Is Composite Decking Right For You?

Posted by Ben

April 27, 2009

Summer is steaming towards us and there is a growing number of people who are looking to put in a deck in the back yard. So as you begin your research, you are going to be hit with an issue right away: composite decking or real wood? Personally we have composite decking with real wood supports, but it came with the place so the decision was non-existent. You have a chance to save some money here…read on past the break to find out.So what are the pros and cons of composite decking? What is composite decking anyway? Its a polyethylene-wood mix and you can also get more plastic versions known as “all plastic” alternatives. The more plastic in the product, the more you can expect to pay, as a general rule.

PROS
Little maintenance. The annual cleanings and stainings can be done away with and the cost can be recouped in about 5 years.

Longevity. Termites and other wood loving insects will avoid it and it won’t rot.

Color. You can’t get away from all fading but it won’t turn grey like natural wood.

Less joints. Composite boards can be manufactured at much longer lengths so the number of joints can be reduced.

Eco-Friendly. Every 10 square feet has 3,000 recycled plastic bags and 1,1oo one-gallon milk jugs.

Cons
Pricey up front. Expect to pay 30% more than pressure treated pine.

Scuffable. If you move your deck furniture, or have pets or kids that are too unruly, there can be some unsandable marks.

Stainable. Some have hardwoods can really take up stains and may look uneven. Again, not sandable.

Hot stuff. Denser composites will absorb more heat and hold it for longer.

Not a great wood subsitute. In fact, once you start looking hard at the composite decking you can tell its not real wood.

Take a look at the profiles of your composite options for two reasons: 1) installation methods and 2) stability. As far as installation goes:

Install boards closer than the standard 16 inch joists; there is more sag than natural wood.
Don’t place screws too close to the edge as they will crumble
Be sure about spacing as there will be movement (longer in summer, and shorter in winter). Butt joints need to be specifically spaced.
Same with widths, place a 16d nail between slats so the spacing maintains optimally. Too close and mildew can grow and too far, it will look weird.

So as you can see there is a lot that goes into it. I would recommend you make your own decision based on waht you value most and do as much of the labor yourself. Find a contractor who comes reputable, bonded and insured and see if they will get it started structurally and finish it yourself. Labor always eats into budgets so get some of that sweatequity to work!

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