Decking Materials: Composite, Wood, or Plastic?

Decks: The Ultimate Guide To Materials, Options, And Approaches Mold thrives in damp environments and can quickly spread if left unchecked. Regular cleaning with mildew-resistant cleaners, as well as ensuring proper ventilation around your deck area, can go a long way in preventing mold growth. Snow removal can be tough on decks, especially if you’re using heavy equipment like shovels or snow blowers. To minimize damage, use a plastic shovel instead of metal and avoid harsh de-icing chemicals. The cost of decking material ranges from $2–$45 per square foot. Pressure-treated wood is the least costly at $2–$5 per square foot, while composite decking costs between $12 and $22, and aluminum/metal costs between $15 and $20 per square foot. Attached decks come in all shapes and sizes, including square, rectangular, L-shaped, U-shaped, or custom-designed. They can also lead to fun outdoor features like a pergola or gazebo.

Sustainable Decking: Eco-Friendly Materials And Practices

If you have a flat roof on the front or back of your home or your garage, a rooftop deck can create a standout outdoor living area, especially if you have limited yard space. Since it's an elevated deck, it provides privacy, unique vantage point, and often, an amazing view. Often built at the front of a home, an entryway deck extends your outdoor living space toward the street. If you don't have a front porch, an entryway deck can connect you with your neighbors or a beautiful front view.

Types of Decking Material

These requirements can include a specific height for the deck and guards, as well as self-closing and self-latching gates that allow access to the pool deck. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics are available in many levels of quality, but nearly all are resilient. High-quality PVC decking has almost none of the vulnerabilities of wood.

HDPE Decking

When comparing composite and wood decking, ordinary lumber tends to split, warp, or crack, and pressure-treated wood requires far more maintenance than composite decking. But https://www.slideserve.com/clearviewbuildersinc/clear-view-builders-construction-transforming-spaces-building-futures-14037109 with care, including power washing, sanding, and regular re-staining, you can extend the lifespan of your pressure-treated deck. Decks are common additions to single-family homes, especially those with large yards, and provide outdoor space to entertain and relax. While there are many types of decks, with structural designs ranging from detached to island to multi-level, each kind adds functional, livable outdoor space.

Depending on your budget and available space, wrap-around decks can be narrow or spacious.One way to do this is by creating a mood board that showcases your design aesthetic and inspirations.If you’re building a deck, dock or seawall anywhere near water, come talk to us.While there are many methods to preserving the lifespan of your decking material, one sustainable approach is through eco-friendly materials and practices.

Pressure treated lumber can give you many years of use and enjoyment of your deck. Often made from southern pine, a wood variety known for its load-bearing strength and durability, pressure treated materials can be the best wood for decking in high-traffic spaces. It’s also one of the most popular, least expensive woods per square foot, which is one reason it’s used to make pressure treated lumber. This large attached deck features a slightly elevated structure that connects two or more sides of the house. One of the most popular green decking options is composite decking made from recycled plastic and wood fibers. Not only does this material divert waste from landfills, but it also requires minimal upkeep and lasts much longer than traditional lumber. Other environmentally conscious choices include bamboo, reclaimed wood, and even aluminum.