what are the problems with composite decking?

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And the best thing is, you can select any colour you want. Its only available to the biggest and best deck companies in the country. Tips and Advice on Condominium Association Problems, How to Prevent Slippery Wood Deck Surfaces, Sequim Real Estate in Sunny Sequim, Washington: Composite Decking by Home Inspector Tyler Conkle, U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission: Composite Decks Recalled by Louisiana-Pacific; Decks Can Deteriorate and Break, Posing Fall Hazard, 17 gardening gifts for the plant-lovers in your life. Mind you, I was never really told how to maintain it (or that power washing was possibly bad for it). They rebrand their boards every other year. If you like to repaint decks, composites may not be the best for you. Veka comes to you, you dont go to them. Your email address will not be published. Carol.. wolf is a very good product. Since these are natural attributes, there really is no way to avoid them. Once that happens you open the composite to rot. If you like to repaint decks, composites may not be the best for you. The spindles and posts were also made of the same material. Another characteristic that can cause problems includes retaining heat and feeling hot to bare feet. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. If you do want to paint the composite deck, you have to sand it first. Required fields are marked *. Just hook your hose up to the bottle and spray. No joke! Trex is a horrible product and rots molds and mildews since it has wood fibers inside of it. Sanding composite will break the surface seal of the material. Yes, its can be scratched with something that scratches but there is a touch-up kit that quickly repairs the surface. When a wooden deck loses its colour, you can easily recolour it with paint. There are other characteristics of composite decking that limit its usability. I dont have problems with new products, only subpar ones. My opinion HD removed the product because of the cracking and law suite and Deckorators would not admit that this product was inferior and replace it. I tried the better PT decking boards ugly. Many composite decking materials also stain easily. When a wooden deck loses its colour, you can easily recolour it with paint. Has anyone had experience with NewTechWood on a deck? There are a multitude of problems with composite decking that show up all too often to be just a stray issue for a hard to please homeowner. Many new decks are being made with composite decking rather than wood, as manufacturers have led homeowners to believe that their products are superior to any real wood. outside is a cheap vinyl capstock. Good luck. I would NEVER recommend this inferior product, youd be better off building your deck with stud lumber. You can install shades, like large umbrellas. This issue led to a recall of composite decking boards by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2009. Composite decking has come a long way since it first came out, but its not there yet. Im actually surprised you got quotes with trex being more expensive. So if softwood decks last for 15 years at most, composite decks can last for more than 25 years. Even though it is one of the most durable and commonly-used materials, it has its fair share of problems. It is. In reality, composite decking is prone to fading, especially when its exposed to the elements and sun. Innovative Building Material | All Rights ReservedInnovative Building Materials participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that lets us earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The picture you posted with it is low quality, Chinese imported junk. Modified wood is stronger and longer-lasting than composite, not to mention more versatile. Any advice welcome! My deck is warping cracking and twisting. Wolf decking is probably top 3. They have a lot of super nice colors. Again, it seems completely random when this happens, but it happens often enough that you should know about it. Cellular PVC decking with an ASA capstock is the best decking in the entire vinyl deck industry. Homeowners quickly notice that their new deck scratches fairly easily compared to older wood decks. If you are building a deck near a water feature, like a pool or fountain, make sure that your materials are slip-free. Composite lumber is any man-made material composed of a mix of wood fibers, plastics, binders, and adhesives. If youre considering building with composites, its also best to get light-coloured boards if you expect high temperatures. I had to place a fiber rug down on it( due to the heat) which would not catch fire? Can it be painted over with an epoxy or something to save it? Another myth of composite that relates to its water-resistance is that it wont swell from water contact. Despite composite being low care, homeowners living in humid/wet regions might find them having to clean their decks excessively to control mold, fungus, algae, or moss growth. I would stick to wood what a huge expensive dissapointment. I have photos over time as this product started to fail. