Wood decks of lower quality  such as pine, can withstand climate changes more easily, unlike ipe and mahogany. In the UK, Ipe is one of the most common decking materials, as it is durable, but there are other options, such as Elondo, Teak, Merbau, Belinga, Kebony, Iroko, Cumaru, Kurupay and Massaranduba. The staining seems to be coming though the paint from the wood below but it can’t be mould as it’s too new, any idea what it is & how to treat it please? Required fields are marked *. Composite decking was first introduced in the 90s by Trex who developed the initial idea of a composite made from 95% recycled sawdust waste and used plastic bottles (HDPE) where the wood fibers act as reinforcement for the recycled plastic. While most composite decking is made up of the same materials, they can range quite a bit when it comes to price. They initially offered a very basic product in a few colors that were easily achieved. Never settle for bare minimum. Most composite decks have special textures which make them slip resistant when wet. Many people choose composite over wood, even though it is substantially more expensive, and, has a lower return-on-investment (about 68 percent, compared […] We installed composite decking but first sign of rain and there is water stain Mark’s all over it.Could you tell me why this is?. Hollow composite decking may seem like a great choice at first. Composite decking is among the best garden surfaces. Cellular PVC decking with an ASA capstock is the best decking in the entire vinyl deck industry. Composite decking has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 90s, and TimberTech and Trex have led the way through growth and innovation. Wood decks on the other hand lack this feature and can get quite slippery especially if there’s a thin layer of mold growing on them. More people are turning to composite timber for their decking, as it has a number of benefits. Could just cover with a thick carpet, but I may sell next spring, and want to get it resolved. There are a lot of options for decking today. It's usually a lot cheaper than solid decking and it can look perfectly good on the surface. How about you? There was a product called Clubhouse decking that was awesome. Learn how your comment data is processed. The railings are showing signs of fatigue as well. Only wholesale big box store product that is even somewhat decent and at least better than any of the others, is Timbertech Azek. Vekadeck has the most intense Wood grain texture out of any deck board. Please don’t make an expensive mistake and listen to the contractor whos limited to these composite products. Are you talking about trex in this? They are not universal products … some of the composite products will not work with typical 16″ spacing when replacing a wood deck — especially one that’s not firm to begin with. VEKADECK is the best deck board in the entire vinyl decking industry. Wood, always a better option. Do not buy Trex! Examine Material Safety Data Sheets for most of the major WPC and PVC products in the business and you'll find that many list up to 50% of their ingredients as "proprietary." In NY there’s only 1 I believe, Upstate. Mold is not a major concern here, but … How do I know if a contractor is knowledgeable?? Wolf PVC decking is very good too. If it is a wholly earthy and natural appearance you are hoping to achieve, then timber wins hands down, but in contemporary schemes a composite often works well. Let us know in the comments below along with any tips and recommendations. Required fields are marked *. The features of Millboard combined provide the benefits of safety and cost saving, without the need to maintain the decking … There is actually nothing wrong with my current deck, it’s as strong as ever, even after 36 years! Yes, it’s can be scratched with something that scratches but there is a touch-up kit that quickly repairs the surface. Inside is wood fillers and recycled milk jugs, garbage bags etc. It’s a good board, I’d place it up there in like the top 3 you can buy. I notice this issue showing up after a decade or more of use, but it certainly shows up and when it does it usually makes the deck unusable. Take a look at some of the websites where homeowners have posted their reviews, and you’ll read 1 and 2 star reviews all day long. This principle applies to other types of wood as well. Alternative to wood building products have a place .. I’m restoring and adding to an old stone building in PA …. Is Composite Decking Any Good? Even though it’s the PVC and ASA, it’s what’s in the mix of the product. One of the cheapest hardwood materials, pre-drilled and with basic design, will cost anywhere between £190 and £220 per square meter. Otherwise this is very misleading and straight up false on most points with any decent brand. It’s only available to the biggest and best deck companies in the country. And a lot don't even reveal they put in any additives. Is composite decking slippery? The splashes and spills will not harm the decking – … It is a popular alternative to the traditional wood decking that homeowners go for. ; More sustainability and durability with more life span. Nowadays, the choice between both comes down to your own budget and personal preferences. Has anyone had experience with NewTechWood on a deck? What may work on a properly built deck in a dry area — may not at the beach (hot) or on a ground level deck in a moist area. There was a time that the quality of composite decking was really bad and durability wise, it didn’t last as long as wood. Pros Weather resistant; Stain resistant; Lightweight Today, there are still all of the wood options of yesterday, but now there are scores of different composite decking options. Read between the lines of the warranty too. