Resurface Your Current Deck

The plastic in the composite mix is compromised, and water gets past the protective plastic and into the wood flour. Composite decking that is not protected by a plastic wrapper or capstock seems to have a particular susceptibility to mold and mildew. Trex and Fiberon, major manufacturers of uncapped products, have been sued over this issue in class action lawsuits and had to pay out large amounts of money to affected homeowners. All materials expand when heated and contract when cooled. Wood expands and contracts but very little along the length of the board.

Learn How To Build A Deck With Composites And Other Rot

Today they install low-maintenance materials on three out of four. Plus, check out these 14 DIY deck add-ons that are seriously cool. For the wood coating, the homeowner selected a semi-transparent Sierra Redwood stain from Armstrong-Clark. The EHT staff has used Armstrong-Clark’s oil-based preservatives in the past, and they hold up well against water and UV-rays. The wood stain complemented the new composites very nicely, and I predrilled the base trim and screwed it in place along the edges of the walls. We then added a Timbertech fascia board to the outside edge of the deck and stained the handrail.

How Far Apart Should You Place Floor Joists On A Composite Deck?

Since I was working on a Little Giant ladder configured as an A-frame, I bridged a scrap 2-by-8 board across the rungs to serve as support for the bottom of the jack. This worked well; it gave the T-Jak the reach it needed, and I could crank on its adjustment job until the jack pushed the joist in place. Eco-friendliness is the reason why some people choose a mix of composite and wood decking. The most common mistake we see with fascia installation is the practice of extending the fascia to cover the ends of the decking boards. Another common mistake that should be avoided is improper installation of concrete footings. Extreme freeze/thaw conditions can wreak havoc on concrete footers if they are not installed below the frost line.

Decking Over An Existing Deck

Some composite materials mimic wood grain and others are monochromatic or multi-chromatic. Composite decking can also be hyper-realistic to resemble a tropical hardwood without the labor-intensive upkeep. Bottom line is that composite decking won’t break the bank, particularly when you consider the long-term savings. Consumer Reportscompared wood decking to alternative decking materials. They reported that pressure-treated pine is very popular and very inexpensive; but the wood tends to change color very quickly, and will rot, crack, and splinter over time. Pressure-treated woods have the shortest deck life expectancy, and while the initial cost is relatively low, the long-term costs for repairs, upkeep, and replacement tend to be very high.

The basic problem is that the UV-inhibiting additives are themselves broken down by exposure to UV radiation and lose effectiveness over time. This is the primary reason composite decks turn gray. ormal use of the deck wears off the protective plastic coating that surrounds the wood particles in the composite, leaving them exposed to mold and mildew. Most composite and PVC decking brands, like Trex and Azek, recommend a minimum joist spacing of 16 inches OC.

Lastly, secure connections can also be made with through bolts, although this will require being able to access the threaded end of the bolt from inside the house. For those keeping the wooden structure of their deck and just replacing the surface, a mismatched appearance may be another concern. Posts on the perimeter of a wooden deck often rise up through the deck to provide the posts for railings.

Watertight

If you’re looking to replace a wood deck built on a steel substructure with composite boards, you can be confident that it will easily support the additional weight of composite. The first thing my friend did after closing on both his houses was tear out the old splintered wooden decks that came with them. Now, every time I go to his house, I have a problem. I end up chasing my friend’s rowdy yellow lab around the yard (because chasing down a big dog and wrasslin’ the toy back is great fun), and then stubbing my toe on, or tripping over, concrete. That’s because my friend decided to adopt an ‘as needed’ attitude toward removing the buried concrete post anchors that held down the decks he took out. A warped and discolored deck is more than just an eyesore.

Modern composite decking has been engineered to stand up to decades of harsh weather, sun and constant foot traffic. Also, Trex composite decking offers a 25-year warranty that protects against fading and staining and warp.

• Current building codes require that all decks should be supported with a minimum of 2”x 10” pressure treated pine joists that are spaced 24” apart (although 16” OC is standard building practice).
• Get Samples, try our Composite Deck Visualizer, or contact DuraLife now to learn more.
• So, keep in mind that some additional framing may be necessary if you decide to upgrade your existing pressure treated wood deck with a high-quality composite material.
• It is stain and fade resistant, mold and mildew resistant, and is available in the colors and deck railing options you want.
• Another mistake to avoid when installing composite decking is spacing the joists too far apart.
• More solid and safe under foot, DuraLife decking is backed by a 25-year warranty.