Is Composite Decking Worth The Cost?

Do Composite Decks Get Hot?

Having an outdoor living space that meets your needs is a must. Adding a composite deck may be pricey, but it’s worth it. There are several different options when it comes to composite decking.

Last fall I had a new deck built with real wood decking. The wood is horrible, it is splitting, it splinters and we just hate it. There are a total of 7 series currently available from MoistureShield ranging from the premium MoistureShield Vision to the more affordable Essentials collection. My preference, though some people object to the incisions, is incised copper treated ground-contact rated hem-fir or similar western quality wood - NOT pine unless lodgepole. Can be retreated for longer life in green or brown, and stained to darker green or browns or blackish. Mine is 0.30 CCA hem-fir about 28 years old, was surface retreated at about 10 years in, and just now fading and needing retreatment, with harsh winters and wet summer environment. If his deck is on pressure treated wood joists it can be even worse as this wood is prone to being of different sizes and warping.

The Pros & Cons Of Different Types Of Decking

Install Composite Decking From Newtechwood

I currently have wood down, but the ends of some boards have curled up, and there are a couple of rotted spots. There are a lot of links on this site to information or products I have personally found helpful.

Paver Patios Vs Composite Decks

You’ll also get more years between cleaning periods by sealing it off. If you choose not to seal the deck, you can expect to do a deep cleaning annually. Potential buyers love to see a deck in excellent condition.

I wish it was more widely available but Veka is a super picky company about who they’ll let install their products. They actually got in a lot of trouble and settled a major lawsuit just a couple years ago for marketing their product as PVC. It’s not a true PVC deck product and many customers had issues around years. So they created their own term called Armor Alloy Technology. Many people in these comments are wrong and spreading false information. At this juncture, we’re considering replacing the deck with a 3-seasons room and just utilize the concrete patio, next to it, when we want to be outdoors. We are looking to install Duralife composite deck 400 sq.

The company’s Inspiration series provides consumers with a more natural feel thanks to a blended two-tone surface and deep texturing. MoistureShield Refine and MoistureShield Pro are sandwiched between the Vision and Infuse and priced accordingly. While all are quality products, your color options are limited and only open up with MoistureShield Advantage which is in the budget class. It’s an uncapped product, but you’ll get eight colors to choose from and multiple widths as well. The company also has Modernview which is ideal for decks that come in contact with water. We’re fans of any company that provides consumers with multiple decking options, and Fiberon does that better than anyone else. The company has seven different series to choose from including two products sold exclusively through Home Depot.

If you’re looking for something that will give your deck an unmistakable look, Envision Distinction is a fine choice. There are four wood tones to choose from, but each composite board features multiple colors with a random wood grain pattern.

For this reason, it is important to view a composite deck as an investment rather than an expense. Even though composite wood lasts longer than natural solid hardwood, especially with the UltraShield® co-extruded cap, it can suffer from wear and tear when you don’t maintain it properly. This material can develop scratches if you drag furniture along it, or your pet digs their nails or claws into the panels. Depending on where you live, state and local regulations may require you to obtain a permit for your deck before installing it in your yard. This specification may delay your installation process by a few weeks, and you may have to pay an additional fee.

• You can then remove the green stuff right away with a cleaning solution designed for that exact purpose.
• When you choose composite decking for your home, then you’re using a product that is primarily made of recycled products.
• The recycled plastic in the product takes waste away from the ocean or having it enter our food supply.
• That means you don’t need to cut down more trees just so that you can build a deck.
• Your final cost will depend on different factors and features that you want to have on your boards, such as scratch resistance or UV protection.

The front porch looks like it did the day I coated it still. Composite is a waste of many on covered porches/decks that get minimal sun/rain exposure in my opinion, based on our situation. In my opinion, if you are going for a wood look, then go with real wood - whether thats Cedar or Ipe. If you want a painted deck, then go with one of the composites that you can paint like Tendura or others. In your case, if the price is prohibitively expensive, you could go with PT for now, and plan on replacing it further down the road. Or if you have several separate decks, perhaps use composite on part of the areas. It was beautiful, but the maintenance was so high that DH hated it and I resented the amount of time that it took.

Furthermore, don’t pick a dark colour if the deck is going to be exposed to direct sunlight. This is because composite decking can get super hot when it sits in the sunlight — probably it’s only other major disadvantage other than its price tag. This means they aren’t harvested directly from a forest and, therefore, don’t contribute to preventable impacts on the environment such as deforestation. The particles in the composite wood are tightly combined and it won’t warp, so termites are not able to enter into the composite wood deck boards. I have been looking into upgrading to composite decking and feel like it might be the right choice for us. as above, i know composite is more expensive, but are there any pros/cons of it?