Composite Decks
For homeowners who rank maintenance and durability as their highest priorities, composite decking is a popular choice. Guaranteed not to splinter, warp, crack or rot, and easier to maintain than pressure treated or cedar, composite decking offers certain distinct advantages over its natural counterparts.
Its primary drawback is cost – composite decking is more expensive than natural decking products – and for some homeowners there’s simply no replacing the look and feel of a natural wood deck.
Gillespie Decks has experience with a wide range of composite and other synthetic decking materials, and can install any material upon client request. We feature Trex and Eon decking as our highest value composite offerings.
Composite Deck FAQ’s
Is it true that composite decking won’t splinter, warp, crack or rot?
That’s the guarantee. Most composite decking manufacturers provide 20-25 year warranties on their product against the occurrence of splintering, warping, cracking and rotting.
Does anything void manufacturer’s warranties?
Buyer beware: manufacturer warranties only apply if the contractor that installs the deck builds in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. The bottom line is that if your composite decking is installed incorrectly, your warranty is voided, so be sure to choose your contractor carefully.
Gillespie Decks guarantees that all synthetic decking installed meets its manufacturer’s installation guidelines.
I’ve heard composite decking has mold and mildew problems, is this true?
Yes and no. Older composite decking materials (e.g. manufactured in the late 90’s) were especially vulnerable to mold and mildew development. Improvements in manufacturing have largely eliminated these problems, though poor deck construction can still contribute to them.
Mold and mildew is most likely to occur in areas where water collects and pools for extended periods of time on the composite material. Composite decks should be constructed with a slight tilt away from the home into the yard, allowing for proper water run-off and drainage.
The amount of tilt varies per deck, but the keyword here is slight – the tilt should be invisible to the naked eye.
Will composite material fade?
This varies by material, but in general the answer is yes, composite materials will fade initially. Over the first ninety days of your composite deck’s exposure to the UV rays from the sun, a slight fading process will occur with many brands. This will change the colour of the deck, giving it a more natural “weathered” look. Once the initial weathering process has occurred, composite material is remarkably resistant to further fading. Low grade composite material, however, is susceptible to higher levels of fading over longer periods of time, often turning a greyish or pinkish colour.
I’ve heard that composite deck material is prone to permanent stains, is this true?
The flipside of the fact that composite decking doesn’t need to be stained is that it can’t be resurfaced or (intentionally) stained like pressure treated or cedar decks can. If you spill grease, paint or red wine on your composite decking, be sure to clean it immediately, as there’s no easy way to remove or fix stain spots on a composite deck.
How do I maintain my composite deck?
Compared with its natural alternatives, composite decking requires very little in terms of upkeep and maintenance. The most important maintenance measure you can take is to sweep your composite deck.
