Composite Decking Vs Wood Decking

Choosing Deck Materials

Simply glue together three sides, slide them over the post, glue and clamp the last side in place, and then never worry about painting or staining again. AZEK Column Wrap is available for 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 posts. Order it at home centers and lumberyards that carry Azek products.

Composite Decking Vs Wood

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Trex offers four tiers of decking products providing a comprehensive range of easy, low-maintenance options. All Trex decking is available with a grooved edge, hidden deck fastener option. When using grooved-edge boards, Trex’s hidden deck fastening system installs between the deck boards, fastening them to the joists with no visible deck screw heads on the walking surface. This precision also creates perfectly consistent spacing between the boards for a flawless look across the entire deck. Even though Trex Hideaway hidden deck fasteners are designed for use with Trex decking, they work with just about any decking with a groove. They even sell a bit for making the grooves yourself if your decking has a solid edge. The clips are super easy to use, extremely versatile and come with starter and edge clips for a super clean finish.

Is Trex Decking Slippery In Winter?

You can buy commercially available cleaning solutions or create your own by mixing â…“ cup of powdered laundry detergent (ammonia-free), 1-quart of bleach and 3 gallons of water. Use a broad fanning nozzle with the power washer to avoid causing damage to paint or wood stain.

• Yes, composite decking is easier to clean and lasts for many years.
• I have a hot tub on it and there has never been a problem with it being slippery.
• The above information is great, especially the transferrable warranty, but what about the dangers?
• Most people don’t realize, in terms of safety, that composite decks are actually more dangerous than lumber found at a big box store due to the manufacturing process and materials.
• Two things to remember, all composite decking is not the same, high and low.

You can melt composite decking under the right set of circumstances. The cost of composite decking is a significant factor to consider. There are multiple features that you can have with composite decking. Your composite deck may not warp, but it can sag and buckle.

Composite decking looks and behaves more like wood than all-plastic does because it contains about 50 percent wood dust in addition to plastic. Most boards have solid or tongue-and-groove profiles and are screwed down just like wood. While wood decking is nailed or screwed down and very simple to install, composite decking manufacturers have created special fasteners that “disappear,” creating an unfettered look. Hidden fastening systems often require no special tools and are easy to install, while color-matched screws can make the installation more like wood.

Snow And Ice Removal On Composite Decks

A high performance composite decking system which provides an excellent non slip surface that is elegant, durable and low maintenance. Also known as composite, wood alternatives, or synthetic decking, wood-polymer composite has quickly become the fastest-growing decking material for residential use in the past dozen years. Composite decking is an environmentally friendly lumber alternative that combines plastic and wood fiber. Timber decking is left exposed to relentless weathering and often succumbs to moisture build up. Owners of this type of decking will know that over time, their deck can become a breeding ground for algae, mildew and moss – which is the biggest contributor of a slippery deck area. The first port of call for stopping your decking from being slippery is to remove the most common substances that cause the surface to become slick.

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. If you are doing a composite — read the specifications and installation instructions. It’s not like the old days where you had to simply choose between different species of wood.

Should Decking Be Ribbed Side Down?

Slippery decking can pose a serious safety risk, particularly in winter when you add sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow to the already-wet conditions. If slip resistance is a priority for your decking, you should know what to look for when buying a composite decking. Composite decking on its own has better slip resistance than wood decking.