Composite Decks

Avoid Improper Decking Gaps

When composites came out they were touted as never staining, never needing maintenance, and never fading. Now that a few years have passed, homeowners have seen the real truth behind these claims. While no product will ever be able to replace the natural beauty of wood, since composite decking materials are man made, they can also be man-improved. One of the biggest problems with older Trex decking is color fading. Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to how badly their products actually look when left out in the sun. Some Trex decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb. Color fading is something the company knows about and acknowledges.

“We purchased the Trex in 2008, and it was an expensive mistake. The product fades, warps, holds water, molds terrible, and now it’s literally falling apart!

Ensure that your contractor has experience with composite materials. Make sure that you are comfortable with you decision before you commit to using this relatively new product.

Trex Company, Inc

Wet planter pots, dropped grill tools, and spilled food is no match for newer composite decking materials. They offer an unprecedented combination of stain, fade and mold resistance because of their exclusive protective shell and ability to withstand high-traffic. You can save hundreds by replacing the decking yourself. Along with a circular saw you'll need a drill, preferably cordless. Don't skimp on support joists if you choose heavier composites or less-rigid plastics.

Early on it was said that these materials would never grow mold. As a result, all you need to do is wash your composite deck every so often to keep mold from latching on . There are as many as 10 brands of composite decking materials on the market today. Some brands are best used for ocean side decks, as they are more resistant to the salt in the air; some are the most solid; some offer more colors; some have more unique railing systems. The choice is yours as to which brand fits your exact needs. I wish I had read these posts before I settled for replacement of a portion of my dock decking.

A high-quality composite deck has a greater appeal for potential buyers as it requires low maintenance. This means that it will retain more of its transferable value for a longer period compared to other deck materials. A high-quality composite deck is more expensive than the traditional pressure-treated lumber and its price ranges between $5.00 and $7.00 per 8-inch board.

Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons

This decking bubbles up around standard bugle-head deck screws . Everything you need to finish a deck—fascia boards, railings, balusters, treads, and posts—is made in matching colors using the same composite material.

On their own website and in their own literature they state decking will fade and even give guidelines in their warranty regarding how much fading should occur and how much would be covered. Capstock deck boards, with their plastic shell, fade less than uncapped composite boards. Most will fade a little bit because the exposed material is plastic, the fading is minimal. Some capstock manufacturers, such as Fiberon and Timbertech, now guarantee some of their products against excessive fading. But, most continue to specifically exclude color changes, fading and graying from their warranties.

I will never use this product again; would have been better off with wood and the maintenance. I thought that composite decking materials were problem free. I thought the reason to purchase these products was so that you’d never have to replace them. As with many things in life, you get what you pay for. Initially, Trex decking and railing does cost more, board for board, than wood decking and railing.

And, even though the savings per board is small, it adds up quickly over thousands of boards produced. The bright, crisp composite decking color you get fresh from the factory is not going to be the color you see a year or even 3 months, after installation. Non-capstock decks fade a lot and will eventually fade to a drab weathered gray that looks little different from the color of dingy, weathered wood. Capstock deks also fade, just not as much or as quickly. Uncapped composite decking is porous and can be stained. Once capstock decking has faded, that is the color you must live with. Here are some results from a Sherwin-Williams study of what happens to composite decking after 3 years of exposure.

The dark gray and black spots are mold and mildew growing on the boards. Every composite tested grew bumper crops of mold and mildew. There is no doubt that composite decking material is more expensive than wood. However, it is valued for its striking resemblance to natural wood and efficiency making it an excellent choice for decking. It is easier to clean and maintain which makes it last long enough to transfer the same value to the next homeowner. Some DIYers may not mind about the required upkeep for their pressure-treated wood decks.

In this way, composite decking can be fairly unpredictable, even within boards on the same deck. Another myth of composite that relates to its water-resistance is that it won’t swell from water contact. What’s interesting to note is that composite decking boards are more apt to move around.

Responses To Composite Decking Mushrooms

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.

• 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.
• Unlike other decking materials, composite decks can provide the look and feel of natural wood without the environmental impact of cutting down trees for timber.
• Reclaimed sawdust, offcuts, and household plastic waste are combined and ground down under heat and pressure to come up with composite decking products.
• Any exposed wood particles in a board’s core or cap weaken its defense from mold, mildew, and moisture damage.
• Composite decking is made up of a blend of wood particles and plastic materials to form a deck board, thensomeare capped with a synthetic material to help keep moisture out.

Common complaints from homeowners include their composite decking board swelling, shifting, warping, and shrinking. The texture of the surface of the boards and the very rough surface of uncapped ends can easily hold water within its grooves. Since the water doesn’t quite absorb, it becomes stagnant, with the moisture finally causing mold to develop. Despite composite being “low care”, homeowners living in humid/wet regions might find them having to clean their decks excessively to control mold, fungus, algae, or moss growth.