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It’s 100 percent PVC and it’s equipped with an ASA capstock as well. Your email address will not be published. Placing your composite deck under an awning or other covering may help preserve its color, but not all homes can accommodate this type of setup. Again, it seems completely random when this happens, but it happens often enough that you should know about it. Copyright © 2013 - 2019 Fantastic Gardeners. These plastic composite gives natural wood look with elegance beauty. Add extra joist to achieve 12″ centers. Have you any tried of the bamboo decking ? Right! is tough for decks because it really does limit your options and often results in more spring/sag as time goes on. It’s a bunch of crap. You can always go above and beyond code. For now, I’d say the best way to avoid problems with composite decking are to avoid it altogether and stick with wood. It’s a good stuff about composite decking. Even buying the best cedar and finishing both sides — 10 years it was a mess. It is. I am trying to figure out if there’s anything to be done besides having the entire thing replaced! I have not used Weardeck. The budget you need for a woodwork deck project varies from softwood to hardwood. I wish it was more widely available but Veka is a super picky company about who they’ll let install their products. I don’t think that an inch or two either way will make any structural difference. Most of those come from South America and South-East Asia with their own specific traits, colour and grain differences. I am so happy to have read about this topic: Composite decking. Decking that is in shaded area or areas that tend to get wet frequently have been shown to … You may be one of the lucky ones who installs composite decking and gets away with it, or you may end up constantly on the phone trying to persuade them into the honoring their warranty, which is extremely hard to do. Check out the video below to see how springy these boards can really get! Carol.. wolf is a very good product. If the wood absorbs moisture quickly, then it will need to be sealed and stained. I assume no one in the form has to ability to buy Vekadeck or else I’d see it mentioned. Your email address will not be published. I returned all the uncut boards to the lumber yard for credit. The accounts of issues are repeated with a frightening regularity and sameness throughout the threads of complaints. But there’s also a lot of high quality options that don’t do the things you say. Composite decking has come a long way since it first came out, but it’s not there yet. The big box stores sell mid level products — “it’s the best we sell” . It’s very difficult to get and they only offer their products to the top decking companies in the country. The price of the decking heavily depends on the different manufacturer, as well as the material, shape and complexity. Composite Decking is the better option. Make sure that the screws are made of stainless steel – otherwise other metals might react in an unpleasant way with the cedar and leave black spots. Keep up your good work. at bay. It is NOT a true PVC product. I think I will keep it, for now. While composite decking is flimsy on its own, integrated with the whole assembly of the deck, it could last longer than any wood deck flooring with the proper care and maintenance. Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance. That in itself can be a downside, because you have no way of removing scratches. The short answer to the introductory question of the answer is yes: you can find composite decking that is not only good, but actually your best option. I replaced my cedar decking five years ago with Trex Transcends Havana Gold decking. When did you purchase the home and was the deck recently done. You can always refer to a pro with enough experience to handle this troublesome task. In that case, how long does a cedar deck last? Never was a big believer in composite decking … Not really. Trex Composite Decking. Wood decks on the other hand lack this feature and can get quite slippery especially if there’s a thin layer of mold growing on them. Appearan… Even though there are a number of composite deck brands currently on the market, we recommend limiting your search to companies that have a current engineering report. Does anyone have experience with TimberTech AZEK Vintage Collection or TimberTech Pro Legacy being used in desert/extreme heat/high sun areas? Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to what their products are really capable of. Don’t be fooled by the contractors on here saying it’s not what it used to be. Composite decking can range anywhere from $4 to $7.20 per square foot, and most manufacturers offer either a 25-year or limited-lifetime warranty. I am in the process of switching over to aluminum boards which are more expensive. ft. I’m in Canada, east coast the weather gets quiet cold in winters. Check their lawsuit 3 years ago. NDiffering from their competitors, Millboard composite decking offer a board that is free from wood composite and is made by a carbon-neutral company. Carol.. wolf is a very good product. Pine softwood decks cost between £120 to £140 pounds per square metre. Trex Decking!!! The other bit of good news is that composite decking is typically made of wood fibres and plastics that are bound together using a binding agent and that makes this decking … So, there you have it. They can get really hot really fast when exposed to direct sunlight. With that in mind, boards that are hollow don’t retain as much heat, and PVC capped boards will be the coolest. Below are some of the issues that crop up most often. Some composite decking has faded so quickly in just a couple of seasons that replacements boards stand out like a sore thumb. Fiberon, trex, Timbertech composites are all horrible. It’s one of the best PVC deck boards available and it doesn’t rot, mold, mildew or warp. But to paint the whole category as bad is absolutely false. 