Composite Decking Vs Wood Decking

What Is Composite Decking Made Of?

The TrapEase screw by Master Fastener uses a built-in secondary thread system to pull excess material down as the screw burrows in. Composite decking looks and behaves more like wood than all-plastic does because it contains about 50 percent wood dust in addition to plastic. Most boards have solid or tongue-and-groove profiles and are screwed down just like wood. What may work on a properly built deck in a dry area — may not at the beach or on a ground level deck in a moist area. They are not universal products … some of the composite products will not work with typical 16″ spacing when replacing a wood deck — especially one that’s not firm to begin with.

Keep Composite Decking Dry Especially During Winter

Some composite deckings can also come in with built-in anti-slip strips that are installed in between their grooves. So the first thing you need to do as you’re talking to a sales person is to explicitly ask for their specific models of composite decking that are especially non-slip. He would then point you to better options for non-slip deckings. Composite decking does not need to be reapplied with any sealing product. This makes the maintenance work easier and less complicated and the worry of forgetting to reseal or to recoat as in wood is no longer there. Wood is naturally absorbent, and wet wood can encourage fungal and mold growth which can then lead it to become slippery. Wet wood can also harden to ice during winter which makes it dangerous to walk on.

The last thing you want is for your deck to be unsafe, which is why a slippery deck can be a problem. With that said, the Handi-Treads Stop-the-Slip Configurator is an excellent place to begin your evaluation of various slip, trip, or fall conditions. Using a series of questions, the configurator will identify and rank the most effective and efficient solutions for your slippery Trex deck in less than a minute. Our material has a coefficient of friction of 0.76 when dry, and 0.75 when wet, which is well in excess of what the ADA has deemed adequate for a walking surface. TimberTech's composite deck boards never need to be sealed or treated for weather protection, making them the perfect flooring option for your outdoor living space. These hard-wearing characteristics allow composite deck boards to maintain their aesthetic appeal long into the future, requiring minimal maintenance along the way.

Need Ideas To Make Deck Stairs Less Slippery

Needless to say, the maintenance requirement of grit paint adds to the cost of ownership and is something to consider as choose a proper solution. LazingBee / Getty ImagesLess durable woods, like Southern pine and Western fir, are treated with preservatives. This makes them more resistant to the elements, rot, and insects. See the uploaded a JPG file or Use the Internet Archive's Wayback machine to find the ERGODOCK.com Oct 20, 2016 webpage on slip resistance testing. I have come to this website for the exact reason others have. Decking so hot in the summer that if you are bare feet you cannot walk on it and in the winter we have had several people fall while stepping from the sidewalk to our front door. I will say that the deck is nice to look at but not very good in any climate.

Our business is based on the East Coast of Australia and we partner with Austim for WA projects. We have had a long lasting and great working relationship with Austim for many years. Millboardhas been tested using the wet pendulum test and achieved “P5” whilst NewTechWood had testing performed and it returned a “R11” classification. Planning Approval which may be required if the deck is higher than ground level or if there are issues of overlooking involved.

Especially prevalent on older and uncapped composited decking, mold shows up quickly and is more difficult to eradicate than you’d expect. The mold seems to grow heavily not just on the surface, but inside the rough texture of uncapped decking.

Slip & Fall Problems Areas On Synthetic Wood

Responsible decking suppliers will be FSC® certified and will be able to provide you with information to assure you that your decking has come from a sustainably managed timber forest. You can learn more about sustainably sourced timber and search for FSC certified products and suppliers here. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva has his own method of fastening nonwood deck boards — both solid and hollow — that achieves the same clean look. He secures each plank with dabs of marine-grade polyurethane adhesive placed wherever the decking crosses a joist . He randomly nails or screws the boards in place while the glue sets. "I was pleasantly surprised the first time I worked with this material," he says.

There are bad brands of products in every building material category…doesn’t mean the whole category is junk. I’m in the mid-atlantic and have replaced both of my decks — beach and suburbs – with Zuri. Even buying the best cedar and finishing both sides — 10 years it was a mess. I took off the PT after 4 years and put down the Zuri … down about 5 years now. It’s strong enough to span the 16″ on a very solid structure. It’s 100 percent PVC and it’s equipped with an ASA capstock as well. Even though it’s the PVC and ASA, it’s what’s in the mix of the product.

Vekadeck has the most intense Wood grain texture out of any deck board. I wish it was more widely available but Veka is a super picky company about who they’ll let install their products. Most of these products are not very well performing.

• It can't absorb moisture and so isn't vulnerable to decay because it's made entirely from recycled polyethylene or virgin PVC.
• The biggest advantage to using all-plastic decking is that it needs virtually no maintenance.
• "A redwood-color deck can become too hot to walk on barefoot," says Cynthia Kravitz, vice president of Phoenix Recycled Plastics.
• "When you hose it down, though, the heat dissipates instantly."
• Sunlight will fade the color of a plastic deck board and eventually cause its surface to turn chalky.

Built-in moisture resistance – Where there's a pool, there's apt to be water – a lot of it. Unlike traditional lumber decking, using composite decking around pools can provide a smooth, clean surface for many years with little to no maintenance. or workplace, it’s time to invest in SlipDoctors’ Floor Grip. Increase the grip on your composite decking surfaces and avoid serious slips and falls today. Composite or conglomerate decking usually require a specific non-slip product to increase traction. This product shouldn’t harm the materials used in the boards or change the look of the surface.