How To Correctly Mix Composite And Pressure Treated Wood During A Deck Remodel

Plastic is largely responsible for many of the positive features that define composite decking, but the material also includes stain-absorbent wood. If you accidentally get grease or another offending substance on a composite board, you cannot simply sand out the stain.

5 Great Deck Materials - Popular Mechanics

The Materials for Making a Modern Deck

Offered exclusively from DuraLife®, the Step-Clip™ hidden fastener system installs quickly and easily along the entire length of the framing joists. Each of the 1-5/8-inch wide (x 23” long) polypropylene interlocking strips covers the width of joist, shielding it from water damage. When he does, I’ll recommend Fortress Building Products to him. My experience is that the composite decks that last are the ones in which even the smallest chance of a failure has been engineered out. Fortress Deck has engineered their Infinity composite decks down to the core, using bamboo instead of sawdust for greater strength and water resistance. Fortress boards use Hulk hidden fasteners to anchor the decking down without providing a path for water to penetrate to the core of the board. This system makes the boards even longer-lasting, and gives the deck an elegant, uninterrupted look.

• With Trex Decking’s simple to install clip system, even amateurs can effectively install a new deck.
• Trex even provides simple how-to guides for those who want to make their deck a DIY project.
• Without the regular application of stains, sealers or paint, wood decking is susceptible to warping, splintering, cracking and rotting.
• A key wood decking problem is that boards readily absorb water.

Facts About Composite Decking

With Trex Decking’s simple to install clip system, even amateurs can effectively install a new deck. Trex even provides simple how-to guides for those who want to make their deck a DIY project. A key wood decking problem is that boards readily absorb water. Without the regular application of stains, sealers or paint, wood decking is susceptible to warping, splintering, cracking and rotting. In contrast, composite decking brands like MoistureShield and ChoiceDek are fully moisture-resistant to the core, which allows them to be installed in high moisture conditions without decaying. The result is composites that more closely resemble wood deck boards, like MoistureShield’s Vision decking line. Routine cleaning and maintenance are required for both wood and composite decks.

Composite Decking: Does It Really Stack Up?

Can You Install New Decking Over Old Deck Boards?

In addition to wood and tropical finishes, we also have composite decking tiles available that look like grass or stone. All our composite decking is compatible with one another, so you can come up with a design that is uniquely yours. For project inspiration, visit our online photo gallery to see what past satisfied customers have done with their composite decks. It’s good to know that composite decks are now about the same price as traditional wood. My wife and I would love to have a deck built, but we have been having a hard time deciding what material to use.

What Kind Of Decking Is Best For Winter?

It is made in an eco-friendly process, salvaging wood and plastics that would otherwise be taken to landfills. Composite decking is reasonably priced, particularly when considering the long-term maintenance costs. This form of alternative decking material is weather, insect, rot, and warping resistant, not to mention that many composite decking options are beautiful and simply stunning. Whether you choose wood or composite decking materials, knowing your options is imperative. Quality, look, feel, and design potential are essential factors in choosing decking.

Grooved decking requires less mix to create a board. And, even though the savings per board is small, it adds up quickly over thousands of boards produced. Although some capstock and plastic deck manufacturersNote 1 insist that their products do not fade, the empirical evidence is to the contrary.

Using a hidden deck fastener system in a composite deck means that your deck will be free from screw heads showing. These hidden fastener systems create a beautiful, smooth surface and an easy transition from the inside of your home to your outdoor living space. The cost of composite decking materials falls in the middle.

A Lifetime Deck?

A tell-tale sign of a potential problem with the ledger board attachment is the absence of lag screw heads. The fix could be as simple as adding the appropriate number of heavy-duty lags to the existing frame. Along with its superior resistance to mold and mildew growth, another advantage of composite decking over traditional lumber is that it feels more comfortable underfoot – even in bare feet. Rather than struggling to maintain a clean, mildew-free appearance, many homeowners will opt to upgrade to a composite decking material. Rotted joists – Even treated lumber can be susceptible to damage from moisture. Over time, trapped moisture will slowly but surely cause wood to deteriorate.

In our backyard tests, composites reached Fahrenheit 109° to 111° (Celsius 42.77° to 43.89°) on a sunny summer day where the air temperature was a relatively mild 85° (31.67°). When composite deck manufacturers compare their products to wood decks, they always compare to unsealed wood decks. Comparing composite decking to unsealed wood is very much "apples to oranges" because composite decks are sealed at the factory while raw lumber is not sealed until you or your builder seals it. Generally, a sealed and maintained wood deck lasts about as long as a maintained composite deck. Instead they simply state that they use post-consumer and industrial waste (if they do, most don't), leaving it to you, the consumer, to decide if the stuff is truly environmentally friendly. The most common plastic binder used in composite deck boards is polyethylene.

This is especially important for walking on the deck barefoot, and for children and pets, whose feet are sensitive. Invented in the late 1980s, wood-plastic composite decking (also called “composite wood decking”) is made of wood fibers encased in plastic.

Here’s a detailed review about composite decking, including how to choose the best boards, comparing costs, as well as installing and cleaning them. NewTechWood UltraShield® composite decking boards and deck tiles eliminate the need to worry about wood rot, color fading, scuffing, scratching, shrinking or expanding. With proper preparation, you can expect your deck to be as good as new when the snow and ice thaw and warm weather returns. All wood decks naturally expand and shrink over time due to humidity and moisture. Composite decking is stable during extreme temperatures and weather conditions. Unlike traditional decking, composite decking is far less likely to expand, shrink or shift over time. Build a solid substructure with properly spaced joists to lay your composite decking on.