Composite Decking- Short Guide

What is Composite Decking?

Composite decking is becoming the biggest alternative to timber deck as the day passes in the open market. Now, what is it and why is it getting so much hype these days?

Composite Decking is a synthetic product made of a mix of plastics, wood fibers, and some bonding agents. This combination of items is heated as well as made into wide shaped lengths and in the end, it is left to cool. The boards that we get as a result need much less maintenance as compared to the ordinary wood decking and at the same time, it looks far more authentic than plastic alternatives.

Composite Wood Decking – Pros and Cons

Above everything else, composite wood decking has one major benefit over traditional wooden decking, that it needs way less maintenance than wooden decking.

The plastic content of the composite wood decking makes the boards more durable and even more resistant to insects, damp or rot. There is no need to seal the boards or paint them or even get them stained. Even if they are placed in direct sunlight, they won’t crack or curl. The boards of composite wood decking are totally splinter resistant and come with an additional coating of plastic thus becoming fade and stain-resistant.

These boards are lightweight and are easy to carry. They are also water-resistant meaning that they would absorb little to none water, making them slip-free. These boards can be used outdoors as well as close to swimming pools. As compared to its wooden ancestors, composite decking has a much longer lifetime due to its increased durability. Our entire ranges come along a 20 to a 25-year guarantee, but we expect them to last even longer.

 They might seem to be a bit costly at the time of the purchase, however, there are no upkeep costs for them and they will continue to look great by every passing year. It won’t be wrong to say that composite decking needs way less maintenance than their traditional wooden alternatives which ultimately means you can spend lesser time maintaining your place and more quality time with your loved ones.

Types of Composite Decking

You may find two types of Composite Decking on the open market

1. Capped
2. Uncapped

As I mentioned earlier, in capped composite decking, the core of the board is made up of wood and recycled plastic and then it is covered with a plastic coating that protects it from various elements like fading and staining. Although that makes it much easier to wipe clean and lets them keep their color throughout the years due to that, it becomes a little bit more expensive than uncapped boarding.

On the other hand, Uncapped boards also have the same material which is hard-wearing and resistant but they lack extended protection against color fading and staining. It results in the board getting faded after some wood oil comes out from the board and stays exposed to the air in the first couple of months. Now, they might count as cheap or budget-friendly, they really are a step backward from getting paramount satisfaction.

Composite boards also come in two different varieties; Hollow and Solid. Solid boards tend to be heavier and stronger and on the other hand, Hollow boards are more likely to have hollow chambers alongside the length of the entire plank. You can find both solid and hollow boards at Forever Composite Company. This company based in the UK has all the answers to your question as they are experts in composite decking. Ask them anything and they will guide you professionally.

The method of installation is the same as that of the traditional wooden decking, yet many different and new varieties of boards including our range come with the added benefit of the sides of the decking having a groove, which means that fasteners can easily be put in between the boards during the installation very easy. The result is a faster installation time as compared to the traditional wooden deck. A bonus benefit of these boards is that there are no visible screws after the installation.

How Much Does Composite Decking Cost?

A big and aesthetic-looking deck is the main thing that is needed for outside entertainment for guests. From barbecue to the different conversation on a nice deck outside makes it a perfect place to hang out on a beautiful day.

When you are comparing a natural counterpart’s pricing with composite decking, the important thing to acknowledge the reasons why composite decking is expensive than the natural wood one.

Here let’s have a comparison between both of them. On average, natural decks cost around $25 to $35 on basis of per square foot including the installation charges (especially for cedar and redwood which is high-end wood). While composite decking with installation charges cost around $45 to $55 per square foot.

Is a Composite Deck Worth The Money?

On average market prices, composite decking will cost around $13,000 to $21,000 and against it, a wood deck will cost around $8,000 to $ 11,000. The difference between the prices seems huge and often people see the price difference chooses the wooden one and not seeing the side benefits of a composite deck.

If you keep several things in mind like the after-purchase maintenance in mind, the time and effort you put into it, lasting age and durability of the deck, the cost will then become more reasonable.

A deck is not what you install every day. It needs to stay for decades with you. Composite decking can last up to 30 years or so and as compared to natural wood decks, these may last 15 years even after diligent care and maintenance.

As composite decking comprises organic and synthetic fibers wrapped in synthetic shells, composite decking is resistant to stains, warping, scratch-resistant, mold resistant and fade resistant. A composite decking due to its durability level can stay fresh and beautiful for years by giving them significant care as we give to the wooden decks.