![]() Composite’s characteristics limit usability If your wood deck got scratched, it can be sanded down. Worse yet, gouges and scratches on composite decking can’t be fixed, unless you completely replace the board. Patio furniture, BBQ grills, kids toys, and even the family dog’s nails can all leave gouges in the composite decking. Homeowners quickly notice that their new deck scratches fairly easily compared to older wood decks. Easily scratched surface can’t be fixedĬomposite decking is typically made of more plastic than wood fibers, leaving the surface fairly soft. We recommend the DEFY Crystal Clear Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer. The way to achieve this is by applying a composite deck sealer, it will help preserve your deck’s color and avoid stains. However, there is a way to prevent this from happening. Since the vast majority of composite deck owners selected this material for not needing to be repainted or resealed, this is a major disappointment. Many composite manufacturers even offer matching paint for this reason. The only way to fix the stains is to paint over them. Anything from the tannins of a few fallen leaves on the surface to an additionally spilled glass of wine or splotch of ketchup can leave stains. Many composite decking materials also stain easily. In reality, composite decking is prone to fading, especially when it’s exposed to the elements and sun. Coupled with being sold as low-maintenance and not needing surface treatments leads homeowners to believe their new deck will look the same for its entire lifespan. Staining and color fading leads to frustrationĪ significant attraction to composite decking is how many colors it comes in. In this way, composite decking can be fairly unpredictable, even within boards on the same deck. The cause of this isn’t exactly clear, but it’s suggested that the composite nature of the decking leads it to be much more sensitive to temperature and humidity swings as well as sun exposure. ![]() Common complaints from homeowners include their composite decking board swelling, shifting, warping, and shrinking. What’s interesting to note is that composite decking boards are more apt to move around. Warping and weakening isn’t uncommonĪnother myth of composite that relates to its water-resistance is that it won’t swell from water contact. Despite composite being “low care”, homeowners living in humid/wet regions might find them having to clean their decks excessively to control mold, fungus, algae, or moss growth. ![]() Since the water doesn’t quite absorb, it becomes stagnant, with the moisture finally causing mold to develop. The texture of the surface of the boards and the very rough surface of uncapped ends can easily hold water within its grooves. While more advanced composite is exceptionally resistant to water, this doesn’t mean that mold isn’t capable of growing. Moisture-resistance doesn’t stop moldĬomposite decking is often sold as a close to a waterproof material as you can get. Here are the five main problems associated with composites that you must be aware of before you invest thousands into your new deck or patio. Many homeowners have ended up learning the hard way that composite decking isn’t flawless and, in many cases, ends up being a frustrating, expensive mistake. While composite decking certainly does have some advantages, it also has a number of problems that the average homeowner may be unaware of. Many new decks are being made with composite decking rather than wood, as manufacturers have led homeowners to believe that their products are superior to any real wood. Over the past few decades, composite decking has skyrocketed in popularity as an alternative to wood. plywood), but capped composite lumbers designed for decking didn’t really come onto the market until the ’90s. Composite lumber is fairly popular in construction (i.e. Lighted Magnifying Glass That Stays PutĬomposite lumber is any man-made material composed of a mix of wood fibers, plastics, binders, and adhesives.Single vs Double Vs Triple Pane Windows.
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