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.

The product was installed in 2005 and began deteriorating after about 18 months. After contortions with their claim process, they sent a check for materials only and then only the bad boards. Well now,2 years later, the entire dock is deteriorating.

Although several features determine an ideal deck design, the overall style of a deck is dictated by the actual deck materials. Composite decks have become popular over the past years as the price range of decking boards continue to rise over time.

Trex Company, Inc

Trex has an integrated line of porch components, including railing and LED lighting. It recently introduced a cellular PVC pergola that comes in kit form. Today’s growing market share coincides with a major technological upgrade, which the industry calls capped composites. Older products typically had only their top surface sealed, leaving pathways for moisture. The wood-composite core of many next-generation planks is fully encapsulated with a protective shell during the extrusion process.

Most of the composite, plastic, and aluminum decking we tested kept its original color better than unfinished wood. Many also fended off mustard, wine, and other stains. While wood is the most popular type of decking, other materials are catching on with homeowners. Here are four types of decking material to consider. Price estimates are per 100 square feet of decking board, and don't include the cost of other deck-building components. Want to learn more about composite decking options?

Last October I had Trex decking installed by an improved Trex installer in pebble gray. Shortly upon completion it snowed so covered most of the surface. I did keep some 18 inch 'ends' of some boards in the basement. This spring I noticed along about 1/4 of the decking boards a strange blotching pinkish coloration. All the boards were in the same area covering approximatley 120 sq feet. I tried white vinegar and also dishwasher liquid and nothing made a difference.

Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons

Although some capstock and plastic deck manufacturersNote 1 insist that their products do not fade, the empirical evidence is to the contrary. I recently was on a home inspection for a home that was approximately 10 years old. During the inspection I was looking at 2 decks that were part of the home. These decks were constructed of a composite wood material that has become popularized as a maintenance free alternative to wood.

Like any major home purchase, decking materials vary in looks, durability, and cost. Start your research by becoming familiar with types of authentic and synthetic decking.

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. Mind you, I was never really told how to maintain it . For the most part it has held up well and we have enjoyed the deck.

Sided Capped Board

A combination of organic and synthetic materials captures the best of both worlds creating a durable product that is similar to wood decking. This unique combination makes composite decks expensive than other types of decking material. This article looks at whether a composite deck is worth the money and how to choose the best composite decking material.

So, if it is not protected, or the protection wears off, your composite deck becomes a giant smorgasbord for many species of mold and mildew no matter how clean you keep it. On the plus side, most composite manufacturers use waste wood products as filler, primarily sawmill waste but also post-consumer recycled wood products such as used wood pallets. The most common plastic binder used in composite deck boards is polyethylene.

The newer technologies come in a multitude of colors, grain patterns and thicknesses. Composite decking is a decking material that is composed of several different recycled materials, though mainly hard plastic and wood. This type of product came about to extinguish the problems of typical wood decking.

Responses To Composite Decking Mushrooms

Composite decking materials have improved over time as the number of quality products continues to increase each year. Choosing the best composite decking material can be quite overwhelming given the variety of styles, colours, and brands available.

• Such wood-alternative decking materials include plastic or PVC, and while it can be easy to confuse plastic decking and composite decking, the difference in the materials speaks for itself.
• While you may save on your initial investment, you will end up spending more money and time to maintain your deck.
• Trex composite decking resists fading, staining, scratching and mold, and will not rot, warp, crack or splinter.
• While wooden decks had long been popular, wood-alternative decking materials have surged in popularity in recent years.
• Upkeep is virtually hassle-free and requires no sanding, staining or painting.
• Trex decking is made from a composite material that blends plastic film and wood fibers.

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.