Composite decking

egbinor

Member
It's time to replace my deck after 20 years. Used sun wood and it has held up pretty good but now I'm 20 years older and don't want to maintain a wood deck anymore. Half of this deck has a roof over it and the other half doesn't. I don't have a lot of ground clearance and in the northwest mold will probably be the main problem. LOTS of rain in Oregon. I've looked at Trex and everything that Lowes and Home Depot sells. Also looking at Ever Grain decking and Envision Expression. I don't trust what salesman are telling me. Anyone out there have any suggestions?? Thanks in advance for any help. EGBinOR
 
I installed composite decking in my manure spreader over 15 years ago and the stuff has held up beyond my expectations. It's kept outside year round and even with UV and manure exposure, the colour has held up remarkably well. Only damage is where the chain caught a few times and that was fixed with a bit of sanding. When I replace my deck I plan to use composite without giving it a second thought. Can't beat the maintenance, garden hose wash down and walk away.
 
I'm cheap! *lol* ...I bought some pieces of 2-by composite at an auction some years back. It was always stored outside, usually under the dripping of a roof. Ended up using most of it to replace a rotten portion of floor on my 16' lowboy, and it's holding up great! Is the only section I don't have to oil anymore. Wish I had more to finish the trailer with.

However, I "ONLY" like the 2-by thickness (1 1/2" thick)....but now, can only find the 5/4 decking locally. That's just too thin for my liking.
 
Not all composite decks are equal. I can't recall the brand, but Lowes had to pay to refit many of their composite decks due to mildew problems.
 
I used AZEK decking on our deck. All PVC not composite. More money but never do it again.
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AZEK
 
Neighbor had to have his composite deck replaced after 10 years. He hired the work done. Not sure how it all worked out. He wasn't very happy.
 
There is a big difference in composites, do your homework and look at the long term reviews. Some composites are pressed sawdust that don't hold up as well as regular lumber. My brother had a deck built with a cheaper composite, I don't know the brand. The floor boards interlock to support each other and they are doing well so far, but rain and melt water pond on the deck. He drilled 1/4 inch holes between some of the joints to drain the worst of the standing water. Before the deck was ten years old, the top surface of the railings and steps started crumbling, he broke through a step and hurt his leg pretty bad when he fell down the stairs with his leg caught in the broken step. The price of the composite deck was over twice the cost of a lumber deck, he's very disappointed.
 
I have had two decks on different houses. They both turned into troubles as they aged. I shoved the problem at both places by pouring true concrete porches. The last one I had a plank pattern stamped in the surface and then stained. Looks like real wood. Just touched up the stain last year after ten years. Took about fifteen minutes with a hand sprayer and a garden hose.

So I will never own another wood or composite deck. Concrete or pavers.
 
Be sure to check required support spacing. When I compared items, wood could be installed on 24" centers, composite had to be on closer centers. It was worse about sagging between supports.
 
Seven years ago I built a new house and used 13,000 dollars worth of generation one TREX. Supposed to have a life time warranty. Most is fine and doing good however in the front of the house we have a 12 by 34 ft section that is in front of glass windows facing the East. This was put down on 16 in supports with recommended screws. Have had an on going battle with TREX and lost. The sun actually forced the deck down by about 7 inches. I think if I were doing it over I would look at what JD seller did. The concrete with stone pattern is pretty fairly cost completive and last better . Trex warranty is worthless.
 
Only two ways I've found to preserve a deck pour concrete as was said or put a roof over it.Love my 16' X 50' deck on the side of my house with a roof over it.Roof makes it about
200% more useful.
 
All decks look great when they are new. Then ... all decks look like $h#@!&t after 10 years. 5/4 decking or composite does not matter. Warping, cracking, mildew -- maintenance required.

If you have a deck you'll need to replace the decking sooner or later. So I've stuck with wood decking and have refinished it every few years, then replaced it eventually. No sense in looking at composite decking when it gets ugly just because you paid $$$$ for it.

Never say never.
 
SOLID VINYL, forget composite, it will deteriorate too, just takes a little longer than wood. VINYL is the only thing to use, just remember that it will expand and contract. Pay once, cry once! I can't remember the trade name, we bought it at Marvins. Wood grain on one side and pebble on the other, color goes all the way through. Special order. Not much more expensive than composite, >$1.00 per foot. You can use clips, but we used screws. Order the screws at the same time so they match the color of the decking.

Beware the stuff that is "vinyl wrapped".

Measure carefully, so you have no waste.

Bill
 
I install 15-20 Trex decks a year. And twice as many wood ones. Both have issues. Mainly the quality of treated lumber. New generation Trex won't mold and has a hard shell that is hard to scratch and won't fade. However if the deck is low to the ground the framework will have issues and will sag and twist. Treated lumber moves a lot swells when wet shrinks when dry. Trex ,or any composite is not a build it and forget it deal. A good coat of stain on a wood deck will last for years ,but wood will still split and splinter . We have been in business building decks for a living for 17 years and still haven't found a perfect material. Kevin in Central AL
 
An issue I see with the man made deck material is that while it is much more durable in the rain and sun and mold and such, it is much easier to fracture it with too wide a spacing between stringers or a sharp heavy load. Wood is a little more forgiving if you use it on 2 foot supports vs 16 inches, etc.....

Paul
 

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