Why Composite Decking Materials Are Becoming The Preferred Material For Decking

Mold And Mildew On Composite Decking

Additional material required is slashed to only a third of a deck board for each side of the deck. Bringing costs to only slightly over a $100 to finish the composite deck board ends. Finishing the deck boards with a finishing detail that requires regular and extensive maintenance destroys the low maintenance advantage of the composite deck. The level and type of care needed for the end detail must match the decking maintenance. The number one driving factor in finishing the ends of composite decking is appearance. However, you choose to complete the decking; it must look good. You may as well trim the decking and leave it at that.

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

This advantage also means that your deck will fight off mold and mildew better than natural wood products. You’ll still need to follow the basic precautions to prevent mold growth, such as installing the product at least two feet above ground to allow for proper ventilation.

• So, you are left with the final decision in examining the pros and cons of composite decking.
• The pros and cons of composite decking show that this material is useful in a variety of different situations.
• Modern decking materials are manufactured from plastic and cellulose fibers (ground-up wood) and these are combined with natural or recycled products.
• You can simulate the look and feel of natural wood while preserving the environment and reducing your maintenance needs.
• Nowadays, the market features many brands which have specialized in the manufacturing of such materials.

Composite decking is likely to last for at least 15 years before any of the boards need replacing. What’s more, is composite decking has the ability to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at it. So you can enjoy long hot summers and cold winters without it having an effect on your deck. Composite decking is an environmentally friendly lumber alternative that combines plastic and wood fiber. Wood plastic composite is anti-static, resistant to fungus or mold growth, insect attacks and rodents which is another advantage. The surface is soft and feels comfortable to walk on barefoot. Many composite decking options are manufactured with a non-slip surface, whether wet or dry, which makes them the ideal solution for wet areas.

Plastic Decking Boards End Caps

Unfortunately, one place where composite decking will probably last a lifetime is in the landfill. There is so far no recycling for composite decks, and those that end up in the dump will probably be there for about 2,000 years. Treated wood, on the other hand, returns to nature in 10 years or less, and untreated wood in as little as 2 years. 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 enviro-unfriendly material used in composite decking is plastic, particularly "virgin" or new plastic made primarily from petroleum or natural gas. Some manufacturers use vinyl which is decidedly un-green.

Pros And Cons Of Softwood, Composite And Hardwood Decking

(For a complete report on and ranking of the environmental impact of various plastic and composite materials by the non-profit Healthy Building Network read the Guide to Plastic Lumber). 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.

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.

There are some clear advantages and disadvantages to composite decking. However, there are a lot more good points to this type of decking. While every single type of decking out there has its advantage and disadvantages, it’s clear composite decking ticks more boxes. If you’re looking for decking that lasts and is low maintenance, this is the type of decking you should seriously consider buying. Composite materials mimic the appearance of wood but they are not real wood and a close look reveals the artificial origin of the decking planks. Those, who want to have the real thing may feel unsatisfied with the look of composite decking.

Like any other material, composites also have some disadvantages. One such drawback is that it’s not designed to be painted. While some people may not find this an issue, homeowners who want to repaint their decks now and then can find this inconvenient. Naturally, you can still technically paint it, but there are some preparations and drawbacks in doing so. They successfully released various products, such as tables, flooring, and landscaping materials. The earliest mention of commercial plastic-wood materials can be traced back as early as the late 60s to early 70s.

I have to admit that I was skeptical at first, but TimberTech was very helpful at answering all of the questions that they have. I recently saw that their website had it’s own question and answering page on their site.

Dog nails leave scratches, as will clumsy adults and kids, not to mention unremovable stains and sneaky mold. Oh, and if you want to replace a stained/scratched/damaged deck board it won’t match cause the others faded, remember? Upgraded that vacation home and had to replace the old deck due to code problems and didn’t think twice, wood it was! Used CedarTone Premium treated #1 southern yellow pine and won’t even have to stain it for a couple years, looks great with a custom sunburst rail pattern. If spending a little less money and doing some regular maintenance sounds okay to you, stick with the old-fashioned wood decking. Go for the composite deck if you don’t mind spending a bit more money for a deck that requires far less maintenance and is eco-friendly. One of the drawbacks to purchasing a composite deck system is that they’re not cheap.

Cons:

Creating ugly decking ends with voids that paint cannot hide. Probablythe easiest way to finish decking ends with no additional costs. Simple trim the decking and install the fascia flush to the top of the decking. All steps and materials that every composite deck requires. The end finishing of the decking boards should not increase maintenance required for the deck.