Composite Plastic Decking

Composite Plastic Decking: What Is It?

Composite decking refers to deck boards manufactured from cores that are either entirely made of polymer material or a combination of organic wood flakes, bonding agents, and plastics.

1.   Ease Of Installation

DIY composite deck setup is pretty easy enough for most people to do, given that they have the proper tools and a little bit of direction.

So, even if you can’t afford to hire someone to do the task, all you need is a little surfing on Google, and you’ll find plenty of detailed resources to help you install composite plastic decking yourself.

However, if you’d rather prefer to get help building your deck, you can easily hire a deck builder and get the job done.

Regardless of the type of composite plastic decking you opt for, be it Caramel Double-Sided Composite Decking Board or Gun Metal Double-Sided Composite Decking Board, installing it will only take you a couple of days in total with minimum hassle.

On the contrary, installing softwood and pressure-treated timber is challenging, especially when using pressure-treated boards.

They are not only heavy but also very hard, making it difficult to drill holes or drive nails into them.

2.   Highly Durable & Long-lasting Nature

The plastic content of the composite deck material means that the boards are more resistant to rot, dampness and insects and hence more durable.

Due to this enhanced durability of composite decking, it has a far longer lifespan than its wooden forebears, with most options lasting at least 25 to 30 years.

Alternatively, the average lifespan of a traditional wooden deck is only 10-15 years on average.

In essence, your composite decking will continue to stay in top shape over the years with nearly no upkeep costs.

3.   Requires Little To No Maintenance

A wooden deck needs to be frequently painted, stained, or sealed to protect it from moisture and replacement of decaying sections.

Comparatively, composites only need to be swept or washed to keep them looking as good as new.

So, if you’d rather spend your time doing something more productive (or relaxing) than fretting over maintaining your wooden deck, good-quality composite decks are your way to go.

4.   Enhances Aesthetics

Everyone has a different home, garden, and landscape, and that’s what allows you to showcase your personal flair in your house.

However, traditional wooden decks don’t give you much flexibility when it comes to picking the design, shape, or colour scheme of your deck.

Composite boards, on the other hand, are available in a range of exciting colour options and designs, including caramel, sage, chocolate, gunmetal, graphite, silver grey, and charcoal.  

Isn’t that just what you want?

5.   Offers High Savings In The Long-run

When weighing the pros and cons of wooden decking, you may perceive that pricing is a given benefit of wooden decking, right?

Wrong!

Generally speaking, wood decking is cheaper than composites, especially when you initially buy it.

However, despite the lower initial cost of wooden decks, composite typically pays for itself within 2-3 years.

It saves you money in the long run, especially when annual maintenance costs are taken into account.

6.   Is Resistant To Splitting

Traditional wooden boards absorb water, which is why they are also vulnerable to freezing and hence icing damage.

So what’s the solution? Again, composite decking to the rescue!

The material of composite decking prevents water absorption. In fact, quality composite decks are designed to have a texture similar to real wood, offering a good grip in all types of weather.

In addition, composite decks don’t even need to be sealed in the winter to keep them from fracturing and cracking as hardwood deck boards do.

7.   Great For You & The Planet

People’s opinions on topics like climate change and the steps we should take to protect the environment vary widely. You also might have your reservations, and that’s okay.

However, we should surely contribute towards preserving our planet and environment, especially when given an effortless chance to do so.

Luckily, composite decking gives you the chance to make a convenient and environmentally-friendly decision.

But how?

Well, the components of composite decking are mainly polyethene and wood flour (made with scrap wooden materials).

This means that the production of composite decking leads to almost no waste and that the finished product is free of dangerous chemicals, protecting both you and your family from harm. 

Also, fewer trees need to be cut down in order to produce composite decking.

If you go for pressure-treated wooden decks, however, know that it is injected with chemicals to make the material bug-resistant and suitable for outdoor flooring.

What’s more, once a deck’s life is over, the chemically treated wood cannot be recycled or burned.

So, what’s stopping you from opting for eco-friendly composite plastic decking?