Replace An Old Deck With Composite Decking

Composite didn’t visually look identical to wood, and its formula was still developing. For these reasons, it never quite gained the widespread popularity it was seeking.

Offered exclusively from DuraLife®, the Step-Clip™ hidden fastener system installs quickly and easily along the entire length of the framing joists. Each of the 1-5/8-inch wide (x 23” long) polypropylene interlocking strips covers the width of joist, shielding it from water damage. When he does, I’ll recommend Fortress Building Products to him. My experience is that the composite decks that last are the ones in which even the smallest chance of a failure has been engineered out. Fortress Deck has engineered their Infinity composite decks down to the core, using bamboo instead of sawdust for greater strength and water resistance. Fortress boards use Hulk hidden fasteners to anchor the decking down without providing a path for water to penetrate to the core of the board. This system makes the boards even longer-lasting, and gives the deck an elegant, uninterrupted look.

• Because of this, composite decking is stronger and more durable than wood or plastic alone.
• In fact, modern day composite decking is often very simple to install for someone familiar with deck installation.
• NewTechWood then finishes each composite decking board or tile with a strong polymer protective coating.
• Well, it might be more accurate to say that it “was” hard to install, but now things are quite different.
• Composite can even be easier to install than most traditional wood decking due to how the boards are attached.
• It is the ideal decking choice for anyone who wants longevity and minimal upkeep or repair after a harsh winter season.

Facts About Composite Decking

I used a drill/driver to fasten it down with composite decking screws in pilot holes, driven no closer than 1 inch from the edge of the deck board. When pre-drilling composite boards, you’ll notice that some shavings of composite material will probably pull out of the hole. I used those composite shavings to cover the countersunk heads of the deck screws—softly tap in the shavings with a hammer; it works like a wood plug. The sundeck we remodeled for this issue of EHT had certainly seen better days, before the wood succumbed to the perils of direct ultraviolet rays. The deck had been slapped with a clear coat of water preservative, but that was the extent of protection.

Composite Decking: Does It Really Stack Up?

Can You Install New Decking Over Old Deck Boards?

There is not a lot that can be done about it – it's the nature of the material. Composites may look like wood but they are not wood, and they don't act like wood. So, don't expect a perfectly convincing wood-like appearance. Expect just the cost of composite decking material itself to be two to five times more expensive than treated pine decking. But, that's not the whole cost of a composite deck. Here are some of the other factors that add significantly to the total cost of a composite deck.

Some manufacturers use vinyl which is decidedly un-green. On the surface, composite materials look mighty un-"green" with lots of unpronounceable chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic. So, are you trading convenience for some sort of health or ecological disaster when you select composite decking materials? But, neither are composites especially environmentally friendly. What is certain is that making WPCs requires a careful mixing of ingredients not just for performance but to keeps costs under control.

One composite deck system with these features is Infinity by Fortress Building Products. It’s a fully capped board for protection from moisture above and below and uses a combination of recycled plastic and bamboo flour for strength and water-resistance.

Here, I should interject that the homeowner decided to keep the existing wood handrail system , with the intention to stain the wood to match the color of the deck. To match the base trim to the railing, I ripped some 2-by-2 trim pieces from 2-by-4’s on my table saw, which would also be stained. I then ripped a bevel along one edge to ease the profile a bit. I used a miter saw to cut them to length and to cut all the 45-degree corners. Granted, base trim for interior applications isn’t typically this bulky, but this was a deck, and I was trying to keep the wood thick and strong to resist warping from exposure. I was also relying on the protection of a high-quality wood preservative.

A Lifetime Deck?

The owner of the deck selected Timbertech’s Earthwood brand of composite decking in a “Tropical Teak” color. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, the Timbertech boards required the deck joists to span a maximum of 18 inches, but the deck currently existed with joists on 24-inch centers. This meant I had to nail additional 2-by-8’s between the existing joists. The biggest mistake that consumers can make is investing in a ‘legacy’ composite material that hasn’t been improved upon since the 1990s.

but when you said "will end up ripping up the old deck seems to be best" I assume you mean remove the wooden decking boards and install the Trex on the existing joists. I think this is a bad plan as you will be installing a 30 or 40 year decking product over joists that have 5 or 10 years of life left in them. Especially once you pull all those existing decking nails and leave the existing joists pocked with water pockets that will accelerate rot. You can fasten boards to joists by driving screws through the face or into clips inserted along the edge.

The Best Decking For Winter Weather

Consider Deck's Environment

Attitudes have changed, realities have changed, and most importantly – composite decking has changed. Natural wood versus composite ultimately faded into the back ground and the conversation over how to make composites better took center stage. To this day, the “right” option depends on the individual. However, even decades after the introduction and evolution of composite decking, myths persist and J&W Lumber would like to fix that. In the early days of composite decking, there was both excitement and skepticism.

I asked her if she’d considered replacing the slab, and her reply was that she didn’t have the time. Having a contractor over would interfere with her planting. I suggested putting a ground level deck down, but she likes gardening in bare feet and worried about splinters. I suggested putting composite decking over the concrete porch. Good quality composite decking is barefoot-friendly and looks like real wood decking. These qualities piqued her interest and we started to discuss the options.