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Composite decking
materials first started to appear in the early 1990s.
Manufacturers, engineers
and designers are familiar with the ability of
composite materials to sustain high-quality, durable,
cost-effective products. Composite materials are found
in many of the products used daily - from reclaimed
wood and plastic such as cars we drive, outdoor
furniture, and of course our backyard decking.
The reclaimed plastic
comes primarily from grocery sacks and stretch film, and
the waste wood is from woodworking manufacturers.
Composites are
considered as reinforced plastics. Composite materials
are designed to meet the specific strength requirements
of an application.
What is the
advantage of composites, over other materials? It lies
in the their use of different combinations of resins
and reinforcements, creating low maintenance decking.
In
summary: Composites create low maintenance, long life
and a good track record . They have yet to wear out.
Tip/ The best
composites are the ones that have preservatives in
them. This enables the deck board to be even more
resistant to water rot and termites. usually you will
pay more for a deck board with preservatives or a
chemical on the surface.
Weatherbest
is one of the
companies that uses preservatives in the boards. It
uses a preservative or chemical to protect the wood
fiber in their composite decking product.
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Another
noteworthy choice is Correctdeck, especially
the product line called Correctdeck cx. It is
truly a low maintenance deck product, with all
of the benefits of composite decking but none of
the drawbacks (drawbacks like significant color
fade, grease staining, and mildew)).
This product
is the only one on the market which solves the
four composite decking customers complain about
most: color fade, grease staining, and mildew
resistance. |
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CONs Composite decking over time they may stain from the elements
such as leaves , and are susceptible to
termites and some composites can delaminate (usually
from a bad batch from the factory)
If you go to Home
Depot you will fine a paint chart with colors that are
pre matched for composite decking of different brands.
That tells you that in time for some homeowners, they
will have to paint their deck because of such staining.
Which means; You run the risk of defeating your purpose,
to never have to paint your deck and watch the paint
peel off in a few years or less. Barbecues on the deck
can create stains on composites, such as catsup,
barbecue sauce, and wine, etc.
If you install
decking outside under a porch roof, this will protect
the composites and will look great for years to come.
So do your homework! Perhaps plastic decking is your
ticket to low maintenance.
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