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It goes a long way. DEFY Crystal Clear Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer, Champion Windows vs Renewal by Andersen: Choosing Better Replacement Windows. It is a fiberglass composite but I cannot find much information on them. I am planning on running extra joists to make it 12 OC but a few bolts will require me to tweak two or three I have to add in. Im in the mid-atlantic and have replaced both of my decks beach and suburbs with Zuri. Same situation Fiberon will do nothing and installer will not either. I am trying to figure out if theres anything to be done besides having the entire thing replaced! Check their lawsuit 3 years ago. Our composite is warping. * I am happy with our composite. Area. After a few years of emails with replies stating not our product I found it was from deckorators but they would not warrant it without receipts and would not take my dated photos with my property ownership for 15 years. They call it Armor Allow Technology.. whatever that means. Most of these products are not very well performing. I replaced my decking in 2013 and when I went back to HD for another project adjacent to my deck the product I started with was discontinued and removed from all stores. We are in the process of replacing our 25 year old wood deck with pvc.. We are still researching the different products but are leaning to Azek.. We would prefer the Veka you recommend if we can purchase it Your in depth of knowledge has been the most honest opinion I have read Thank you. Today, there are still all of the wood options of yesterday, but now there are scores of different composite decking options. Trex seems to be much more expensive. Composite decking boards are significantly more expensive than traditional wood decking materials, approximately double the price of their wood counterparts. My dog burned her pads walking across it after we site did not disclose this happening. Are you familiar with Wolf Serenity deck boards? feet deck in the Dallas, Tex. And if it needs a replacement piece, its as easy as swinging by the local lumber yard rather than trying to track down a model that has been discontinued 2 years ago from a supplier halfway across the country. Only wholesale big box store product that is even somewhat decent and at least better than any of the others, is Timbertech Azek. in a damp area they can be the best option .. also, if fire is a concern. It provides the green advantage of a product made from recycled wood fibers and plastic without the disadvantages associated with those materials. composite decking. I put 250 feet of garden hose on top of one container, snaked back and forth, and had it hooked up to a 1.5 GPM shower head over some bamboo slats, and I could take a 20 minute hot shower. I only had mine for six years and the boards have warped. ft. Im in Canada, east coast the weather gets quiet cold in winters. Everybody knows color fades in the sun, but composite decking companies seem to be oblivious to what their products are really capable of. So if youre living in a place where the deck will be exposed to hot temperatures, consider getting a wooden deck instead. Please dont make an expensive mistake and listen to the contractor whos limited to these composite products. Many composite manufacturers even offer matching paint for this reason. So if you are working alone, you may have a hard time transporting and working on the materials all by yourself. Modified wood can be used in any region or climate as well as alongside water as poolside decking, piers, or docks. If this was written 12 years ago, some points would be valid. I dont think that an inch or two either way will make any structural difference. We will only send you awesome stuff!Privacy Policy. Then there are PVC options and inorganic composite options like Deckorators that simply outperform everything. Look up consumer affairs and read all the horrible reviews about trex. It has been improving slowly over the years with the introduction of capped products and other upgrades, but still, the reports from consumers and contractors are not promising. AND IT GETS HOTTER IN THE SUN! What Are the Problems With Composite Decking? Do not buy anything w a 10 yr warranty. For now, Id say the best way to avoid problems with composite decking are to avoid it altogether and stick with wood. This spring, as I was looking around it, I noticed some sagging. Inside is wood fillers and recycled milk jugs, garbage bags etc. There are serious inherent design problems with the composite decking product. There is actually nothing wrong with my current deck, its as strong as ever, even after 36 years! For me, Im not comfortable trusting the same companies who told us 20 years ago that their product was foolproof and failed that now theyve REALLY made it foolproof. Those fibers don't dry out quickly, and as soon as the sun comes out, they provide an ideal growing environment for mold. For 18 years, I would say it has served us well but, not really knowing how long it was supposed to last, makes it difficult to assess if we really got our moneys worth? This one has been the issue that I encounter most- composite decking boards that feel like a trampoline when you walk on them. It actually moves more AND more unexpectedly than wood decks. And the best thing is, you can. While composite decking certainly does have some advantages, it also has a number of problems that the average homeowner may be unaware of. Is it safe to lightly pressure wash a Composite Deck not to damage the surface? Its PLASTIC! However, there are a few reasons to repaint a composite deck on the bright side. Anything from the tannins of a few fallen leaves on the surface to an additionally spilled glass of wine or splotch of ketchup can leave stains. What I learned is that HD buys from multiple vendors and the product is mfg all over the country and you dont know what you are going to get. However, they areless slippery than plastic. Now, I just need to research modified wood. Just didnt have enough funding to keep up. You may be one of the lucky ones who installs composite decking and gets away with it, or you may end up constantly on the phone trying to persuade them into the honoring their warranty, which is extremely hard to do. Check carefully for summer heat. Read between the lines of the warranty too. Take a look at some of the websites where homeowners have posted their reviews, and youll read 1 and 2 star reviews all day long. Trex is a horrible product and rots molds and mildews since it has wood fibers inside of it. While more advanced composite is exceptionally resistant to water, this doesnt mean that mold isnt capable of growing. You can't power wash composite decking