Why Composite Decking Is Better Now Than Ever Beforebuilddirect Blog

Composite Wood For Decks

In addition to saving trees, the manufacturing process keeps other waste products out of landfills. 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. When you choose composite decking for your home, then you’re using a product that is primarily made of recycled products. That means you don’t need to cut down more trees just so that you can build a deck. The recycled plastic in the product takes waste away from the ocean or having it enter our food supply.

For milder issues, you can wash it with a basic brush and detergent. Hollow and solid composite boards have their own pros and cons. Hollow boards don’t expand and contract as often as solid boards do, but when they do, it’s less even and smooth. Solid boards, on the other hand, are sturdier and they don’t hold water inside like hollow boards sometimes do. Real wood is also more prone to damage than composite wood.

As a roofing contractor, we have handled many types of building materials over the years, but none with as high recycled content as Trex. Trex decking in Maryland is quickly becoming the preferred decking material for homeowners and with good reason. Over time, your investment is better protected from damage and the elements while also helping keep waste out of the landfill. There are a massive amount of styles and colors to choose from to fit the appearance and needs of any home. The primary alternative to real wood is composite wood for your deck. Composite wood is made from a combination of wood particles and select types of plastic like polyethylene. For most wooden decks, you’ll need to seal and stain them every two to three years.

Wood Decking

Your deck doesn’t have to be boring and can be just as unique as you are. While I have plenty of good memories of time spent on the deck, I also have my fair share of bad ones. Since it’s made of wood, I remember spending an entire weekend power washing the gunk off of it, then spending the following weekend covering it with water sealant. Chromated copper arsenate is a wood preservative containing chromium, copper, and arsenic. Starting in the 1940s, CCA was used to make pressure-treated lumber. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has classified CCA as a restricted-use product. Since 2003, the pressure-treated wood industry discontinued the use of CCA for residential use.

Products & Services

As homeowners and consumers, each day it’s important for us to consider how we can spend more consciously and prioritize products that are better for the environment. Trex composite decking is a great alternative to wood decking for this purpose especially. On the other hand, Trex boards are created from 95% recycled materials.

Keep in mind that the less your wood costs, the more maintenance it tends to require. While real wood has advantages for the initial installation, the downsides emerge over time. Wood requires more maintenance than composite wood, so it takes more time and more money over the years. There’s no better peace-of-mind knowing that your outdoor investment will look good for years to come. This is usually mentioned as the largest disadvantage of composite products. IN fact, they can be anywhere from 50 to 100 per cent more than standard treated lumber, though this varies based on your location. While many people select lumber options because they are more affordable, they must recognized the increase cost of labor that should also be considered.

Comparing Composite Vs Wood Decking

Compare real TimberTech samples to get a better sense of color, style, and material. A bisection of a Silver Maple scalloped-profile deck board from the Terrain Collectionâ„¢ of the TimberTech PRO line. Note that the high-performance polymer cap gets in the grooves to banish moisture and protect your investment.

• Because the components are virtually maintenance-free, gallons of stain and/or sealant are saved.
• Composite decking materials are composed primarily of hard plastic, and unlike wood, this material will not splinter or crack.
• The eco-benefits of composite extend beyond the recycled materials used in the decking’s manufacture.
• The experts at Trex share some of the reasons why you should consider using composite materials for your next outdoor living project.
• If you walk on a wood deck barefoot, you risk a splinter—but that is not the case when walking on a composite deck.
• More durable than wood, composite decking stays out of the landfill longer.

Advantages Of Trex® Decking Material

When you choose real wood, you can pick from a variety of wood types from pine to mahogany. We build decks in greater Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Eastern Washington including Grand Coulee and North Idaho. All employees took great steps to ensure the highest quality product was designed and built. Ahead of schedule, Ridgeline produced a superior and beautiful deck at a very reasonable price.

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. Often, people choose premium products like composite decking, which an attractive, low maintenance finish. Among wood decking’s pros and cons, affordability is a decided benefit. Typically, wood decking is lower cost to purchase than composites, especially in the initial purchase. However, although the initial cost of wood is less, composite usually ends up paying for itself within 2-3 years when including the cost of annual maintenance. The price differential also depends on the wood species chosen versus the brand of composite decking, and local market conditions. Despite the initial cost of purchasing composite decks being higher than that of wood, the maintenance is very minimal and easy.

This type of decking is also very safe because it’s splinter-free, making it ideal for families and pets. Fading seems to be another complaint with composite deck owners. My parents have talked for years about replacing their wood deck with a composite deck. Many of you out there might be in the same spot and wonder if this type of deck will work for you, so let’s take a closer look at them. Wood grains range from cathedral and straight patterns to dual-embossed wood grains to hand-scraped and infinitely variable finishes. The estimated average cost of capped polymer deck boards and Ipe hardwood decking costs are based on the national average for a 16’ x 20’ deck.

Enjoy It Tips & ideas to get the most out of your new outdoor oasis. This product is not intended for use as a structural support. More UV protection has been incorporated into each board resist fading. The overall design of each board has been bolstered to create a more moisture-resistant surface. The result was boards that are less prone to deterioration. This process has become more sophisticated in recent years since it was first conceived. Boards are made to be hardier, with surface patterning that is more detailed.

Durable – Composite decking looks like wood, but they differ in several ways. This material is extremely durable, it’s perfect for use even for families with little kids or pets.