Is Composite Decking Worth The Extra Cost?

Do Composite Decks Get Hot?

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When weighing the costs of installing a patio, keep in mind that it needs to be on level ground, so you’ll have to pay to make the surface even if you choose to install it on your property. This tool is powered by our partner Networx which has been specializing in collecting, vetting and rating decking contractors for more than 20 years. Envision is a brand under the TAMKO umbrella; a company is best known for selling building products including residential roofing.

The Pros & Cons Of Different Types Of Decking

Install Composite Decking From Newtechwood

Our deck is made of wood and has not held up well over time. There are boards that are rotting and we will definitely have to replace it within the next year. I did 2 sections of decking, 6.7m x 3m and 9m x 1.2m, constructed as above - Ecodek cost was £2400, everything else about £700, so all in just over £3k. I laid strips of black DPC used for bricks along the joists, to a deflect any water away from the joists and to avoid seeing wood colour through the grey decking. Composite decking isn't the cheapest option on the market, but if you are thinking of adding a deck to your property, 'cheap' isn't what you should be looking for. What you really want isvalue for money - lots of people purchase inferior, low-price deck boards only to be disappointed when their new deck fails within the first year. Interesting discussion, particularly zone8's comment about the shaded deck.

Composite decking features engineered panels that easily connect to create a platform for your outdoor living area. This synthetic material contains wood from paper, sawdust and ground waste, as well as recycled plastic from shopping bags, water bottles and jugs. Together, these fibers produce an aesthetically pleasing, low-maintenance, eco-friendly deck, including the banister, railing and stairs. If you’re planning on installing a deck or fence in the near future, or if it is time to upgrade your current installation, you’ve got a decision to make. Will you go with traditional timber, or will you choose composite materials?

But to paint the whole category as bad is absolutely false. There are bad brands of products in every building material category…doesn’t mean the whole category is junk. I’m in the mid-atlantic and have replaced both of my decks — beach and suburbs – with Zuri.

You can find TimberTech’s products at decking dealers across the U.S. along with stores like Lowes, 84 Lumber, and Home Depot. You can find out more about the Pro lineup in our full breakdown of TimberTech. What may work on a properly built deck in a dry area — may not at the beach or on a ground level deck in a moist area. 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.

I always imagined that would require less maintenance than our full sun deck. ;) We have a wood deck in full sun that has to be recoated every single year. The only area that looks slightly worn are the steps there which get more sun of course.

It won’t warp, bulge, or split after exposure to the elements either. That means your deck will look just as good five years from now as it does today when you or your preferred contractor install the product correctly. I lived in Brazil for a couple of years, so I'm pretty cynical about the organization they have to protect the wood. But I just couldn't get around the fact that it was the best available product for what I wanted. In my area, people don't usually use the composites for covered spaces. We are dry, but at this elevation the summer sun is punishing. A covered cedar deck will last at least 30 years round here, so it's hard to justify the up-charge for a composite.

• You’ll still need to follow the basic precautions to prevent mold growth, such as installing the product at least two feet above ground to allow for proper ventilation.
• The pros and cons of composite decking show that this material is useful in a variety of different situations.
• That’s why you’ll find this deck option as a top choice in communities like Seattle where the wet weather is an almost constant feature of life throughout the year.
• This advantage also means that your deck will fight off mold and mildew better than natural wood products.
• The modern composite decking manufacturing process helps the boards to become mostly impermeable to water.
• You can simulate the look and feel of natural wood while preserving the environment and reducing your maintenance needs.

Do your research to anyone who’s reading and I hope this helps. Please don’t make an expensive mistake and listen to the contractor whos limited to these composite products. There was a product called Clubhouse decking that was awesome. They ended up getting bought out to a company in Canada and downsized a lot. You cannot go to any lumber yard or store and order Veka. It’s only available to the biggest and best deck companies in the country. I assume no one in the form has to ability to buy Vekadeck or else I’d see it mentioned.

Maintenance is the #1 reason that we went with composite deck material on our second floor deck. Maintaining a ground level deck is one thing, doing so on the second story is just something I didn't want to have to figure out. I am in the process of building a new home and will have several outdoor decking areas, most of them covered. The upper main deck has two sections - one section is covered and is screened in, the second section is not covered. There is a lower deck that runs underneath the entire 2 upper deck sections, so it is completely covered. I also have a separate lanai off the master bedroom that is covered.