Home Improvement Costs

It is best known for its ability to repel water in areas with heavy rains. The boards only represent about30% to 40%of the total material pricing. You'll also need to pay for additional supplies, such as the composite railing at$10 to $30 per linear footand posts, which run$30 to $75 each. Composites are made in a range of profiles to make boards lighter, easier to install, or both. If you’re looking for low maintenance, high value, and serious aesthetic appeal, PVC decking is the clear choice.

Wolf® Decking

For the homeowner, being able to discern physical differences between capped composite decking and PVC decking might not be easy, but those differences do exist. Here’s a breakdown as to the key differences between these two revolutionary decking materials. One of the things that truly sets capped composite apart from other non-wood decking materials is its ability to closely emulate the look and feel of real wood. Capped composite has all the warmth and character of tropical hardwoods, but with superior performance.

What To Know About Deck Railing Height

The first difference that you’ll probably notice is that wood is typically the least expensive, composite the second and cellular PVC the most expensive. When it comes to fade resistance, PVC is the hands-down winner. However, it’s worth noting that although composite fades faster, the fade is more natural, giving the material a beautiful, more wood-like appearance than PVC. In terms of withstanding the elements, composite has the upper hand because they expand and contract less than PVC. This makes composite decking the better material when extreme temperatures is concerned. PVC technology has taken significant strides, and they look more like wood now more than ever.

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 .

The labor cost to install a new 144-square-foot deck ranges from$1,500 to $2,000. This runs$9 to $12 per square footfor boards and the structure, and $25 per square footfor stairs. This means that pros can cut these boards without the risk of splintering or cracking, a common problem with other vinyl materials like siding.

A dry space under the deck is a great place to continue your deck party during a rain shower, or to create some useful dry storage. Screwing through the face of the boards is by far the fastest, easiest and most structurally sound method of fastening deck boards. Modern deck screws have reverse threads to suck the decking down tight to the joists and specially designed heads to prevent mushrooming. Some face-screwing systems, like the Cortex system from FastenMaster, allow you to countersink the screws and fill the holes with plugs made out of the same material as the decking. Installing the plugs is time consuming, but the fastener locations are almost invisible. Trex uses recycled plastic film and reclaimed wood to build a better decking material. PVC-wrapped composite decking is a plastic-coated board comprised of a composite core wrapped with a vinyl shell.

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

You should be able to get at least 20 years of use, depending on the conditions. PVC decking is typically made from virgin plastics, which can be recycled after use. Although Trex decking cannot be recycled due to the mingling of wood fibers and plastics, it can be repurposed into new decking materials. Even better, it contributes to less trash in landfills and on the planet. Although Trex contains plastic, it’s a composite decking material. As a result, you get the the eye-catching look of rich wood with the durability of a composite.

Understanding the pros and cons of manufactured decking can help you decide which material is best for your needs. PVC often has a more aggressive texture than composites -- and that can be a plus or a minus, depending on your preference. Lastly, both product types offer multi-tonal or “streaked” products that are designed to resemble real wood.

Uncapped decking is the more cost-effective choice, but it is also more vulnerable to staining and mold growth if not carefully maintained. Easily customizable, PVC can be made to mimic the color of more expensive wood decking options, such as mahogany, ipe, and redwood. And because it’s completely plastic, keeping it clean is a breeze – you can even safely pressure wash this material without fear of splintering. Compared to natural wood, the plastic in composite decking makes it more resistant to moisture and insects. It also allows for greater style variation – you can choose a custom color and wood grain to match the aesthetic of your home.

Both products are “capped”, which means the ends are covered by an added layer of protection to prevent moisture intrusion. This helps prevent mold and mildew from taking hold as well as product contraction and expansion. The biggest difference between TimberTech Pro and TimberTech Azek products is the material each is made of. TimberTech Pro is a composite product while Azek is a PVC product. Although similar, there are a few differences in these two materials that may be important to you. For both capped products, you can count on at least a 25-year stain and fade warranty.

Consider the following when choosing the right one for you. Material prices run$15 to $36 per square foot, including$4 to $13 per square footfor deck boards. They look like composites, but these boards are actually 99 percent virgin PVC plastic, very different stuff from the polyethylene-wood mix found in most composites. The fact that composites don't feel or look like real wood is beside the point.

For decades, ALL decks were built of simple pressure treated lumber, because vinyl and composite hadn’t been invented yet. Wooden decking material is by far the cheapest option on the market and will always be popular because of that. However, wooden decks are susceptible to rot, mold, insect damage, and splintering. In order to keep those problems at bay, you’ll need to re-paint or re-stain your wooden deck every summer.

• Composites came onto the scene in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
• Which one you choose determines the style options, the price, what it’s like to own it, and the maintenance you’ll need to do to keep it looking great.
• Composites are by far the oldest decking product on the market.
• Even though composites don’t require staining or painting, they do need to be kept clean in order to keep them looking and functioning their best.
• The three main deck material options you’ll see on the market are pressure treated wood, composite, and PVC .
• Wood is a more natural product, while composite and vinyl are artificial decking materials.

To help make your decision easier we list their differences and similarities below. Now that we’ve looked at the basics of composite and PVC decking products, we can take a closer look at Timbertech Pro vs. Azek decking.

Geographic location and weather patterns can play a role in its lifespan since plastics can expand, contract, and crack with extreme weather conditions. Another advantage of composites is they areeasier to work withthan PVC is. Composite boards can be ripped, routed and bent , while PVC decking can neither be ripped the length of the board, nor routed on the edges, and are more limited in bending. The first big advantage of PVC decking is that it’s 100% recyclable. When a composite deck reaches the end of its lifespan , it’s doomed to end up in a landfill. But plastic decks can be refinished or recycled, giving them new life once their equally long life ends.