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Types of Composite Decking: A Comprehensive Guide

Composite decking has become a popular choice for homeowners seeking a low-maintenance, durable, and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional wood. Made from a blend of wood fibers and plastic, composite decking offers various styles and performance levels to suit different needs and preferences. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the different types of composite decking available, helping you make an informed choice for your outdoor space.

1. Traditional Composite Decking

Overview: Traditional composite decking is the most common type, featuring a blend of wood fibers and recycled plastic. It offers a natural wood look without the high maintenance required for real wood.

Features:

Appearance: Mimics the appearance of natural wood with a variety of colors and grain patterns.
Durability: Resistant to rot, splintering, and insect damage.
Maintenance: Low maintenance compared to wood, requiring occasional cleaning.

Benefits:

Aesthetic Variety: Available in numerous colors and textures to match your style.
Longevity: Designed to last longer than traditional wood decking.

Considerations:

Cost: Generally more expensive than pressure-treated wood.
Heat Retention: Can become hot under direct sunlight.

2. Capped Composite Decking

Overview: Capped composite decking features a protective layer of plastic that encases the core of the decking boards. This cap enhances the board’s durability and resistance to stains, scratches, and fading.

Features:

Capped Surface: Provides an extra layer of protection against environmental elements.
Enhanced Durability: More resistant to moisture and UV damage compared to traditional composite decking.
Easy Maintenance: Requires less frequent cleaning and maintenance.

Benefits:

Improved Longevity: The cap protects against wear and extends the lifespan of the decking.
Low Maintenance: The capped surface makes cleaning easier and reduces the need for staining.

Considerations:

Cost: Typically more expensive than traditional composite decking due to the added cap.
Color Options: Limited to the colors and textures available in capped designs.

3. Ultra-Low Maintenance Composite Decking

Overview: Ultra-low maintenance composite decking takes durability and ease of care to the next level. It is designed to offer exceptional resistance to staining, fading, and weathering with minimal upkeep.

Features:

Advanced Technology: Utilizes advanced composite materials and manufacturing processes for superior performance.
Enhanced Protection: Offers exceptional resistance to stains, mold, and mildew.
Easy Cleaning: Requires minimal effort to keep clean and looking new.

Benefits:

Long-Term Durability: Designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and heavy use.
Effortless Care: Reduces the time and effort needed for maintenance.

Considerations:

Premium Cost: Generally the most expensive option due to advanced materials and technology.
Limited Design Variety: Fewer color and texture options compared to other types of composite decking.

Transform your deck into a cozy haven with a beautifully designed pergola, offering both style and shelter for your outdoor gatherings.

4. Composite Decking with PVC Coating

Overview: Composite decking with a PVC coating offers an additional layer of protection, combining the benefits of composite materials with the enhanced durability of PVC.

Features:

PVC Coating: Provides a protective layer over the composite core, enhancing its resistance to moisture, stains, and UV damage.
Durability: Highly resistant to scratching, denting, and fading.
Easy Maintenance: Requires minimal cleaning and is resistant to mold and mildew.

Benefits:

Superior Protection: The PVC coating adds an extra layer of durability and resistance.
Long-Term Performance: Offers excellent longevity and performance in various weather conditions.

Considerations:

Higher Cost: Typically more expensive due to the PVC coating and additional manufacturing processes.
Appearance: The look and feel may differ from traditional composite decking, with some designs having a more uniform appearance.

5. Recycled Composite Decking

Overview: Recycled composite decking is made from recycled materials, including wood fibers and plastic, making it an eco-friendly choice for environmentally conscious homeowners.

Features:

Eco-Friendly: Made from recycled materials, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Variety of Options: Available in various colors and styles similar to traditional composite decking.

Benefits:

Environmental Impact: Helps reduce landfill waste and promotes sustainability.
Durability: Offers similar performance characteristics to standard composite decking.

Considerations:

Cost: May be slightly more expensive than standard composite decking due to the recycling process.
Design Variations: Design options may be limited based on the availability of recycled materials.

Conclusion

Choosing the right type of composite decking for your outdoor space involves considering factors such as durability, maintenance, cost, and aesthetic preferences. From traditional composite decking to advanced ultra-low maintenance options, there are various types to suit different needs and budgets. By understanding the features and benefits of each type, you can make an informed decision that ensures your new deck is both functional and beautiful.

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Why Avoid Hardwood Decking?

If you’re thinking about building a custom deck in Omaha, you’re going to be faced with a choice – hardwood decking or composite decking? In the past, hardwood decking materials were the only option, and they did a good job when properly maintained. But today’s technology has given deck buyers an alternative with composite decking, and with continual innovation over the years, it’s now far surpassed the benefits of hardwood decking in all categories.

