Home and Living

Composite wood decking is a fairly new technology that combines recycled materials and plastic to form a durable, more resilient decking surface. Many think that composite wood decks are superior to traditional wood, but the jury is still out on that one.

Anyone who has ever owned wood decking knows how much maintenance it can need. Constantly having to paint and waterproof a wooden deck can get very old, not to mention the fact that wood can become warped over time and needs to be replaced. The makers of composite wood decking say that you no longer have to go through all this work to make your deck looking nice.

Recycled Materials

Composite wood decking is made from recycled materials, such as wood and sawdust, and is combined with some sort of plastic, such as polyethylene or PVC. The result is a new form of decking that is resistant to insects or rotting. Composite wood decking never needs to be sanded, stained, or waterproofed, and the best part is that most composite wood decking companies offer long term warranties, some for as long as ten years. No longer do you have to spend money on paint and other materials to make your decking look presentable. Composite wood decking offers the aesthetically pleasing benefit of decking without the necessity of costly and timely maintenance.

Work in Progress

It should be noted that even the manufacturers of composite wood decks say that their product is not yet perfect. The biggest issue for composite wood decking seems to be that they are susceptible to staining. For this reason, most composite wood decks come with detailed cleaning instructions; and in addition, it is common for decks to fade over a long period of time. That is why most composite wood decking manufacturers don’t offer their decking in deep colors.

The reasons for these flaws seem to be caused by tannic acid found in the recycled materials. Some woods contain a lot of tannic acid, while others don’t contain as much. For this reason, most composite wood decking manufacturers are tweaking the ingredients and chemicals they use to make their products. They hope that, with time and experimentation, they can alleviate some of these flaws and make a product that is better than traditional wood for all your decking needs.

It should be noted that composite wood is not as strong as traditional wood. That is why composite wood decks are still dependent on wood to keep it structurally sound. Composite wood can sag or droop without the use of wood to hold it up.

Composite wood decks are a great alternative to traditional wooden decks, however, it still has its issues. But if you want a deck that you don’t have to spend a lot of time and energy maintaining it, then composite wood decking is for you.