The Deck

Composite decking is a durable, low-maintenance alternative to traditional Wood decking made from a blend of wood fibers and plastic, along with chemical additives and bonding agents. The ratio of wood to plastic varies by brand. It's resistant to rot, decay, and insects, and doesn't require the same level of maintenance as wood. It requires minimal maintenance, such as sweeping or leaf blowing to remove debris, and spot cleaning with soapy water. It is highly water-resistant, making it a good choice for poolside decks, docks, and coastal environments and works beautifully for inland applications as well.

Pressure-treated wood is made by forcing a solution of water and preservatives deep into the wood using high pressure. The preservatives slow decay and resist termites, fungus, moisture, and other elements that cause rot. Pressure-treated wood is ideal for outdoor construction because it's less expensive than alternatives and has a long lifespan. It can withstand weather and stand strong for 30+ years with the proper maintenance.

Pressure-treated wood decks require regular maintenance, including applying water sealant every year, staining the deck every two years, and pressure washing the deck twice a year.

There are two basic types of pressure-treated wood: above-ground and ground contact. Above-ground wood can be used for deck railings, but it shouldn't touch the ground. Ground contact wood is suitable for parts of your deck that come in contact with the ground or are critical to the structure's safety.

Most wood decks are built from pressure-treated pine, cedar, redwood or from a few exotic species such as ipe. Depending on the wood chosen, a well-cared-for wood deck can last about 20 years. But many wood decks don’t make it that long because they require extensive upkeep to maintain and protect and those maintenance hassles become more than some homeowners can bear. If left untreated and uncared for, wood loses its luster, absorbs water, warps, rots and splinters. Therefore, to extend the life of the deck, homeowners must regularly apply stains, sealers or paint to protect it against the elements, requiring significant time and money.

In contrast, composite decking is ready when you are. You never need to worry about sanding, staining or painting. Just an occasional soap-and-water cleaning is all that’s needed to maintain superior stability and beauty for decades. Composite decking is a high-performance, weather-resistant shell that resists fading, staining and damage from sun, rain and insects. And not just for the first year, but for 25 or more.

Composite decking delivers high-definition wood grain patterns and rich, saturated colors. It looks and feels more natural than ever before. Color options range from deep earth tones to trendy neutrals, including tropically inspired boards that feature the distinct streaked look of hardwoods in designs that would fool even Mother Nature.

Wood decking that’s not regularly maintained loses it warm earthy tones and turns a dull grey from years of exposure to the elements.

You don’t have to settle for the typical rectangular deck either. Composite boards are well suited for specialty designs such as curves and inlays.

Composite wood products offer superior durability and performance that you can't get from wood. They resist termites, won't rot, warp, or splinter-and never needs staining or painting. What's more, composite wood decking is made from 95% recycled materials: That's an eco-friendly decking choice you can feel great about.

On average, the estimated material cost for a composite deck runs from $15 - $30 per square foot (including substructure, decking, hardware and fasteners).

Actual material costs and install costs can and will vary based on geographic area, site location, seasonality, design complexity, whether the product is stocked locally, and additional features such as stairs, angles, curves, lighting, etc. For most professionally installed projects, materials constitute up to one third of the total cost

While most of the raw materials used in making composite decking are recycled, these materials are carefully processed to ensure the highest level of quality and performance. The end result is decking that performs better than wood, lowering your cost over time through lesser maintenance.

With pressure-treated wood decks, maintenance costs add up over time. Although composite decks cost more initially, you'll never have to sand, stain or paint your deck. Over the life of your deck, those reduced maintenance costs add up to a greater value than wood—not to mention the value of the added time spent enjoying your deck rather than working on it.

Composite deck materials come with manufacturer specific warranties, but it doesn’t mean they won’t last longer. When these products were originally launched around 1998 they came with a 10-year warranty. Many of these products remain installed in the original homes and still look great after more than 25 years.

As with all product development, these companies have continued to make improvements resulting in longer lasting results than the earlier materials.

There is no issue with chlorine from the pool splashing on the deck boards and impacting the finish. Please note, that composite decking resists staining from chlorine water, however, some staining can be noticeable as chlorinated water drains/evaporates and leaves chemicals behind. In this case, stains may be easily removed using water and a soft brush.

Building with wood contributes directly to deforestation, wiping out trees that local wildlife depend on for food and shelter. The manufacturing of pressure-treated wood can have negative environmental impacts, such as copper mining, releasing particulates into the air, and forests not being harvested sustainably. Alternately, composite decking provides the look and feel of real wood, but without the environmental impact.

Composite decking is sustainably manufactured from 95% recycled content, including reclaimed industrial wood scraps and plastic film from common items such as mailer bags, shopping bags, newspaper sleeves and shrink wrap. In fact, one manufacturer estimates they keep more than 1 billion pounds of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills each year and have never cut down a tree in the making of their products.

As with most products that receive multiple hours of sunlight, composite decking boards may be warm in the summer months but should never get hot enough to burn you. As a good rule of thumb, darker colors will get warmer in the sun.

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