Home Improvement Costs

Redwood decking can be comparable to wood-composite materials, and exotic hardwoods can be much more expensive. Pressure-treated wood is also the cheapest material for the non-decking components, such as stairs, guards, and rails. The classic and still the most popular deck material, wood decking is usually pressure-treated softwood, such as hemlock, fir, or pine. More expensive wood decking types include redwood andexotic hardwoods, such as teak or ipe. These premium woods typically are not pressure-treated but must be finished (as does pressure-treated wood) to keep it from weathering to a dull gray color. With a variety of options available to homeowners considering building a deck, wood does not have to be your first or only choice.

Wolf® Decking

If your deck is exposed to direct sunlight, this will help to prevent fading. will have multiple color hues to more accurately simulate a natural wood species. You maybe be working on multi-stage project and matching the materials on the previous stage is a must. This line is ‘priced to put the pressure on treated.’ A scalloped underside allows these lightweight lengths to feature the durability of composite with the affordability of wood. Allows for the Hideaway Hidden fastener clips for a perfect finish. Trex decking is 25% recyclable making it one of the largest recyclers in the United States.

What To Know About Deck Railing Height

Your home's outdoor space is an extension of the interior, a place to be enjoyed many months out of the year and some places all year. It makes sense that building or updating a deck can boost the value of your home and provide a peaceful retreat. Although plastic comes from a non-renewable resource, manufacturers can recycle it over and over again.

Timbertech Pro Vs Azek: Which Decking Is Best For You?

Edge-fastening looks good because the screws are hidden, but face-fastening is faster, stronger, and easier to fix. When face-fastening, use screws designed only for composites. This decking bubbles up around standard bugle-head deck screws .

If your decking has cracks, looks dirty, or suffers from mildew, it's time to decide whether to refinish or replace it entirely. We test, evaluate, and compare different types of decking to save you time and money.

Build it from something other than wood like PVC decking boards. No matter where you live, Trex composite decking is backed by a 25-Year Limited Residential Warranty. It’s engineered to stand up to harsh weather and decades of foot traffic. Some PVC decking materials can fade or peel as a result of exposure to the elements. Although the two decking types share some similarities, there are important differences to consider when choosing PVC vs. composite decking.

Do You Know How To Avoid Staining A Deck? Build It From Something Other Than Wood Like Pvc Decking Boards

Simply glue together three sides, slide them over the post, glue and clamp the last side in place, and then never worry about painting or staining again. Order it at home centers and lumberyards that carry Azek products. Composite is resistant to rot, mold, and termites, which can take their toll on wood decking materials. Composite decking requires minimal upkeep and can last between 25 and 30 years. On average, plastic decking has a similar lifespan to composite decking and can last nearly 30 years.

It is slightly more durable than plastic, which decreases the need for repairs or replacement. Composite decking is rising in popularity for its durability, low maintenance needs and style. At $4 to $13 per square foot, this material has a more consistent pricing than wood, which can vary from $4 to $30 per square foot.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at capped polymer decking. There are major benefits to both capped polymer and capped composite boards. The product line you choose will depend on your investment level, design goals, and ultimate vision you have for your outdoor oasis.

All Sharing Options For:

Ceramic-coated screws come in several colors, which helps them blend in. The width of the decking, its color and finish, and the design of the railing are important design elements. A ranch, raised ranch, or contemporary house style can work well with many deck designs. It's more challenging to make a deck work with older styles, such as Tudor, colonial, or 1920s bungalow. Many manufacturers of synthetic decking offer a variety of railings, such as provincial or Mission style, that can help the deck fit with the rest of the house.

Any composite or plastic decking can come in a tongue-and-groove style. Most manufacturers sell at least one product with this feature. Price, though the cost to install a composite or PVC deck, no matter the material, is fairly consistent. In many cases, pros can install composite boards on a roof deck.

Both vinyl decking and composites are available throughout North America from several manufacturers – offering builders and DIYers a range of brand choices. Both decking types come in many different colors and do not require painting, staining or sealing, as wood decking does. Manufacturers produce composites by mixing plastics and wood fiber and extruding the material into boards. The wood fiber provides strength, while the plastic helps protect the wood from moisture. Composites can be made from either recycled or virgin ingredients.

• PVC decking is about half the price of composite decking but cost is added if you are installing PVC and need to buy the special tools needed for PVC deck installation.
• The average time it takes to recoup the price difference in coating and cleaning costs with a composite deck is five years.
• This blend is comprised of recycled organic and plastic materials.
• While this may mean short-term savings with wood decking, those savings can be lost in the long-term maintenance and eventual replacement of a wooden deck.
• Each comes in different levels of quality, but overall you can expect to pay as much as 20% more for composite decking over pressure treated wood.
• PVC is made up of virgin plastic where composite decking like Trex is made of a wood and plastic combination.

Everything you need to finish a deck—fascia boards, railings, balusters, treads, and posts—is made in matching colors using the same composite material. Run-of-the-mill boards start at $4 per square foot, while the premium products that closely resemble tropical wood run up to $7.20 per square foot. If you want the sleek simplicity of a painted-wood look, opt for the PVC decking of the TimberTech AZEK Harvest Collection. Like all collections in the TimberTech AZEK line, the Harvest Collection features moisture-, fade-, stain-, and weathering-resistant capped polymer deck boards. Now available in both standard and wide-width in Brownstone and Slate Gray. To learn more, read a more in-depth composite decking comparison.

Backed by a 25-year limited warranty, it’s environmentally friendly and designed to remain free of rotting, splitting, splintering, insect damage. Composite decking—like Trex—is a blend of plastic film and wood fibers. The plastic film that goes into composite decking can include polypropylene or polyethylene. These plastics work well with wood fibers to create a strong, resilient material that is more stable than 100% plastic decking. Plastic decking is often confused with composite decking, which contains plastic film, but isn't quite the same thing. Learn more about the various types of plastic decking, the pros and cons of these materials, and how plastic decking stacks up to Trex® composite decking.