Advantage And Disadvantages Wood Plastic Composite

Mold And Mildew On Composite Decking

The boards have been made with the beauty and warmth of wood in mind. Millboard decking is made from resin and minera stone but is very realistic to the real thing! Millboard is slip resistant, does not rot or warp and is resistant to algae. The boards are fixed with fittings that have a lost head where the Millboard itself closes over the screw. Whereas most composite decking boards contain wood fibres, Millboard is wood free which means it is not affected by damp situations. It is perfect for a family deck, around a pool or as steps up to a deck platform. When most people think of decking this is the type that they most commonly have experience with.

What Are The Drawbacks Of Composite Decks?

On the surface, composite materials look mighty un-"green" with lots of unpronounceable chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic. So, are you trading convenience for some sort of health or ecological disaster when you select composite decking materials? But, neither are composites especially environmentally friendly. What is certain is that making WPCs requires a careful mixing of ingredients not just for performance but to keeps costs under control.

Composite decks are durable and don’t require as much maintenance as wooden decks, but they can be really slippery and heavy rains and cold weather can damage them beyond repair. On the other hand, decking installation is easier with composite decking and you can do it yourself. I’ve tried both types, but my heart goes with wooden decks – there’s nothing like a freshly stained wooden deck. Composite decking can be separated into wood and non-wood composites. While a few composites are made with a blend of plastics, hardwood pieces and different materials, the rest contain vinyl and plastics.

List Of The Cons Of Composite Decking

Environmental friendliness – as we said, composite decking is in most cases environmentally friendly as many companies use recycled materials in the manufacturing process. Waste plastic like used plastic milk jugs and shopping bags and recycled wood waste make the material eco-friendly. The composite material can be used to make a deck, pathway with a railing or even a gate. It makes your living space stand out and more beautiful. Before considering on using composite decks for your living space, check the pros and cons of the decking material. Over the last decade, many homeowners use composite decking to transform the outside living space.

• Often, combining synthetic and organic materials seems to capture the best of both worlds , and creates a durable product that looks and feels similar to wood decking.
• So when your looking at the pros and cons of composite decking, take the time to make the decision is the right for you.
• The fact is, there are many products on the market depending on your location.
• As for materials, most composite products are manufactured from wood by-products, such as sawdust, wood chips or recycled plastics.

For example, you will need to treat wood decking at least once a year. The good news is composite decking doesn’t require any treatment. This means the cost will work out even cheaper in the long run. This is great news for anyone who wants decking in their garden for at least another 15 years.

If you would like to keep your decking in good condition you may want to consider cleaning it. Use a low-pressure hose or a watering can and pour water on your deck. Now take a stiff brush and gently brush away any leaves or dirt. A wash every 2-3 months is all the treatment composite decking needs. You do not have to stain composite decking or spray it with any kind of chemicals. This is because this type of decking has already been treated.

If you use real wood for your decking material, then you’ll need to sand and stain it periodically to preserve it. You won’t have that problem if you choose composite decking instead. The only thing you need to do with the product is to clean it periodically with some soap and water. That means you can spend more time enjoying the deck instead of taking care of it. This advantage applies in all environments and terrain options as well, so every homeowner can enjoy the ease of use. Keep in mind that composite decking is permanently colored in order to avoid or reduce maintenance. In other words, the color, tint, and shade cannot be changed.

Composite Decking Review

Others, offer a rich looking tempered glass system as well. The ease and easier to design option can also end up saving customers a great deal of money over manually recreating the same look. There are even predone stair and landing designs with many composite products. The different materials may create contrast around the deck, but the change in material can be detrimental. Most composite decking has a life expectancy of 25 years or more. They are a few different nosing materials available that can be used on composite decks. Three of the more common are vinyl, aluminum or plastic.

Standard wood decks on the other hand can be re-painted, re-stained, or refreshed as desired. Functionality of design another big reason why people select composite decks. Many composite lines offer ready to go picket railing, which is similar in style to wood railings.

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.

Resting on top of the deck and then hanging over the edge covering the cut ends of the deck. Picture framing a simple 12′ by 12′ (3.6×3.6m) can add $500 to the cost of the deck once the extra material and labour are accounted for. Often increasing as square composite decking boards without the groove often are only sold in 20′ lengths, which increases the costs with large offcuts.

Dog nails leave scratches, as will clumsy adults and kids, not to mention unremovable stains and sneaky mold. Oh, and if you want to replace a stained/scratched/damaged deck board it won’t match cause the others faded, remember? Upgraded that vacation home and had to replace the old deck due to code problems and didn’t think twice, wood it was! Used CedarTone Premium treated #1 southern yellow pine and won’t even have to stain it for a couple years, looks great with a custom sunburst rail pattern. If spending a little less money and doing some regular maintenance sounds okay to you, stick with the old-fashioned wood decking. Go for the composite deck if you don’t mind spending a bit more money for a deck that requires far less maintenance and is eco-friendly. One of the drawbacks to purchasing a composite deck system is that they’re not cheap.

Cons:

The cost of composite decking is a significant factor to consider. Another key benefit to consider when choosing composite decking over real wood is the fact that you can find a lot of color options available. Most manufacturers provide a series of brown, gray, and tan colors to complement the classic Earth tones that a natural wood product would provide. The problem that you have with nails or screws when building a deck is that they create a place of weakness for the board.