without voiding the warranty, so the only option is to wash the decking with bleach. These are the only products most contractors can get so of course theyre going to say theyre good. While a hardwood deck can be constructed with joists 16 apart, most composite deck joists must be built 12 or less apart to prevent sagging. Has no relevance to the overall market. rsteen1@msn.com. Hi Scott, we are getting bids from local home improvement contractors on building a 14 x 16 deck. Read more Get a FREE ebook, bonus content, and special deals not available on the blog right in your inbox! Decking boards made of composite materials don't have the structural integrity of real wood, and can delaminate and even break. However, its important to remember that while a composite may be a better idea than a PT wood, it doesnt mean its superior to all woods. Have you any tried of the bamboo decking ? How To: Get an Old House Ready for Spring . Especially in colder climates like Canada. algae?) If youre building the deck all by yourself, consider using wood or hollowed composite boards. Theres a couple others out there. But theres also a lot of high quality options that dont do the things you say. The way to achieve this is by applying a composite deck sealer, it will help preserve your decks color and avoid stains. Aluminum decking! Someday, the industry may be able to create a consistent long-lasting product that lives up to the claims, but right now, they cant seem to make it work. I have an enormous, old, pressure treated wood deck and have been thinking to myself for years now that if only I could afford one of those no maintenance newfangled decks. Required fields are marked *. I assume no one in the form has to ability to buy Vekadeck or else Id see it mentioned. Composite decking also isnt as strong as solid wood, which is evident in that smaller joist spacing is required for the decks structure. I have not used Weardeck. Your email address will not be published. They are long-lasting and are not easily damaged or chipped. Another alternative is composite decking that has been encased in a watertight coating of clear plastic. For example, PT wood must be restained and/or resealed every few years while composite does not. They actually got in a lot of trouble and settled a major lawsuit just a couple years ago for marketing their product as PVC. Compared with plastic decks, composite decking is cooler. The key to success is to use the proper product for what you are trying to do. Worse yet, gouges and scratches on composite decking cant be fixed, unless you completely replace the board. Thank you for the insightful read on modified wood. As a group of building and manufacturing experts we thoroughly research and prepare our materials. Theyre cheap and dont last. Old houses can be daunting and that's why I'm here to help you figure them out. A significant attraction to composite decking is how many colors it comes in. Its better than a power washer! Plastic gets HOT. When did you purchase the home and was the deck recently done. You will also need to build a sturdier frame to support the additional weight of the boards. Over the past few decades, composite decking has skyrocketed in popularity as an alternative to wood. They have gotten so spongey that they sag from one board to the next making your decking like a mini rollercoaster. As my father used to say, quality remains long after the price is forgotten. Sadly, ours rotted in six years, even though I followed all maintenance instructions. As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. My Fiberon decking is warped fiberon takes no reposibility. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. plywood), but capped composite lumbers designed for decking didnt really come onto the market until the 90s. Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign up to get updates on all of the latest innovative building products. What may work on a properly built deck in a dry area may not at the beach (hot) or on a ground level deck in a moist area. I returned all the uncut boards to the lumber yard for credit. If you can find that, its your best option. It is NOT a true PVC product. are significantly more expensive than traditional wood decking materials, approximately double the price of their wood counterparts. VEKADECK is the best deck board in the entire vinyl decking industry. You can't sand composite boards, however, so damaged decking must be painted as is. If you are doing a composite read the specifications and installation instructions. Now I know Thank you, vinyldeckguy. My parents had their deck rebuild by a contractor that sold them on composite decking. Some composites are also less smooth than others. The accounts of issues are repeated with a frightening regularity and sameness throughout the threads of complaints. Especially prevalent on older and uncapped composited decking, mold shows up quickly and is more difficult to eradicate than youd expect. Otherwise this is very misleading and straight up false on most points with any decent brand. Patio furniture, BBQ grills, kids toys, and even the family dogs nails can all leave gouges in the composite decking. If you do want to paint the composite deck, you have to sand it first. Marie. I wish it was more widely available but Veka is a super picky company about who theyll let install their products. However, if you do wish to paint a composite deck and sand it beforehand, it damages the boards and loses protection. Last, but not least, modified wood ages beautifully (even becoming a silvery-grey) and rarely splinters. Do not sand the deck without first discussing that with the manufacturer. It does not harm plants. There was a product called Clubhouse decking that was awesome. Composite decking is often sold as a close to a waterproof material as you can get. boards lighter than normal composites. Never settle for bare minimum. Your email address will not be published. I am in the market