Installing Decking For A Floating Deck

Here are some results from a Sherwin-Williams study of what happens to composite decking after 3 years of exposure. The dark gray and black spots are mold and mildew growing on the boards.

Edge-fastening looks good because the screws are hidden, but face-fastening is faster, stronger, and easier to fix. When face-fastening, use screws designed only for composites. This decking bubbles up around standard bugle-head deck screws . Since 2004, NewTechWood has been a pioneer in the creation and improvement of composite decking boards, deck tiles, siding, deck railing, accessories and more. We are so sure you will love the NewTechWood UltraShield® advantage, that we offer a 25-year limited transferable warranty —one of the most comprehensive warranties in the decking industry. Plan the pattern or design you want to achieve with your composite decking. If using multiple colors or finishes, consider drawing a detailed design on paper, so you can consult it throughout the installation process.

• With Trex Decking’s simple to install clip system, even amateurs can effectively install a new deck.
• The result is composites that more closely resemble wood deck boards, like MoistureShield’s Vision decking line.
• In contrast, composite decking brands like MoistureShield and ChoiceDek are fully moisture-resistant to the core, which allows them to be installed in high moisture conditions without decaying.
• Trex even provides simple how-to guides for those who want to make their deck a DIY project.
• Without the regular application of stains, sealers or paint, wood decking is susceptible to warping, splintering, cracking and rotting.
• A key wood decking problem is that boards readily absorb water.

Facts About Composite Decking

So, when it comes time to resurfacing or replacing an existing deck with composite decking, keep in mind that some additional framing may be necessary. The good news for homeowners is that unlike most composites, DuraLife'shardwood composite decking products can be installed between 20”O.C. Another joist protection option is to install composite decking with the Step-Clip hidden-fastening system. Step-Clip offers the dual benefit of moisture repellency and speedier installation.

Composite Decking: Does It Really Stack Up?

Can You Install New Decking Over Old Deck Boards?

In addition to wood and tropical finishes, we also have composite decking tiles available that look like grass or stone. All our composite decking is compatible with one another, so you can come up with a design that is uniquely yours. For project inspiration, visit our online photo gallery to see what past satisfied customers have done with their composite decks. It’s good to know that composite decks are now about the same price as traditional wood. My wife and I would love to have a deck built, but we have been having a hard time deciding what material to use.

Composite decking materials, on the other hand, sell for $2.50 or $3.50 per linear foot. Even so, when you account for the costs associated with maintaining a wood deck , composite decking emerges as the value choice. DuraLife’s ColorLock™ Multi-Layered Finishing System also helps protect against discoloration because composite material is completely uniform from one side of the board to the other. Made with a proprietary mixture of polypropylene plastic and hardwood fibers, DuraLife composite decking is inherently more resistant to damage from moisture buildup, mold and mildew growth. DuraLife Step-Clip™ composite decking hidden fastening system can reduce installation times by up to 50 percent. Other benefits of the DuraLife Step-Clip system include providing complete joist protection and is designed to automatically create a uniformed 3/16” space between each composite deck board.

Two of the most common options are wood and wood-plastic composites. Whether you plan to do the job yourself or hire a contractor, this article discusses factors to consider when comparing wood vs. composite decking. MoistureShield® offers the only wood composite decking that can be installed in the ground, on the ground or underwater. Discover how our Solid Core has helped prevent structural field failures for more than 30 years and why that matters for your outdoor living space. The consequence to you as the composite deck owner is that the nice, tight, wood-like joints in your deck when it was installed in July may be wide, unsightly gaps in February. And, since plastic does not expand and contract evenly, those gaps may still be there the following July.

If installing composite decking over a pre-existing porch, make sure all joists and substructure components are structurally sound and spaced according to our installation guide. A few decades ago, this may have been a fair assessment. Composite decks didn’t look exactly like plastic but neither did they look much like wood.

A Lifetime Deck?

Some capstock manufacturers, such as Fiberon and Timbertech, now guarantee some of their products against excessive fading. But, most continue to specifically exclude color changes, fading and graying from their warranties. Trex, the largest manufacturer of composite decking, has been sued more than once due to excessive mold and mildew build-up on its composite decking and had to pay out big dollars in settlement.

At Fiberon we usePermaTech Innovationto ensure the ultimate deck consumer, satisfaction in scratch, element, and stain resistance. Because you cannot sand composite decking, deep scratches are destined to remain in the boards, though over time, they may becomes less and less pronounced.

The Best Decking For Winter Weather

Consider Deck's Environment

However, over the lifetime of the deck, expenses for composite decking are likely to be lower. This is largely due to reduced upkeep, as well as its longer lifespan. Composite decking stacks up, and, in some respects, it surpasses the competition. Composite decking is low maintenance as it never requires any sealing, painting, or sanding.

DuraLife composite decking products are uniquely manufactured with a super-strong, co-extruded polypropylene outer shell that forms a “force field” around three sides of the board. This makes DuraLife exceptionally resistant to staining and fading compared to older generations of composite decking from other manufacturers.