Wood And Composite Decking Pros And Cons

Avoid Improper Decking Gaps

One example is the slipperiness of composite decking when it’s wet. The reason for this is that plastic is oil-based in nature which causes water to sit on its surface rather than absorbing like wood.

Visit our Trex Products page for a detailed breakdown. Trex is available at Lowe's, Home Depot and other local dealers near you. Learn where to buy Trex decking materials and the supplies you need in order to complete your new deck.

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 .

Trex Company, Inc

(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). 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. On the surface, composite materials look mighty un-"green" with lots of unpronounceable chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic. So, are you trading convenience for some sort of health or ecological disaster when you select composite decking materials? But, neither are composites especially environmentally friendly.

“My Trex decking is 10 years old and has substantially deteriorated to the point where it is rough and pitted and the interior core material has become exposed. Since Trex decking is warranted for 25 years, I filed a warranty claim only to find out the quality problem I experienced was systemic and subject to a Class Action suit against Trex. So Trex agreed to replace the defective decking but decided as a matter of ‘policy’ that they would only replace 113 of the 144 defective boards. Arguing that they only replace defective product on a square footage basis. Even though acknowledging that there would not be enough boards to replace the defective ones. I should splice deck boards to comport to their minimized square footage solution?

Generally, a sealed and maintained wood deck lasts about as long as a maintained composite deck. Walking on the deck eventually wears through the plastic that "seals" the wood particles that make up the bulk of the material in a composite deck board. The plastic used in most composite decking is polyethylene , a soft and not very tough plastic. As will the tougher plastics like PVC and polypropylene. So, even if the factory's binder creates a perfect seal, and that's not possible, that perfection is soon compromised in the normal course of using the deck. Keep in mind that all composite decking materials, including composites, are still largely experimental. Unlike wood – with which we have worked for about a million years and the characteristics of which we know very well – composites are a new and imperfectly understood material.

Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons

Of course, the real value is in the time that you enjoy spending outdoors on your Trex deck. Our Cost Calculator will have your closest estimate for materials costs. Over the past few decades, composite decking has skyrocketed in popularity as an alternative to wood. Many new decks are being made with composite decking rather than wood, as manufacturers have led homeowners to believe that their products are superior to any real wood.

I took off the PT after 4 years and put down the Zuri … down about 5 years now. It’s strong enough to span the 16″ on a very solid structure. It’s 100 percent PVC and it’s equipped with an ASA capstock as well. Even though it’s the PVC and ASA, it’s what’s in the mix of the product. They have a nice wood grain texture but not as pronounced but still nice.

Although PVC decking is made using synthetic materials, Trex decking is made from 95% recycled content and involves the combination of wood scraps and polyethylene. Reclaimed sawdust, offcuts, and household plastic waste are combined and ground down under heat and pressure to come up with composite decking products. Composite decking material uses a combination of plastic and wood fibers.

TimberTech PRO Decking boasts 4-sided capped composite boards that have no wood particles, AKA organic material, in the cap. Plus, the cap flows through the grooves and onto the backside to cover all four sides of the board.

The finely ground ‘wood flour’ become a veritable Petri dish for mold. Mold gets into the crevices of composite decking and clings to the fine wood particles and has a very difficult time getting out. PVC and composite materials have made great strides into the decking industry during the past decade. The materials were once considered fake looking, but the companies that manufacturer these products have been able to replicate the look of wood without all the required maintenance. Certain companies that make composite brands have been working round the clock to improve their product. These products are now more resistant to stains, they don’t fade like wood, but they do need a little maintenance.

It’s offered in nine rich colors including Earth Tones with deep wood grains. Transcend also meets the ASTIM E84 Class B fire-resistance rating, as required by the California State Fire Marshal. You can find Trex composite decking in 6,700 retail locations around the world, including Home Depot and Lowe’s. Trex also sells composite decking to wholesale distributors, who then sell the products to retail lumber outlets.

The other issue that we noted was the deterioration of the wood joists under the composite decking. This was due to the drying qualities of composite decking. Wood decking will absorb moisture and release to the air around it.

• Wood fades, molds, cracks, splinters, and needs to be treated and sealed regularly for the deck to maintain its original look and feel.
• This type of product came about to extinguish the problems of typical wood decking.
• The newer technologies come in a multitude of colors, grain patterns and thicknesses.
• Composite decking is a decking material that is composed of several different recycled materials, though mainly hard plastic and wood.

Decking Buying Guide

You’ve decided it's time to replace your outdoor deck and you’re ready to take it on as a DIY project, or you’ve decided to work with a licensed and bondedcontractor for the heavy lifting. Staining is a major problem with older model Trex decking and a huge issue with older composite decking products in general. Because with a Trex deck you can’t sand or refinish the deck. If a stain occurs and can’t be cleaned the only remedy is replacing the entire board. This can be an issue with an older deck once fading has occurred since the new deck boards won’t match the old.