to build a deck, hopefully this winter. Learn how your comment data is processed. Certainly doesnt mean the whole category is junk, but trying to discern which company is making the good products is difficult since they all claim to be making quality, lasting composite decking. We recommend the DEFY Crystal Clear Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer. Fiberon, trex, Timbertech composites are all horrible. It rots from the inside out. I *love* G-tape (3040BK,currently cheapest at gtapeusa) Can tear it, and it does not stick to itself Rather nice when working with a foot wide roll! The sunlight also accelerates some of the problems associated with the natural response of the wood fibers to fluctuating weather conditions. While some may outperform others, they do still have some disadvantages. I would like to think we have but just not sure. Are you sure you mean wolf? It wont cover any of it due to weather conditions. We have an older composite deck that has some boards that have started scaling. For the same price, you could replace it every 5 years. Wolf PVC decking is very good too. Buyer beware. When its not properly maintained, moulds can grow on wood, making the surface more slippery. Another disadvantage of composites is getting hot in extreme temperatures compared to wooden decks. As time went by , 3 years, my decking started to crack, HD could not figure out who made it for this area so I spent a few years tracking this down. Veka invented Cellular PVC decking years ago, and in recent years theyve beefed it up and added an ASA (acrylic) capstock to it to further help resist fading. Composite decking materials are significantly heavier than wood. Im surprised by a lot of these comments. I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! How do I know if a contractor is knowledgeable?? Your email address will not be published. The Ultimate Guide. 9.00am 5.30pm, Closed on Saturday and Sunday. One such alternative is PVC decking; it doesn't include wood fibers and isn't subject to mold or delamination, but it has only a passing resemblance to wood. The results can be merely unsightly, such as surface and edge peeling, or downright dangerous when a board splits down the middle and loses its holding strength. A good point wood is wood, composite is whatever HD wants to sell regardless of color or quality. I bought a remodeled house which the builder put composite decking. Is there any reason l couldnt sand the entire deck of hen seal it necessary? Vekadeck is the best vinyl deck board in the entire industry. Mike and Lorie. Expect to pay double the amount for the overall installation cost plus the materials compared to ordinary wood decking. There are a lot of options for decking today. Some of these properties aren't desirable, such as the propensity to swell in wet weather and to support mold growth. Dog is smart. Once you choose the colour, you have to stick with that colour. Im looking at Fibero , however. I am in the process of switching over to aluminum boards which are more expensive. They have good better and bests. Unfortunately, you cant do the same for composites. Composite decking boards look like wood, but they're made mostly of plastic, although they have enough wood fiber to give them woodlike properties. What is ICF Construction? It is almost the same price as the most expensive hardwoods. How about you? If you plan to build a composite deck, here are some things that you should be aware of. There is still much to learn about the materials that Im going to invest my hard earned money to purchase. Once you choose the colour, you have to stick with that colour. If there is mold, you will have a problem with virtually all warranties. Read on to learn more. This statement applies to composite decking materials as well. Instead, it only lightens the colour of the material. In comparison to PT wood, composite decking does have advantages. I read this because during the past three years my composite deck boards have swelled and warped to the point they are affecting the vinyl fencing around the deck, to say nothing of the risk of tripping when I walk on it. Looks like the 25-year warranty was only good for original owner looking into that, but I doubt it will do any good. If building a dry on the water, can composite be used? I am an retiring lady looking to redo the wood surface of my 2416 deck in Miami with Fiberon Goodlife weekender composite decking boards. We are looking to install Duralife composite deck 400 sq. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I need a good looking low maintenance and durable surface. Ive talked to lots of distributors and nobody knows what brand it is. Not doing so will only chip off the paint. Similarly to composite, it requires no surface treatments and only basic cleaning. If youre building the deck all by yourself, consider using wood or hollowed composite boards. After a few weeks I got a letter saying it wasnt installed properly on 16 centers but the damage was in an area that was 12 centers. Its not like the old days where you had to simply choose between different species of wood. What a load of crap! They have a nice wood grain texture but not as pronounced but still nice. Many people in these comments are wrong and spreading false information. At this juncture, were considering replacing the deck with a 3-seasons room and just utilize the concrete patio, next to it, when we want to be outdoors. They are not universal products some of the composite products will not work with typical 16 spacing when replacing a wood deck especially one thats not firm to begin with. When buying the materials for your deck, you have to consider the disadvantages of the said materials. Your email address will not be published. I have a GEO DECK deck that I cannot clean.What is the best product to clean it with? Wolf is a PVC product with an ASA capstock. I have to span 24 inch centers on my deck and they seem to be the only company