Composite decking

**ripvdub** · 04-25-2011, 08:27 AM

We might to have to replace our deck soon thanks to the idiots that built our house, does anyone here have a composite deck? Do you like it? Is it worth the extra $$$ ? Ive read it can hold more heat than regular wood and it also can scuff that can't always be sanded out. Also that out does fade slightly. Any thing else? TIA.

**l2alphmacchio** · 04-25-2011, 08:39 AM

I chose to install a composite deck when I built my house for two reasons. First was that I HATE painting / staining, and the Second was to stand out amongst my neighbors for resale value. My neighbors have stained their deck twice in the past three years, and all I have done is spray it with the cleaner once (just this past fall, there was a lot of construction so everything was dirty). Can't really conclude if its been worth it or not yet, because we don't plan to sell anytime soon. I can tell you that I opted for the Beige color and it has faded (East facing deck), so choose wisely.

**Wesley** · 04-25-2011, 08:40 AM

I was just at Jewel Cave in SD looking at their vertical sheets on benches. The 4 inch wide ones had warped to a low point and the 8 inch slats had not deformed. Looks like wider composite slats may be the way to go to fight off the effects of water warping.

**Wallruss64** · 04-25-2011, 08:44 AM

I work in a lumberyard and decking is what I deal with most. You will hear from certain people that different brands are better than others. I sell timbertech and actually the line that I like the most is the xlm line because it is actually all plastic instead of a wood/plastic composite. they are much better at not getting stained than regular composites. The first question I ask people when they are looking at deck materials is how long are they going to stay at their house? If they are planning to stay a while they usually want the better materials. Also get the concealed fasteners they may seem expensive at first but you will get a very good finished look and they are actually alot faster than face screwing it.

**SwirlingFloater** · 04-25-2011, 08:46 AM

Make sure you go for a decent composite and not a high percentage of polymer with minimal natural fibers. Most of the early products available on the market, especially vinyl decking had huge issues with static electricity and were very annoying to move around on due to this. I believe most of the composites today have enough natural material in them that this isn't as much of an issue.

I would be curious to hear if anyone has experienced this in any recent deck installations?

**CivEFootball** · 04-25-2011, 08:56 AM

I would just warn you about expansion and contraction with compsite decks due to weather.

**ripvdub** · 04-25-2011, 09:17 AM

I am tearing down my deck to fix what they screwed up, they attached the deck straight through the siding, no ledger board, and now its leaking and causing trouble before we can finish the basement. I would like to just put the old decking back up if possible, but don't know of that will be an option or not. Id rather save the money and use it on the basement.

**Wallruss64** · 04-25-2011, 09:42 AM

Reuse your old deck if you can or go with treated if you're more interested in finishing the basement.

**joefrog** · 04-25-2011, 10:21 AM

If you are going to have labor hours involved, replace the old stuff and upgrade the outside of your house too. Granted, it is your time and money, but why not enhance the appearance and value of your home, not to mention the enjoyability?

**isuno1fan** · 04-25-2011, 10:29 AM

I have a 750sq ft composite deck put in 2yrs ago. Product is Portico. I love it. I hit it with some deck cleaner this Spring and that is all I've had to do with it in the 2yrs of ownership.

**4VR4CY** · 04-25-2011, 10:42 AM

(Ripvdub's wife....)

I believe what we have now is cheap treated pine. Does anyone have an actual cedar deck? Is it worth the extra to go with cedar?

**M6WS6** · 04-25-2011, 11:08 AM

My dad has it at his house. Only thing I think he has done with it since we installed it was hit it with the power washer at the beginning of the year. Its held up for quite a few years now with only a power wash at the beginning of each summer.

**4VR4CY** · 04-25-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by M6WS6

My dad has it at his house. Only thing I think he has done with it since we installed it was hit it with the power washer at the beginning of the year. Its held up for quite a few years now with only a power wash at the beginning of each summer.

Brand/where he purchased it?

**CYCLONE STATE** · 04-25-2011, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by 4VR4CY

(Ripvdub's wife....)

I believe what we have now is cheap treated pine. Does anyone have an actual cedar deck? Is it worth the extra to go with cedar?

We have a cedar deck on our house (came that way when we bought the house new 2 years ago). We like it a lot. We are restaining it on Friday weather permitting.

**ISU_phoria** · 04-25-2011, 11:41 AM

I bought my house almost 5 years ago and it has as deck with composite decking. I think the deck was 2-3 years old when we bought the house, so the deck is now 7-8 years old in total. The only thing I've done to the deck is pressure wash it a couple times when it gets dirty. I love the fact that maintenance is almost zero on it.

The one drawback that I've found with our composite decking is that it does get much hotter than natural wood. Our deck is on the West side of our house and in the summer sun, it can get hot enough that it hurts to walk on with bare feet. I am currently designing a pergola and planting some trees to shade the deck in hopes to mitigate that issue.