Rapid Methods For Canberra Composite Decking - Facts For 2020

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Wood And Composite Decking Pros And Cons




Avoid Improper Decking Gaps


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.


This is due to an improper amount of bounding agent and antioxidant added to the composite material. Ultimately, the wood fiber absorbs moisture with UV together which causes the composite decking to decay, crumble, deteriorate, and rot.


Dimensionally stable steel provides consistency and reliability that wood doesn't, and is more fire-resistant as well. Leveraging the strength of steel, Elevations can span longer distances between posts and precise engineering ensures surfaces that remain flat over time. Most area rugs aren't a problem with Trex decking, but we do recommend cleaning underneath them regularly. In rare cases, rugs made of plastic or viscose materials may bleed, drawing colorant out of the decking or making them difficult to remove. Always allow your decking to fully dry before fitting a rug into place. If you've noticed any staining, scratching or fading over the years, it's likely you have early-generation decking.


Trex Company, Inc


Trex has an integrated line of porch components, including railing and LED lighting. It recently introduced a cellular PVC pergola that comes in kit form. Today’s growing market share coincides with a major technological upgrade, which the industry calls capped composites. Older products typically had only their top surface sealed, leaving pathways for moisture. The wood-composite core of many next-generation planks is fully encapsulated with a protective shell during the extrusion process.


How much does it cost to replace a wood deck with composite?

Decking Material Costs
Cedar Deck Boards Between $3 to $6 per square foot. Redwood Deck Boards Between $10 to $15 per square foot. Ipe Deck Boards Between $10 to $20 per square foot. Composite Deck Boards Between $12 to $22 per square foot.


There are different composite products on the market and the availability of these products may vary depending on your location. Most composite decks are manufactured from the by-products of wood such as wood chips, sawdust, and recycled plastic materials. Capped polymer and 4-sided capped composite decking provide homeowners with a great alternative to traditional composite and wood decks that are susceptible to mold and mildew. While composite decking is known for being a step up from wood decking, not all boards are created equal. Composite decking is made up of a blend of wood particles and plastic materials to form a deck board, thensomeare capped with a synthetic material to help keep moisture out. Any exposed wood particles in a board’s core or cap weaken its defense from mold, mildew, and moisture damage. Unlike other decking materials, composite decks can provide the look and feel of natural wood without the environmental impact of cutting down trees for timber.



Moisture that gets trapped under the decking and on top of the wood joists would tend to stay there and keep the joist from drying properly. Wood that is not allowed to dry properly will be more susceptible to rot and decay. The reason for color fading comes from the wood fiber content. Inconsistent fading occurs due to the manufacturer’s inability to control the consistency of the colorant and raw materials being added. When the first generation composite boards are exposed to the UV and water it begins to decompose.


Do composite decks get hot?

How Hot Can Composite Decking Get in the Sun? One study found that in direct sunlight, composite decks can reach temperatures from 34° to 76° F hotter than the surrounding air. On an 80° day, that could mean a deck surface temperature of more than 150°.


Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons


It seems that under some conditions the coating seal placed on Trex composite decking can fail, exposing it to the elements. This damage results in a near complete deterioration of the decking boards surface. Replacing severely damaged boards seems to be the only remedy.




A decade later, as companies began to offer new products that looked like fresh-cut cedar and Brazilian walnut but never turned gray, sales of composites took off. When did you purchase the home and was the deck recently done. If there is mold, you will have a problem with virtually all warranties. I had a 500 plus sq foot deck under construction and the delivered boards from TimberTech had mold, irregular finish plus the finish was flaking off where the pattern was irregular. I returned all the uncut boards to the lumber yard for credit. There are serious inherent design problems with the composite decking product. I am in the process of switching over to aluminum boards which are more expensive.


If you're hiring a pro, note that the cost of labor—either to build a new deck or to replace worn planking on an existing structure—can easily exceed the cost of the materials. Composite decking is a man-made synthetic mixture of ‘wood flour’ and plastics which are highly susceptible to mold.



5 Great Deck Materials.

Posted: Sun, 07 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]


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.


What are the problems with composite decking

Composite decking is made of a combination of wood and plastic. This combination is intended to reduce chance of rot and extend the life of the deck, however the material is not indestructible. The surface of the boards can be scratched rather easily.


Is composite decking hot to walk on?

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Hot surface: Probably the top complaint about composite decking is that it tends to get very hot in direct sunlight. Some surfaces that are exposed to direct sunlight all day may be to warm to walk on with bare feet. This will depend partly on the color of the material.


Responses To Composite Decking Mushrooms


A composite board not only expands across the width of the board but also along its length. The seasonal movement along the length of a 20' composite board may be as much as one inch. Expect just the cost of composite decking material itself to be two to five times more expensive than treated pine decking.


  • Such wood-alternative decking materials include plastic or PVC, and while it can be easy to confuse plastic decking and composite decking, the difference in the materials speaks for itself.
  • While you may save on your initial investment, you will end up spending more money and time to maintain your deck.
  • Trex composite decking resists fading, staining, scratching and mold, and will not rot, warp, crack or splinter.
  • While wooden decks had long been popular, wood-alternative decking materials have surged in popularity in recent years.
  • Upkeep is virtually hassle-free and requires no sanding, staining or painting.
  • Trex decking is made from a composite material that blends plastic film and wood fibers.


Upkeep is virtually hassle-free and requires no sanding, staining or painting. Trex decking is made from a composite material that blends plastic film and wood fibers. While wooden decks had long been popular, wood-alternative decking materials have surged in popularity in recent years. Such wood-alternative decking materials include plastic or PVC, and while it can be easy to confuse plastic decking and composite decking, the difference in the materials speaks for itself. Thanks to the unique blend of plastic film and wood fibers, Trex decking is stronger and more resilient than its plastic counterparts.