Benefits of Composite Decking

Are you impressed by the composite decking you saw at a friend’s home?

Indeed, the beauty of such decking would appeal to anyone who sees it, which is why it has recently gained such popularity. But there is, of course, much more to composite decking than just the external appearance. Composite decks are becoming increasingly popular over traditional wood decks.

To develop a more precise understanding, you must be acquainted with the benefits and challenges of composite decking. We can help you by putting forward this comprehensive guide to the benefits of composite decking.

With all said and done, let’s get straight to the advantages of composite decks for your outdoor living space!

9 Reasons Why Composite Decking Is Beneficial

Composite decking offers a wide range of advantages for building your dream deck. Let’s take a look at these:

1. Safety

All homeowners would want to alleviate the possibility of more likely accidents in children, older people, physically weak people, and their furry companions. Thus, when building a deck for your home, it’s essential to consider how safe the structure would be for the entire family and visitors.

If you choose to install good-quality composite boards for decking, you can be sure they won’t have any exposed fixtures. Ensuring the finish is seamless and clean, with no loose screws popping up over the boards, is a severe hazard for the feet.

Another risk of using weaker timber boards for wood decks is that splinters might develop on the wood quickly, especially near the screw holes. What gives rise to such splinters is moisture absorbed by the wood during rainy days and the constant weather change that causes it to expand.

That causes injuries and ultimately makes the wood deck weak and inefficient. Naturally, you would have to spend a lot on repairing or doing it yourself, which can be pretty taxing.

In comparison, composite boards are less prone to degeneration due to changing weather conditions when used for outdoor decking. That’s because these are protected by a polymer coating that keeps the moisture out and maintains the deck’s structural integrity. This coating extends to each groove, corner, and edge of the decking to ensure the entire structure gets the proper protection.

2. Design

Composite decking also gives you the flexibility needed to design the deck per your needs, which is a great advantage. The boards used for such decking come in various shapes and colours, which you can use to design your deck and outdoor space in any way you like.

You can even use these boards to develop any traditional wood design. Every minor detail, including the subtle contemporary hues and the enhanced form of wood grains, can be recreated flawlessly, so much so that no visitor would ever be able to recognise that the decking material was not the original timber.

If you want to create a finish commonly used for traditional decking, that is also achievable using these composite wooden boards. Since these are available in several contemporary and traditional colours, you can use a combination of different tones and patterns to highlight the deck edges. Ultimately, this would give the composite decking boards an elegant, modern finish that impresses every homeowner.

3. Sustainable And Eco-Friendly

Going for quality composite decking materials would undoubtedly be a significant step towards sustainability. After all, composite deck boards use over 90% of recycled materials from landfills, including recycled plastic.

Note that traditional recycling only allows you to down-cycle plastic; a plastic product cannot be made into another identical product. Water bottles are generally used to make plastic bags, the last step in the recycling process.

However, many leading brands producing composite decking use plastic and wood for their manufacturing procedure. This results in plastic being recycled and used in a new form to contribute toward sustainability.

The wood used for most composite deck boards meets the environmental standards of influential organisations advocating sustainable products and recycled materials.

This efficient combination of composite materials provides such boards with charm and elegance identical to timber. And the good news is that it has no adverse environmental impact, unlike the latter. Thus, by choosing this environmentally friendly alternative, homeowners can do their bit to make the planet a better place to live in.

4. Cost Efficient

From the benefits of composite decking we’ve discussed till now, you might be under the impression that it is a costly option. But the accurate picture is quite different; it’s cheaper in the long run.

Though it may be priced slightly higher than real wood decking during purchase, the overall composite decking expenses will be much less once you consider the maintenance cost.

On the other hand, the maintenance costs for timber decking are much higher since you must pay hefty amounts for staining or repair work. You may even have to replace the deck within 10-12 years.

5. Resistance To Pests, Mold, And Mildew

The variety of innovative materials used in composite decking gives it the power to resist insects and bugs and prevent mould growth. However, pests are more likely to inhabit decking made from real wood, and they are more susceptible to developing mould and other undesirable substances.

