How To Choose Composite Decking
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What’s more, the surface does not need to be sanded, stained, or sealed. That said, plastic decking does have its disadvantages. The surface gets extremely hot in direct sunlight and susceptible to mold and mildew in shade.
Appearance Of Real Wood Vs Composite Decking
Do composite decks get hot?
How Hot Can Composite Decking Get in the Sun? One study found that in direct sunlight, composite decks can reach temperatures from 34° to 76° F hotter than the surrounding air. On an 80° day, that could mean a deck surface temperature of more than 150°.
Scratching is a different story, and you can test this very easily at home. Take a sample piece of each board and run your keys on top of the boards. In our experience, Trex Transcend is the most durable product on the market. It resists scratching far better than any of the other options. This is not a big concern for many of our clients, but for others, it’s a deal breaker. If a scratch in your hardwood flooring drives you crazy, chances are that scratches in your new deck will also drive you crazy so make sure you consider this when choosing your capped wood composite.
Repair Or Replace: Is It Time For A New Deck?
How do you fix burn marks on a composite deck?
First wet the deck down with a hose. Next, mix together one teaspoon of grease-fighting detergent with around a gallon of water. Soak a stiff-bristled brush in the detergent mix and then scrub the burn mark going in the direction of the grain. Rinse the soapy water off and allow the deck to dry.
Composite decking is readily available at big box home improvement stores like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as local lumberyards throughout the U.S. As you plan your dream deck, one of the key choices you face is what type of decking to use.
Another option for vintage Trex decking: Paint it - The Washington Post
Another option for vintage Trex decking: Paint it.
Posted: Fri, 08 May 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Engineering Whats Next In Outdoor Living®
If you enjoy geeking out on this stuff and want to brush up first, click on the decking comparison chart and get started planning your perfect new outdoor space. Our contractor voiced as an option using Brazilian hardwood decking and suggested a vendor website to allow us to begin our research.
As idyllic as your backyard deck could be, maintaining that elevated expanse of lumber can be a downright chore. When the less demanding plastic-composite decking appeared on the scene in the 1990s, homeowners happily adopted it, despite the higher price and limited color selection . A decade later, as companies began to offer new products that looked like fresh-cut cedar and Brazilian walnut but never turned gray, sales of composites took off.
- Although many homeowners think composites do a better job of mimicking real wood than does PVC.
- They’re available in a variety of colors and each features a wood-grain texture that—from a distance—looks like natural wood.
- But PVC decking is much lighter than composite decking, so it’s easier to carry and lift into place.
- And it’s worth mentioning that most composite decking and plastic decking manufacturers also offer a line of matching handrails, balusters, and fascias.
- Uniquely, one side of the board is produced to look like distressed hardwood and the other side has the appearance of a tropical hardwood.
Decks & Docks only carries capped composite decking brands that guarantee a minimum of 25 years without fading or staining. The result is composites that more closely resemble wood deck boards, like MoistureShield’s Vision decking line. Installing a wood rather than composite railing reduces deck costs. Composite decking, such as Trex decking, costs $3 to $7 per sq.
Sponsored: You’ll always use this outdoor space - East Bay Times
Sponsored: You’ll always use this outdoor space.
Posted: Wed, 09 important linkread what he said Dec 2020 23:45:00 GMT [source]
Whatever you call it, this decking has a wood-grain texture, a broad range of attractive colors, and looks great on a deck or a dock. LumbeRock sources material from recycled milk jugs and soda bottles and boards come in the broadest range of sizes and colors of any decking we carry. Look closely at a board of real wood and take note of its diverse array of whorls, lines, and coloring. All materials fade over time, and you can expect minor fading from both Trex and TimberTech products within the first 3-4 months.
Naturally Superior: Redwood And Cedar
Why is composite decking so expensive?
While the cost of material contributes to this difference, a lot of the extra cost is attributed to labor. The composite decking boards have less strength than regular wood and have a tendency to sag or bow, so the supporting joists must be placed closer together.
For additional insights on wood vs. composite decking, and to see how MoistureShield stacks up against other types of decking materials, check out ourDeck Material Comparison Chart. Among wood decking’s pros and cons, affordability is a decided benefit. Typically, wood decking is lower cost to purchase than composites, especially in the initial purchase.
Decking
Whats The Difference Between Hollow And Solid Core Boards?
And, while available in a wide variety of colors and styles, darker colors tend to fade over time and lighter colors sometimes develop a chalky coating. Made from a combination of plastic and wood fibers, composite decking is manufactured to look like real wood decking. The components of composite decking often come from recycled materials. There aren’t any preservative chemicals used during manufacturing, and you get to skip the splinters that come from traditional wooden decks. Home improvement is all about weighing benefits, like time versus money or long-term value versus short-term needs.