about plastic /
wood composite
decking.
815-344-7926
Fax
815-344-7961
companies promoted their material as "maintenance free" without fully
understanding the expectations of what "maintenance free" means to you.
The majority of decking brands available utilize a mix of plastic and wood
flour. The mix can range from 50 / 50 to only 10% plastic 90% wood flour.
Rule of thumb is the higher percentage of plastic the better the quality.
Why is wood flour used?
1. Plastic expands and contracts more than wood. If 100% plastic was
used the product would expand and contract more then screws could
tolerate.
2. Cost. Plastic, whether recycled or virgin costs much more than wood
flour filler. Be wary of a composite decking material that less then $2.25
per lineal foot. Typically found in the big box home improvement stores,
this material most likely has a low % of plastic and will end up staining and
looking terrible in a few years.
What challenges will I have with plastic / wood composite materials?
Several.
1. Staining: If the product contains any wood it WILL STAIN and FADE.
Wood absorbs just about anything spilled on it. So unless you don't plan to
have drinks or BBQ sauce on your deck, beware. Wood flour is also
susceptible to mold spot stains. Removing these stains is very difficult if not
impossible.
2. Installation: Most manufacturers require you (or your contractor) to
pre-drill holes and screw down your deck. It is highly recommended you
follow these instructions. Not pre-drilling may cause deck boards to crack
or split at butt ends. Unfortunately, this is a very time consuming method
so plan to spend your weekends or vacation drilling and screwing. Or,
expect your contractor to up his bid substantially. Carpenters do not like it
when they can't use a trusty nail gun and their production is much slower.
3. Sagging: Wood / plastic decking is not structural and is heavy. This is
why many manufacturers state they recommend 12" spacing between
joist's. Some will state both 12" and 16" spacing is okay but be aware the
product may sag with 16" spacing especially in warm climates and summer.
decking
does not
have these
problems!
Click above to
find out why.