6. Longer Lifespan

You rarely replace the deck at your home, so installing a deck is a long-term investment. As such, you would always want a deck material that would efficiently withstand the ravages of changing weather conditions and keep its structure intact.

Composite boards would be the ideal choice in this regard, considering its highly structured manufacturing process and the much greater density of the boards. This is why the durability on offer is better than most traditional decking options; as such, it would never warp, crack, or split, as in the case of real wood.

7. More Beneficial Warranty

Going for a good warranty is essential when investing in home decking. And you’ll be glad to know that most well-known brands producing composite decking offer highly beneficial warranties. The average warranty period for composite decking ranges from 25 to 30 years, while it’s merely half of that for timber decking.

8. Low-Maintenance

As discussed earlier, quality composite material retains its appeal over the years by withstanding all-natural elements due to the use of various strong materials. And what if we tell you all this is possible with minimal regular maintenance? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, composite decking doesn’t need any painting, sealing, or staining but is still resistant to all the problems that might arise with traditional decking. To remove dust, pollen, or dirt accumulating on the composite decking, you must wash the spots lightly with water.

But real wood decking would have to be maintained at least once yearly by staining and sealing it properly to keep the colour intact. If the colour is fading, you must paint and sand the surface, which would be equally costly and labour-intensive. So, if you want your next deck to have less maintenance - opt for composite materials.

9. Aesthetics

Composite decking also ranks high in aesthetic appeal while offering the durability and performance that every homeowner wants. It gives homeowners the beauty of real wood while providing greater strength and practicality than traditional timber decking.

The pattern of wood grain produced in the decking boards is authentic and beautifully complements the look of any landscape. Some brands also offer composite decking with hidden fastener systems, providing a uniform and clean look while keeping the deck pristine.

You may even get the opportunity to create a reversible design for decking, whereby wood grain is incorporated on one side, and the other side has textured ridges. This look is even closer to natural wood and lends more elegance to the composite decking.

Advantages Of Composite Decking

So, are you still doubtful about installing composite decking at your home? Surely not! So start exploring the market for this eco-friendly alternative to traditional timber decking. Unlike wood, with decreased maintenance costs and high-performance recycled materials, there are many reasons for choosing composite decking. Not to mention the other outstanding benefits, including greater durability.

At the start, we’d suggest listing a few leading brands and researching the quality and pricing each one offers for their composite decking varieties. You can also check the customer reviews on their website or contact customer support to discuss the installation and other essential procedures in detail.

Plus, make sure that the decking you choose is to your own needs and preferences, as that would determine its efficiency to a large extent. You can always contact our team if you have questions about Sydney composite decking. Our Sydney builders have years of experience building decks and understand composite boards and composite materials. So, if you want your new deck installation hassle-free, speak to our team for your next outdoor living project! You can also enhance your deck more with composite decking accessories!

That’s all we have for you today. Till next time, and good luck with your decking project!

Composite Decking FAQs

Does composite decking require a lot of maintenance?

No, one of the biggest benefits of composite decking is that it requires minimal maintenance. Unlike wood, it is resistant to denting, scratching, splitting and won’t ever rot. A quick rinse with a garden hose is usually all that is needed to keep it clean.

What percentage is composite decking is made of recycled material?

Many leading composite decking brands contain over 90% recycled content - predominantly recycled plastic, wood and other reclaimed materials. This makes composite a very sustainable option that keeps waste out of landfills.

What beneficial properties does composite have over wood?

Composite decking is much more durable, sturdy and stable than wood products. It won’t splinter, crack or warp from temperature changes. It also contains antimicrobial properties to prevent insect damage and mould growth, even in damp environments.

Will composite decking look as natural as wood?

Advanced composite formulations can have a photorealistic woodgrain texture and come in various colours to mimic the look of different natural wood varieties. It is virtually indistinguishable from real wood while also being splinter-free, mould-resistant and retaining its colour when exposed to UV rays outside.