Replace An Old Deck With Composite Decking
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While all deck materials can grow mold, algae, and mildew, wood must be cleaned and resurfaced. Composite decking cannot be resurfaced, and staining can be difficult to remove. It is recommended to apply and maintain a mold barrier from the start to prevent the occurrence of mold. If mold is already present, owners must use special cleaners which will remove the mold, but won’t harm the surface. Simply put, composite decks are usually crafted from mixing wood fibers with either new and/ or recycled plastics.
The Materials for Making a Modern Deck
Offered exclusively from DuraLife®, the Step-Clip™ hidden fastener system installs quickly and easily along the entire length of the framing joists. Each of the 1-5/8-inch wide (x 23†long) polypropylene interlocking strips covers the width of joist, shielding it from water damage. When he does, I’ll recommend Fortress Building Products to him. My experience is that the composite decks that last are the ones in which even the smallest chance of a failure has been engineered out. Fortress Deck has engineered their Infinity composite decks down to the core, using bamboo instead of sawdust for greater strength and water resistance. Fortress boards use Hulk hidden fasteners to anchor the decking down without providing a path for water to penetrate to the core of the board. This system makes the boards even longer-lasting, and gives the deck an elegant, uninterrupted look.
- This is defined as a forming process in which the raw materials are mixed and forced through an opening to produce a product that maintains a relatively consistent size and shape.
- Composite boards are a low-maintenance alternative to wood decking.
- Compression molding takes the combined molten materials and places them on a wood grain mold and then compresses them under extreme heat and pressure which creates a physical bond.
- For some composite decking companies, all water and leftover ingredients are recaptured and recycled in the manufacturing process.
- The opening would be the size and shape of the decking board and the process would solidify the shape and desired size.
- For this project, we’re using composite decking rather than treated wood decking boards.
Facts About Composite Decking
You’ve decided it's time to replace your outdoor deck and you’re ready to take it on as a DIY project, or you’ve decided to work with a licensed and bondedcontractor for the heavy lifting. Among wood decking’s pros and cons, affordability is a decided benefit. Typically, wood decking is lower cost to purchase than composites, especially in the initial purchase. However, although the initial cost of wood is less, composite usually ends up paying for itself within 2-3 years when including the cost of annual maintenance. The price differential also depends on the wood species chosen versus the brand of composite decking, and local market conditions. While all-wood decking will eventually splinter, composite decking is made with small wood fibers encased in plastic, so it won’t splinter.
Composite Decking: Does It Really Stack Up?
Can You Install New Decking Over Old Deck Boards?
What they forget to tell you is that the wood flour itself is a food source for mold. So, if it is not protected, or the protection wears off, your composite deck becomes a giant smorgasbord for many species of mold and mildew no matter how clean you keep it. A wood deck gets hot enough so that walking barefoot is mildly uncomfortable. All composites and plastics get hotter than wood – some get hotter than concrete. Dense materials retain more heat and get hotter than less dense materials.
Wood Deck - ConsumerReports.org
Pressure-Treated Lumber Supplies
Composite decking materials, on the other hand, sell for $2.50 or $3.50 per linear foot. Even so, when you account for the costs associated with maintaining a wood deck , composite decking emerges as the value choice. DuraLife’s ColorLock™ Multi-Layered Finishing System also helps protect against discoloration because composite material is completely uniform from one side of the board to the other. Made with a proprietary mixture of polypropylene plastic and hardwood fibers, DuraLife composite decking is inherently more resistant to damage from moisture buildup, mold and mildew growth. DuraLife Step-Clip™ composite decking hidden fastening system can reduce installation times by up to 50 percent. Other benefits of the DuraLife Step-Clip system include providing complete joist protection and is designed to automatically create a uniformed 3/16†space between each composite deck board.
How much does it cost to replace a deck with Trex?
A typical 24' x 12' deck (288 square feet) built with Trex decking will cost between $4,244 and $10,826 for materials and installation. Trex decking materials cost $8.25 per square foot on average, while the average labor cost for decking is $7.52 per square foot.
One composite deck system with these features is Infinity by Fortress Building Products. It’s a fully capped board for protection from moisture above and below and uses a combination of recycled plastic and bamboo flour for strength and water-resistance.
Here, I should interject that the homeowner decided to keep the existing wood handrail system , with the intention to stain the wood to match the color of the deck. To match the base trim to the railing, I ripped some 2-by-2 trim pieces from 2-by-4’s on my table saw, which would also be stained. I then ripped a bevel along one edge to ease the profile a bit. I used a miter saw to cut them to length and to cut all the 45-degree corners. Granted, base trim for interior applications isn’t typically this bulky, but this was a deck, and I was trying to keep the wood thick and strong to resist warping from exposure. I was also relying on the protection of a high-quality wood preservative.
A Lifetime Deck?
Before choosing a color for your composite decking, ask to see samples of weathered boards, if possible. Though variations exist, composite decking is generally made from a mix of wood scraps—called wood flour—and plastic particles. Although some manufacturers rely on virgin wood and plastics, others make extensive use of recycled materials. In 2010, Trex reused 3.1 billion plastic grocery bags, while TimberTech says that each year its products incorporate 107 million pounds of post-industrial and post-consumer waste materials. Once all the old deck boards were out of the way, I had the green light for the composites. The first new board went down beneath the hand rail and flush with the outside edge of the deck.
Some composite decking is being made from 100% poly-vinyl. Combined with coloring elements and protective additives, the result is a manufactured product in the shape of a board which is relatively heavier in weight than real wood of the same size. It will not rot or splinter, is highly resistant to warping, and is generally more weather resistant than traditional wooden decking. Decks have become an extension of the home as an outdoor playroom, kitchen, sanctuary, and entertainment hub. So, whether you're building a deck for the first time or replacing the one you have, it's important to know your decking options. In the past, decking material options were limited.
The Best Decking For Winter Weather
Can you put deck tiles over an existing deck?
The deck tiles can be placed over an existing surface, such as concrete, stone, brick and even wood decking. They are extremely durable and non-slip. Wood deck tiles, such as these from 3rd Street Inn, can be re-stained as needed, painted and can be coated with weatherproof sealer.
Consider Deck's Environment
Attitudes have changed, realities have changed, and most importantly – composite decking has changed. Natural wood versus composite ultimately faded into the back ground and the conversation over how to make composites better took center stage. To this day, the “right†option depends on the individual. However, even decades after the introduction and evolution of composite decking, myths persist and J&W Lumber would like to fix that. In the early days of composite decking, there was both excitement and skepticism.
I asked her if she’d considered replacing the slab, and her reply was that she didn’t have the time. Having a contractor over would interfere with her planting. I suggested putting a ground level deck down, but she likes gardening in bare feet and worried about splinters. I suggested putting composite decking over the concrete porch. Good quality composite decking is barefoot-friendly and looks like real wood decking. These qualities piqued her interest and we started to discuss the options.