The Pros And Cons Of Composite Decking

Mold And Mildew On Composite Decking

The decks are made of zero maintenance recycled wood fibers and plastics. Expect just the cost of composite decking material itself to be two to five times more expensive than treated pine decking. Here are some of the other factors that add significantly to the total cost of a composite deck. If treated pine is properly sealed and maintained, it will last nearly forever. The difference is not how long a well-maintained deck will list but how much work is required to maintain it. Wood decks may require somewhat more maintenance over their lifetimes than do composite decks.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Composite Decks?

Hot coals or ignited gas too close to the surface will create similar results. You’ll want to look at how the sun shines on this material at your installation point as well.

The cut ends of composite decking are less than beautiful, requiring a finishing detail. If you're eager to minimise your impact on the world around you, you'll be pleased to learn that composite decking is a relatively green choice compared to traditional timber decking. Whereas the hardwood market contributes to deforestation, our composite deck boards are mostly made from reclaimed wood that would otherwise have gone into landfills.

List Of The Cons Of Composite Decking

Popular Mechanics notes that this type of decking generally costs between $2.50 and $3.50 per linear foot. In contrast, Decks.com notes treated lumber decks cost on average $0.75–$1.25 per linear foot. When looking to purchase composite decking you may be limited to choosing from 8 different colours. However, other types of decking may come in many other colours. What you should be aware of is that composite decking does not fade over time. This means you can buy some grey decking today and it will still be the same colour in 15 years. Wood decking can be treated and stained every year meaning there is an opportunity to change the colour slightly, however, this can be an arduous and expensive process.

• If you are thinking of removing your old wood deck and are on a budget, then treated lumber or cedar may be the best option for you.
• If however, you have a large budget and want to experiment with a long lasting and durable product then you might want to consider composite decking.
• For this reason, it is always a good idea to maintain or update your deck when it starts to fall apart and/or look outdated.
• We all know that patios provide a wonderful space to enjoy the warmth and relaxation of spring, summer, fall and depending on where you live, winter.

Composite manufacturers now admit that there are no "maintenance free" decking materials of any kind. Every decking material needs at least a periodic washing. Mold, mildew, and dirt attack every deck - plastic, metal, wood or composite – with evenhanded tenacity, and have to be taken care of at regular intervals. All composite manufacturers now recommend a periodic maintenance schedule, specific procedures, and even products by brand name for cleaning and maintaining their composite materials. When the first composite decking materials were introduced in the 1990s, it was eyed as being the next evolution of the deck-building industry.

Plastic Decking Boards End Caps

The binding component could be PVC, polypropylene or polyethylene and depending on that, these materials are divided into types and bearing different names. Those, containing PVC, for example, cannot be considered as environmentally friendly while composites which contain more than 70% wood may be treated as ordinary wood. When you choose composite decking for your home, then you’re using a product that is primarily made of recycled products.

Even though the added costs up front makes it more expensive to build a deck, you can usually offset the expense with the lower maintenance costs down the road. If you’re not in a position to manage the extra expense, then natural wood is going to be the better solution to consider.

The pros and cons of composite decking show that this material is useful in a variety of different situations. You can simulate the look and feel of natural wood while preserving the environment and reducing your maintenance needs. So, you are left with the final decision in examining the pros and cons of composite decking.

The only sure cure for this condition is prevention – sealing to restore the barrier that seals the wood particles from the elements. The mold protection, however, has been removed from the wood flour used in composite decks – not intentionally, but as a by-product of processing. In consequence, the flour provides a very friendly abode for mold and mildew which happily puts down roots.

Common issues with composite deck products can include severe scratches and deep gouges - difficult to repair without replacing individual deck boards. Since composite decks don’t need to be painted, stained, or treated. There is normally no need for annual or twice a year care. Keep in mind your typical wood deck will weather, fade, crack, and split as it dries over time. Therefore, In order to keep a pressure treated deck looking it’s best, you need to put in ongoing effort. A traditional look of wood decking but doesn’t always work with composite decking. More and more composite decking is scalloped to reduce cost and weight.

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.

Once well anchored in the wood particles, mold and mildew are almost impossible to eradicate. A failed plastic seal that no longer protects the wood fiber filler is the fundamental flaw of wood-plastic composite decking. Many homeowners feel that the premium cost of composite decks is definitely worth it if these burdensome tasks can be eliminated or much reduced. But, do you, in fact, gain a significant reduction in maintenance if you build a composite deck? This is a Trex composite but most non-capstock composite decking materials have this problem to some degree. We won’t be using composite decking materials for our deck. We already have most of the hardwood decking material from when we removed the deck from our old house.

You’ll pay a little more to use this material, but the initial expense is made up over the lifetime of the deck. Despite new technologies and techniques, UV rays from the sun can cause any type of deck to fade.