Composite Decking Over A Concrete Porch

Never apply decking tiles directly on grass, sand or other unstable surfaces. However, you can apply composite decking boards onto pre-existing concrete or patios. The bright, crisp composite decking color you get fresh from the factory is not going to be the color you see a year or even 3 months, after installation. Non-capstock decks fade a lot and will eventually fade to a drab weathered gray that looks little different from the color of dingy, weathered wood. Capstock deks also fade, just not as much or as quickly. Walking on the deck eventually wears through the plastic that "seals" the wood particles that make up the bulk of the material in a composite deck board.

(For a complete report on and ranking of the environmental impact of various plastic and composite materials by the non-profit Healthy Building Network read the Guide to Plastic Lumber). The most enviro-unfriendly material used in composite decking is plastic, particularly "virgin" or new plastic made primarily from petroleum or natural gas.

• As part of their manufacture, composite deck boards are treated with preservatives that help ward off rot, mold, and mildew.
• Planks are dyed in a host of a colors and imprinted with a range of textures, most of which convincingly resemble genuine wood grain.
• It’s a fully capped board for protection from moisture above and below and uses a combination of recycled plastic and bamboo flour for strength and water-resistance.
• One composite deck system with these features is Infinity by Fortress Building Products.

Facts About Composite Decking

Instead of using screws, composite decking makers have designed hidden fastening systems that create a clean, smooth surface while providing a solid, stable connection to the deck frame. Rather than installing screws through the top of every deck board, clips are first attached to the framing boards and the decking is then attached to the clips. Attaching decking to the support framing boards below with screws has been the method of choice for deck builders for many years. While the advancements in screw technology have improved their ability to be installed without stripping, screws can still be difficult to work with – especially with composite deck installations. Settling for a screwed down composite deck is yet another common mistake to avoid. Deck boards (including perimeter boards used for picture-framing) should be installed so they extend past the outer rim joists by less than 2” lengthwise and 1” width wise. The good news for homeowners is that unlike most composites, DuraLife® hardwood composite decking products can be installed between 20” O.C.

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.

What Kind Of Decking Is Best For Winter?

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.

To find out more about Infinity composite decking, fill out Fortress' contact us form. Using high-quality recycled plastic materials in all our composite decking boards, tiles, railing, siding, bird feeders, deck fasteners, planter boxes and more.

Every composite tested grew bumper crops of mold and mildew. You will need to allow for drainage under composite decks. Any moisture trapped under composite decking, on top of wood joists, makes the joists susceptible to rot and decay. Painting or staining composite decking is unnecessary, since the color pigmentation is added at the time of manufacture.

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

Attitudes have changed, realities have changed, and most importantly – composite decking has changed. Natural wood versus composite ultimately faded into the back ground and the conversation over how to make composites better took center stage. To this day, the “right” option depends on the individual. However, even decades after the introduction and evolution of composite decking, myths persist and J&W Lumber would like to fix that. In the early days of composite decking, there was both excitement and skepticism.

Careful, professional quality installation is very important. There are two main processes for creating composite decking. This is defined as a forming process in which the raw materials are mixed and forced through an opening to produce a product that maintains a relatively consistent size and shape. The opening would be the size and shape of the decking board and the process would solidify the shape and desired size.