What You Need To Know About Trex Vs Plastic Decking

To avoid splitting planks, drill pilot holes for nails, countersink screws in wood, and predrill screw holes into composite. Choose zinc-coated or other corrosion-resistant fasteners, and use the right fasteners for composites. Also consider hidden fasteners or systems that hide the attachments.

Wolf® Decking

Deckorators balusters don't need to be painted or stained, which is probably the most tedious deck maintenance task there is. Manufactured decking isn't as stiff as wood decking, so it allows joists to bow. To help keep joists flat, always attach blocking perpendicular to the joists. Also, install diagonal blocking to keep the entire frame from racking. Use narrower lumber so the blocking looks less conspicuous from a distance. Once everything is secure, run a string on the top side of the joists and plane down the remaining high spots. Engineered lumber has been used inside buildings for years because it's stronger and straighter than regular lumber.

What To Know About Deck Railing Height

In hot, sunny areas, plastic decks can get very hot on the soles of the feet and actually radiate heat, making them uncomfortable. Still, for a virtually maintenance-free deck, plastic decking may be the answer. Plastic decking, which is 100 percent recyclable such as Azek, looks like wood. It might expand and contract in certain climates, loosening joints and making decks unstable. New metal balusters can give your existing wood deck a sleek, modern look. The round Classic Balusters are held in place by hidden connectors that require no hole drilling.

Timbertech Pro Vs Azek: Which Decking Is Best For You?

Edge-fastening looks good because the screws are hidden, but face-fastening is faster, stronger, and easier to fix. When face-fastening, use screws designed only for composites. This decking bubbles up around standard bugle-head deck screws .

It’s stiffer than PVC decking boards and can span greater distances. Its stiffness also makes it easier for one person to handle and helps hide minor imperfections in the framing. Composite is also less slippery than PVC decking boards when it’s wet.

Most of the composite, plastic, and aluminum decking we tested kept its original color better than unfinished wood. Building a deck with composite boards over a wood substructure is highly common. Decking material needs to screw into joists for maximum support and durability. All artificial decking needs less maintenance than wood, but composite tops the list.

Do You Know How To Avoid Staining A Deck? Build It From Something Other Than Wood Like Pvc Decking Boards

Simply glue together three sides, slide them over the post, glue and clamp the last side in place, and then never worry about painting or staining again. Order it at home centers and lumberyards that carry Azek products. Composite is resistant to rot, mold, and termites, which can take their toll on wood decking materials. Composite decking requires minimal upkeep and can last between 25 and 30 years. On average, plastic decking has a similar lifespan to composite decking and can last nearly 30 years.

Now that you’ve found the best deck material for your project, the next step is to figure out how the deck will be built. Whether you want to take a DIY approach or work with a contractor, GreenWay is your outlet for the best decking materials — at very competitive prices. There are pros and cons for each of these deck material types. When you’re the one buying, you have to balance the price you’ll pay up-front, if you’re okay doing maintenance year-after-year, and the outdoor decor you like best. Wood, composite, and PVC — all three popular deck material options have their advantages. Understanding the differences and advantages can be a challenge, but we’ve got your back. We’re breaking down the pros and cons of each to help our customers find the best deck material.

Planning Guide: Decks

Once in place, they just do their job and don't need much more than an annual wash-down, leaving you plenty of time to work on your nap. TOH explains everything you need to know about this wood alternative, including how to choose the best boards, compare costs, as well as install and clean them.

All Sharing Options For:

If you’re interested in composite decking options, check out our selection of Trex capped composite decking solutions. If PVC is more up your alley, our AZEK decking options are guaranteed to last. When the temperature changes suddenly, PVC decking can expand and contract. But because the wood fibers in composite decking make it more rigid, it won’t expand and contract as easily as plastic in direct sunlight. Both composite and PVC decking materials can be either capped or uncapped.

What Is A Composite Decking Board Made Of?

Stay up to 30 degrees cooler than competitive composite products. Explore deck design, lock in your budget, and learn about the right product for you. Economists not only look at the initial cost of an action, but the future costs as well. When shopping for a new deck, you need to shop like a good economist. How much time and money will it take to maintain your deck?

It is lightweight and has the same density as white pine, a softwood. Some PVC decking is "capped," meaning that a protective shell is added to the surface that also gives it a wood-like look. Wood-composite decking is a mixture of high-density polyethylene and wood particles, along with preservatives and binders. Wood-composite can be eco-friendly when it is made with leftover sawdust from furniture manufacturing and plastics recycled from milk jugs and detergent bottles. Pressure-treated wood is hands-down the cheapest way to floor your deck.

• However, it can lead to a bit more “bounce” than composites once installed.
• Both expand and contract with temperature changes and manufacturer’s guidelines should be followed carefully.
• Both PVCand composite decking require less maintenance than wood.
• PVC and composites also both often have “hidden” fastening options that reduce the outward appearance of the installed decking for a more polished look.

Now that you know what each decking material holds in store for you, hopefully, you have now decided which type of decking to install. If you’re still unsure, you may want to talk to a decking professional such as Creative Fences and Decks to learn what you need to know.

Geographic location and weather patterns can play a role in its lifespan since plastics can expand, contract, and crack with extreme weather conditions. Another advantage of composites is they areeasier to work withthan PVC is. Composite boards can be ripped, routed and bent , while PVC decking can neither be ripped the length of the board, nor routed on the edges, and are more limited in bending. The first big advantage of PVC decking is that it’s 100% recyclable. When a composite deck reaches the end of its lifespan , it’s doomed to end up in a landfill. But plastic decks can be refinished or recycled, giving them new life once their equally long life ends.