that will certify a 120 per square foot at that span. The composition of composite decking is similar to that of particle board, and when it gets wet, the moisture can penetrate and soak the fibers inside a board. Wahoo Decks has great products and have always been a pleasure to work with. Slippery snow and ice is a major concern too. It came with a deck that was made with early type (uncapped?) You cannot go to any lumber yard or store and order Veka. This isnt an option with composite. As for me, Im sticking with wood. Yep, its a thing, and its completely awesome! The main competitor to composite decking in the early years was pressure-treated (PT) lumber. The mold seems to grow heavily not just on the surface, but inside the rough texture of uncapped decking. Unit 27, Rufford Court, Woolston, Warrington, By Appointment Only. You can buy it at Amazon and it about $20 a gallon. Since the water doesnt quite absorb, it becomes stagnant, with the moisture finally causing mold to develop. Required fields are marked *. Decking Pedestals 80-140mm Adjustable Risers. Theres probably 1-2 companies per state that can carry it. Take a look at some of the websites where homeowners have posted their reviews, and youll read 1 and 2 star reviews all day long. Mold Armor Deck and Fence. Unfortunately, you cant do the same for composites. I did learn that there was a class action law suit related to this cracking in the west. Dont be fooled by the contractors on here saying its not what it used to be. if the deck got too hot! The problem Im having is it turns moldy constantly its cracking and it flakes off in strange circular type patterns. I think I will keep it, for now. However, if you do wish to paint a composite deck and sand it beforehand, it damages the boards and loses protection. does not exist. As a Trex owner I can tell you that the answer is yes. If so do you know anything about their composite decking. The good thing is, while the initial price of the deck is almost double that of regular decks, you can also expect your deck to last for double the years. I am looking at replacing my 10 x 16 wood deck with Fiberon Concordia in a shade called Cinnabar. What can you tell me about this productpros and cons? Insects, rodents, and other wildlife will also not be attracted to your modified wood deck. The deck surface is only as good as the frame underneath. Add extra joist to achieve 12 centers. Holy smokesthis article is full of misinformation. Its not a true PVC deck product and many customers had issues around 10-15 years. I took off the PT after 4 years and put down the Zuri down about 5 years now. The surfaces of the decking boards can mottle and splinter, and the edges can peel. These types of boards are easier to work with and transport. Unlike wood, it doesnt fade to grey when exposed to UV. This last problem has led to at least one product recall. If you been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, youre probably thinking Oh now, here he goes again bemoaning another modern product. Well, I want to tell you that that is not the case. Despite composite having texture, it does little to provide solid footing around pools or swimming docks. how do I know the brand of our Composite Deck? Common complaints from homeowners include their composite decking board swelling, shifting, warping, and shrinking. Below are some of the issues that crop up most often. The home builder was so impressed by the product (at that time) he wished that he had used it for the large deck, he had recently built, on his own home. Its 100 percent PVC and its equipped with an ASA capstock as well. Alternative to wood building products have a place .. Im restoring and adding to an old stone building in PA . Just like the mold, this issue is unpredictable and hard to understand which decking will have problems and which will not. The house wash is unbelievable too. you want. If you decide that you want a different theme for your garden, you can grab a bucket of paint and repaint a wooden deck. But to paint the whole category as bad is absolutely false. I notice this issue showing up after a decade or more of use, but it certainly shows up and when it does it usually makes the deck unusable. Composite lumber is fairly popular in construction (i.e. Is this a good choice?? You mention not being able to install on 16 centers, but thats what the composite brand I have seen calls for, and it bends under a human beings weight, up to about 3/4 inch. We may receive commissions when you purchase products based on our link recommendations. If the article was to say there are a lot of cheap, garbage composites out thereI would agree. Im actually surprised you got quotes with trex being more expensive. The reason for this is that plastic is oil-based in nature which causes water to sit on its surface rather than absorbing like wood. Please help! Do you know how the quality would compare with Trex? * ensure the right joist hardware is used, correctly installed and properly flashed. The perfectmaterial for deckingdoes not exist. Do your research to anyone whos reading and I hope this helps. If you decide that you want a different theme for your garden, you can grab a bucket of paint and repaint a wooden deck. You can always go above and beyond code. York vs Carrier: Which Air Conditioner Brand Is Better? Joists are 2x10x13. There was nothing wrong with the Trex but it was not properly shielding the area below the deck from water penetration. Could just cover with a thick carpet, but I may sell next spring, and want to get it resolved. Theirs is hot at noon, and its on a west side of the house. To be able to build a composite deck, you should have enough budget. Modified wood is a real wood product that offers far more benefits than composite, but with the beautiful look of natural wood. Once established, the mold blackens the surface of the board, and it's difficult to remove.

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