Hardwood Vs. Composite Decking

Many homeowners choose hardwood decking because it sounds familiar and is easy to find. What they’re not aware of is the wood decking problems like splinters, staining, rot issues, hours of maintenance, and high cost. Homeowners who are not familiar with composite decking and all of the innovations it’s undergone since it first emerged over 30 years ago are afraid composite decking will not look as nice as wood. Let’s take an in-depth look and see how today’s composite decking compares to wood decking.

How do they Look?

It’s true that early-generation composite decking looked artificial and plastic-like. But today’s composites are nearly indistinguishable from wood decks, and many argue much more beautiful. They have grain patterns, so no two boards are alike. They can mimic any hardwood on the market in appearance and do a lot more when it comes to getting the exact pattern, color, and finish.

Moisture Factor

One of the biggest problems with natural hardwood decking is that boards absorb water. Without frequent applications of stains, sealers, or paint, wood decking will warp, splinter, crack, and rot. Composite decking, on the other hand, is fully moisture-resistant, eliminating the need for repeated sealing applications, and can be installed in high moisture conditions with no issues.

Maintenance

To extend the life of a wood deck, homeowners are tasked with regularly painting and staining to keep the deck sealed from moisture, as noted above. It’s a battle that continues for the lifespan of the entire deck. A composite deck only requires sweeping and an occasional wash to keep the boards looking new.

Insect Damage

Insects love natural hardwoods. Termites and other wood-loving insects can do a number on a natural hardwood deck and render it unusable or fill it with unsightly holes in little time. Composite decks are insect-proof – you’ll never have insect damage with a composite deck.

Final Breakdown

Appearance – Hardwood timber fades over time. Composite has the beauty of natural wood with high-performance durability.
Moisture – Hardwood doesn’t hold up well with water lots of water contact. Composite can be installed with water contact and is moisture-proof.
Maintenance – Hardwood requires 16-32 hours of cleaning, painting, and staining per year. Composite requires 2-4 hours per year.
Durability – Hardwood decking is susceptible to rot, splintering, warping, and termite damage. Composite resists rot, warping, splintering, and termite damage.
Price – Hardwood decks have a lower initial cost, but it varies depending on wood species. Composite has a higher upfront cost, but a much longer lifetime.

Don’t Be Afraid of Low-Maintenance Decking & Railing

Believe it or not, low-maintenance composite decks have been around since the mid-1990s. When they first hit the market the colors and textures were limited, but like all technology, they’ve evolved. In fact, low-maintenance decking and railing have evolved into a billion-dollar industry. You can now get practically any color or texture you want, and the quality of the decking materials is more elite than anyone ever imagined 30 years ago.

Our company knows pretty much everything there is to know about custom deck building with these materials because we were one of the early adopters. If you come across a custom deck in Omaha made from Trex, TimberTech, or Azek low-maintenance decking and railing there’s a good chance we built it!

Superior Materials (Low Maintenance Decking) = Superior Decks

Don’t let the dinosaur deck builders scare you away from all the benefits of low-maintenance decking & railing. Despite its longevity, many deck builders are reluctant to shift over from wood simply because they don’t understand how Trex, TimberTech or Azek materials work or how to install them properly. Trex, the originator of composite decking material has been around since 1996.

No Fading or Staining – Many composites offer fade and stain warranties so they won’t change color over time. Left alone, the wood turns grey.
No Warping, Cracking, or Splitting – Over time natural wood deteriorates no matter how many coats of stain you apply. Composite decking companies like Trex and Azek boast 25-year to limited-life warranties to back up their promise.
Termite Resistant – You’ll never receive damage to your composite deck from termite pressure, unlike wood decks which are under constant threat from the wood-loving insects.
Mold & Mildew Resistant – Wood rots and breaks down in nature, and when it’s attached to your house as a deck. Composite decking is more immune to mold and mildew attacks which are known to exploit the vulnerabilities of wood decking.
No Splinters – What fun is being on the deck if you keep picking up splinters in your feet? Composite decking is a true splinter-free decking experience.
Longer Boards – Composite decking boards are as long as 20ft which means a more seamless finish with fewer joints.
Low Maintenance – They don’t call it low-maintenance decking for nothing. A simple application of soap and water gets your deck looking brand new in no time.

Nobody builds a custom deck so they can spend lots of time taking care of it. Stop by our showroom and see in person how great the materials we use in our Omaha elite custom decks really are. We offer all the top brands including Trex, TimberTech, and Azek for our low-maintenance decking & railing. You have to see it to believe it. Touching it helps too. See you soon!