Composite Vs Pvc Decking

PVC deckingis made from 100% recycled plastic while composite decking, is made from a blend of wood fibers and plastic products. Over the last decade, there have been some impressive innovations in decking materials.

However, the final cost of the deck is dependent on multiple factors including the complexity of the design and which specific Pro or Azek product is chosen. While Capped Polymer decking is generally more expensive, it will probably stand the test of time better than a Capped Composite deck. On the other hand, choosing a Capped Composite still gives you a beautiful, durable, and maintenance free outdoor space. Much of the time, the choice between which product to go with comes down to the color you like the most. If you’d like to know more you can check out ourComposites page, stop by one of our showrooms, or give us a call at .

Decking

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. 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. The average time it takes to recoup the price difference in coating and cleaning costs with a composite deck is five years. 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. PVC is made up of virgin plastic where composite decking like Trex is made of a wood and plastic combination. This blend is comprised of recycled organic and plastic materials. Along with a circular saw you'll need a drill, preferably cordless.

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Plastic Decking Materials

Come on back to the Building Supply Counter and we’ll get you started. While wood looks more natural, it requires more maintenance to protect it from the elements. Keeping a wood deck in great shape requires cleaning, staining and sealing the wood.

• Now, fast forward 16 years, there are now dozens of composite decking companies and so many choices it boggles the mind.
• There are as many answers as questions, and everyone has their favorites, or opinions on what makes their composite the best.
• If you’re looking for a green alternative that still looks like wood, this is a great choice.
• Some do not use any new materials, making them highly sustainable.
• Most PVC and composite decking products use recycled plastic.

But most are susceptible to chalking and definitely look less natural or more man-made. Another trend in high end composites and some cellular PVC decking boards are co-extrusions or a bonded outer layers . These processes result in a “skin” or outer layer of the decking board that has different qualities then the core. For the most part, composite decking is more expensive than wood.

A good comparison of what can happen to a wood composite deck is to look at what an ignored leaf can do to a concrete driveway if it is not removed promptly. This is the same thing that can happen to a composite deck if it is not kept clean. Since we are dealing with products that are exposed to the outside elements on a daily basis, composite needs to be checked for any debris or dirt on a regular basis too. A key factor to consider for vinyl vs. composite decking is theway the materials look. As they contain wood fiber, composites more closely resemble wood, which many homeowners like, while a vinyl decking problem is looking too much like plastic, in some cases. This is much different from the ordinary hollow PVC materials we are used to seeing.

Cellular Pvc

There are budget composites that may appeal to some for the obvious reason. The cellular’s and many of the higher end composites are popular right now as we search for a better and better product. The co-extruded high end boards promise less scratching and staining, and even less chance of mold and mildew growing, and therefore less cleaning. As many of the newer products are not time tested we will see if they live up to their promises and we will see who will stand the test of time. The soft economy of last year has already left several composites for dead, and other companies scrambling to merge and consolidate their efforts for profitability.