insist that their products do not fade, the empirical evidence is to the contrary. Composite decking companies themselves are much more circumspect. None now claims composite decks to be maintenance-free. The most they will venture is that their composite decks require "less maintenance" than wood decks. Certainteed, for example, allows only that its EverNew® 20 decking offers "weatherable low-maintenance design…".

Cons:

The cost of composite decking is a significant factor to consider. Another key benefit to consider when choosing composite decking over real wood is the fact that you can find a lot of color options available. Most manufacturers provide a series of brown, gray, and tan colors to complement the classic Earth tones that a natural wood product would provide. The problem that you have with nails or screws when building a deck is that they create a place of weakness for the board.