The Deck Handbook, Part 5

Avoid Improper Decking Gaps

Trex actually admits this on their own website when referring to their older generation products. Routine cleaning and maintenance are required for both wood and composite decks. Composite manufacturers now admit that there are no "maintenance free" decking materials of any kind. Every decking material needs at least a periodic washing. Mold, mildew, and dirt attack every deck - plastic, metal, wood or composite – with evenhanded tenacity, and have to be taken care of at regular intervals.

Most homeowners know that finding mold inside their homes is a huge hassle and potentially very scary; however, if it’s outdoors, is it a big deal? Outdoors, mold plays an integral part in breaking down dead leaves, trees, and plant matter to go back into the ecosystem. However, that also means that wood decks and traditional composite boards are prime real estate to hungry mold spores. When a home inspector says, “Mold is eating away at the foundation of your deck,” they mean it literally — mold isn’t a cheap date. Left unchecked, mold can lead to structural damage. In these locations, it’s probably best to avoid the use of composite decking materials that contain wood fibers that have not been treated with chemicals that prevent wood rot. Trex decking does not typically get hotter than pressure-treated wood, although on a hot day with a blazing sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot.

For wood decking, the remedy for would is cleaning and re staining. Composite decking requires using special cleaning chemicals that will kill the mold and remove some of the finish. This will leave the decking more porous and susceptible to more mold growth. This can happen in many ways but the most common is just the daily use of the deck.

Trex Company, Inc

It is important to choose composite lumber decking based on your budget, site and code requirements, fastener choice, and style and colour preferences. Although the price of quality composite decking will be higher than pressure-treated wood, they last longer and offer a greater appeal to home buyers when selling your home in the future. Many builders and homeowners choose wood materials for decks because it’s a low-cost option. Wood decking, however, requires more maintenance than composite decking. While you may save on your initial investment, you will end up spending more money and time to maintain your deck. Trex composite decking resists fading, staining, scratching and mold, and will not rot, warp, crack or splinter.

We had come across several issues during the inspection of the deck. One issue of note was that the boards where cracking and splitting along the edges. Like most decking wood or composite there needs to be some space for expansion and contraction.

A high-quality composite deck has a greater appeal for potential buyers as it requires low maintenance. This means that it will retain more of its transferable value for a longer period compared to other deck materials. A high-quality composite deck is more expensive than the traditional pressure-treated lumber and its price ranges between $5.00 and $7.00 per 8-inch board.

Wood And Composite Decking Review: Pros And Cons

Of course, the real value is in the time that you enjoy spending outdoors on your Trex deck. Our Cost Calculator will have your closest estimate for materials costs. Over the past few decades, composite decking has skyrocketed in popularity as an alternative to wood. Many new decks are being made with composite decking rather than wood, as manufacturers have led homeowners to believe that their products are superior to any real wood.

Decking & Railing Duos

A professional house low pressure wash could not make any headway either. I called TREX in late June or early July and a Kevin asked me to send him pictures. Early-generation composite decking (Trex Origins®, Trex Accents®, Trex Profiles®, Trex Brasilia® and Trex Contours®) represented a breakthrough for low-maintenance and durability.

Although PVC decking is made using synthetic materials, Trex decking is made from 95% recycled content and involves the combination of wood scraps and polyethylene. Reclaimed sawdust, offcuts, and household plastic waste are combined and ground down under heat and pressure to come up with composite decking products. Composite decking material uses a combination of plastic and wood fibers.

A combination of organic and synthetic materials captures the best of both worlds creating a durable product that is similar to wood decking. This unique combination makes composite decks expensive than other types of decking material. This article looks at whether a composite deck is worth the money and how to choose the best composite decking material.

The finely ground ‘wood flour’ become a veritable Petri dish for mold. Mold gets into the crevices of composite decking and clings to the fine wood particles and has a very difficult time getting out. PVC and composite materials have made great strides into the decking industry during the past decade. The materials were once considered fake looking, but the companies that manufacturer these products have been able to replicate the look of wood without all the required maintenance. Certain companies that make composite brands have been working round the clock to improve their product. These products are now more resistant to stains, they don’t fade like wood, but they do need a little maintenance.

In this instance the phrase, "You get what you pay for" may be very important. If you are considering using a composite decking material, do your research. Ask people that you know about the decks that they have installed and what issues they have come across.

Responses To Composite Decking Mushrooms

On the Jersey Shore, where Hurricane Sandy turned many of the area's fabled boardwalks into driftwood, oceanfront communities are rebuilding, and some are choosing composites over wood. initially planned to use Ipe, a tropical hardwood found in the Amazon rainforest. But environmental groups including the Sierra Club encouraged the towns to go with composite decking. After the decision, some critics noted that Ipe can be sourced from sustainably-harvested forests, and they offered the opinion that it will outlast composite decking. That’s why these seaside boardwalks will be under the building industry’s microscope in the years ahead. Currently there is additional bad news for the composite decking industry regarding Trex decking and their latest multi-million dollar class action mold lawsuit. It is absolutely true that all decks and decking materials have some susceptibility to mold and mold related issues.

• Wood fades, molds, cracks, splinters, and needs to be treated and sealed regularly for the deck to maintain its original look and feel.
• This type of product came about to extinguish the problems of typical wood decking.
• The newer technologies come in a multitude of colors, grain patterns and thicknesses.
• Now that a little time has passed and some research has been done, these expansive claims are just not holding up.
• Composite decking is a decking material that is composed of several different recycled materials, though mainly hard plastic and wood.

Decking Buying Guide

What is certain is that making WPCs requires a careful mixing of ingredients not just for performance but to keeps costs under control. One way to reduce costs is by reducing the amount of material used. It's a principal reason why a lot of lower-priced composite decking is flat on just one side and scalloped or grooved on the other. Grooved decking requires less mix to create a board.