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. If you been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, you’re probably thinking “Oh now, here he goes again bemoaning another modern product.” Well, I want to tell you that that is not the case. Choose the best softwood timber according to affordability, colour and installation method. It depends on the texture of your deck. Wood decking made from natural and high-quality materials can be considered an investment. We (my wife and I) purchased our current home, as new, nearly 18 years ago. Aluminum decking! Pick carefully … people think they are a cheaper way to go … this is not always the case. In certain states, almost 50% of decks are already made … The first thing we have to say about much of the composite decking that’s available today is that it is significantly better in both looks and durability than the options that were available only a few years ago and that’s good news. Thank you. The differences and similarities between wood and composite deck platforms. Anywhere from 25 to 30 years without maintenance. Don’t buy it. feet deck in the Dallas, Tex. The cost factor and maintenance efforts put into both types of decking. There’s a couple others out there. Of course, darker colours attract more sunlight compared to lighter ones. If this was written 12 years ago, some points would be valid. Area. As Millboard Composite Decking is made from a unique polyurethane resin blend, this non-pourous material resists any kind of moisture, algae, stains, mould or impact. Composite decks generally hold up better than wood decks, but they are still prone to weathering over time. For me, I’m not comfortable trusting the same companies who told us 20 years ago that their product was foolproof and failed that now they’ve REALLY made it foolproof. It’s not a true PVC deck board however it is Vinyl. Made of materials that include recycled and new plastic, bamboo, and wood fibers, these synthetic or composite decking products have evolved as an important alternative where green or eco-conscious materials are desired, such as in LEED-qualified or certified construction. In order to lower the damage, always pick cleaning detergents that are specifically made for composite materials – otherwise, the deck colour might fade. My deck is ugly now and no one is helping me be compensated for this crap decking. We do not recommend using any composite decking with a hollow core . Pine, premium hardwoods, and reclaimed wood were the main materials used, but composite decking has since come along and changed the decking industry for good. One particularly attractive usage of this awesome material is the bamboo decking / swimming pool combo. At least one doesn't reveal any at all. Wolf is a PVC product with an ASA capstock. It is a fiberglass composite but I cannot find much information on them. I’m looking at Fibero , however. I'd say it's less slippery than our other real wood decking so good for a wet area (and in the rain). These aren’t cheap but we are doing them ourselves and using out own hardware. Is a plastic decking board any good? There are bad brands of products in every building material category…doesn’t mean the whole category is junk. I bought a remodeled house which the builder put composite decking. Anywhere between £180 and £240 – it will include the installation fee, too. They rebrand their boards every other year. Share with your friends. The battle between wood and composite decking materials has been going on for decades with mixed results. The home builder was so impressed by the product (at that time) he wished that he had used it for the large deck, he had recently built, on his own home. They have a nice wood grain texture but not as pronounced but still nice. It’s not wood, so it shouldn’t be expanding and moving the same, right? If the article was to say there are a lot of cheap, garbage composites out there…I would agree. I’ve talked to lots of distributors and nobody knows what brand it is. Also, plastic wood decking is attractive and is Seal and stain the wood deck once every couple of years. Hardwood vs. Old houses can be daunting and that’s why I’m here to help you figure them out. This is due to the fact that the better part of the composite mixture (around 60 to 80%) is made of pieces of wood. It came with a deck that was made with early type (uncapped?) If you can find that, it’s your best option. All the details on composite VS wood decking. The combination of the bamboos natural color, with the crystal clear blue water in a pool is one awesome combination. 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View our rates and availability in your home tend to get it.... Pt decking boards — ugly were cedar — over PT frame again, will. The forums i ’ d see it mentioned than any of the wood... All horrible composite and natural wood look with elegance beauty they only offer their products are entirely... Specific traits, colour and installation instructions be compensated for this crap decking think i will keep it long-lasting it. 24×16 deck in Miami with Fiberon Goodlife weekender composite decking materials and prices, are.

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