Advantage And Disadvantages Wood Plastic Composite

Mold And Mildew On Composite Decking

The decks are made of zero maintenance recycled wood fibers and plastics. Expect just the cost of composite decking material itself to be two to five times more expensive than treated pine decking. Here are some of the other factors that add significantly to the total cost of a composite deck. If treated pine is properly sealed and maintained, it will last nearly forever. The difference is not how long a well-maintained deck will list but how much work is required to maintain it. Wood decks may require somewhat more maintenance over their lifetimes than do composite decks.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Composite Decks?

Travelers. Durability comes at a cost, as composite decking is more expensive than wood.

If you don’t use pressure-treated lumber, then the lifespan of the deck is going to be less because the wood will rot out from underneath the boards on top of it eventually. You’ll want to make sure your contractor is not cutting corners on this step by using natural wood with a water-resistant stain. The cost of using composite decking for your home is 50% more than what you would pay for pressure-treated wood. It’s even more than redwood or cedar if you use a standard grade of lumber.

List Of The Cons Of Composite Decking

Once you have the frame built and attached to the primary structure, you just start laying the boards down horizontally, vertically, or diagonally based on your overall preference. If you choose a capped product for your composite decking, then the boards are sealed in plastic that can be embossed or colored to create the variegated look of a natural wood product. You’ll find that capped composite decking also tends to be more resistant to fading, scratching, and stain damage. Most manufacturers provide a 25-year warranty for the stain and against fading when you choose this option.

• The binding component could be PVC, polypropylene or polyethylene and depending on that, these materials are divided into types and bearing different names.
• Those, containing PVC, for example, cannot be considered as environmentally friendly while composites which contain more than 70% wood may be treated as ordinary wood.
• When you choose composite decking for your home, then you’re using a product that is primarily made of recycled products.
• All waste is recycled to fine flour and chips with fractions of wood sized between 0.8-2 mm.
• Those are mainly waste materials from the timber industry – sawdust, shavings, wood chips, wood dust, etc. which result from wood processing.
• That means you don’t need to cut down more trees just so that you can build a deck.

The process of producing it involves extrusion or compression moulding. Another advantage of composite decks are that they come in a variety of colors and textures.

Plastic Decking Boards End Caps

The problem with composite decking ends is they are a different colour than the decking. The composite is wrapped with its beautiful colour that you love, but the ends are the colour of whatever ground up milk cartons, plastic bags and sawdust are. The solution, colour match the polymer cap and paint all the ends to match the decking colour. Making the composite decking ends consistent with the deck. In short composite decking, ends must be hidden or blended into the look of the decking boards. The finish of composite decking is amazing, from imitating natural wood decking to an entirely different look.

Pros And Cons Of Softwood, Composite And Hardwood Decking

Composite decking is anti-slip, mould-resistant and rust-resistant. You won’t have to spend a lot of time treating your deck you can simply get on and enjoy using it. One of the main reasons why many people tend to buy composite decking is its longevity.

Composite Decking Review

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. So, you are left with the final decision in examining the pros and cons of composite decking.

There are some clear advantages and disadvantages to composite decking. However, there are a lot more good points to this type of decking. While every single type of decking out there has its advantage and disadvantages, it’s clear composite decking ticks more boxes. If you’re looking for decking that lasts and is low maintenance, this is the type of decking you should seriously consider buying. Composite materials mimic the appearance of wood but they are not real wood and a close look reveals the artificial origin of the decking planks. Those, who want to have the real thing may feel unsatisfied with the look of composite decking.

I’m just glad that the composite decking companies are willing to help out because I know that that was the decision maker for me. Amatuer here, but have put in and maintained a couple decks. Had a old wood deck at a vacation home that was in bad shape, but sanding and using Rust-Oleum Restore brought it back nicely. Put in a composite deck at my mom’s and hated it – first it fades, not that much but the decking faded faster than the railing, and the rail end caps even less.

You don’t need any special tools to complete the installation of composite decking either. The process is exactly the same as it would be for a standard wood product.

As a result, you won’t end up with a slippery deck, as well as chipped or rotting boards. Apart from budget and sunlight exposure, there are a few factors you should consider when planning your project, so keep on reading to learn more about composite decking below. So unless some sort of anti-fungal material is added, wood flour can be a very attractive home for mold and mildew. Manufacturers caution in their care instructions that keeping the deck free of pollen and debris that may be food sources for mold is important to assuring a mold-free deck. What they forget to tell you is that the wood flour itself is a food source for mold. So, if it is not protected, or the protection wears off, your composite deck becomes a giant smorgasbord for many species of mold and mildew no matter how clean you keep it.

Cons:

Timber decking is prone to splintering, which can be dangerous if you're walking around barefoot. DeckPlus composite decking doesn't splinter, making it a safer choice - note that our boards are also slip resistant, plus they don't get too hot on sunny days.