16 Pros And Cons Of Composite Decking

Choosing Deck Materials

Don’t worry, I’ve got 11 solutions for you that will help to fix your slippery decking problems today. Decks can get slippery any time of the year, but they are most susceptible to this problem in the winter when the snow builds up and ice can form on your deck. This will turn it into a hazardous mess, so it’s best to tackle this issue before it happens. You might have noticed that there’s a small gap between each of your decking boards. That moisture is a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, algae, and even moss. They’ll grow in the wetness, creating a slick layer of growth on your decking material.

Composite Decking Vs Wood

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Winter weather is typically wet, and wet timber is a breeding ground for slippery algae and fungus growth. Large decking areas are also prone to collecting rotting leaves left over from the autumn months, which create a super-slippery layer of their own. A stiff-bristle yard brush is usually all you need to scrape away any unwanted growth and leaves, and won’t damage your timber boards.

Is Trex Decking Slippery In Winter?

With winter upon us and snow and ice everywhere you should be aware how to . snow and ice on a PVC or composite deck is a calcium chloride-based “ice melt. Traction on slippery surfaces is a plus and a huge safety factor but the sand. Gone are the days of attaching chicken wire to your beautiful decking or smothering it in plastic mats on rainy days. The answer is to resolve your slippery decking problem once and for all, with a solution that does the job properly, whilst also not detracting from the natural beauty of timber decking.

• Composite decking on the other hand has a very low water absorption rate which will prevent fungal growth.
• The surface texture of plastic-wood mixture is similar to that of wood and has a rougher surface to further improve the anti-slip performance.
• But then, when dead leaves, pollen, dirt, and dust, accumulates on the composite decking’s surface, it could encourage molds and mildew to grow on the surface.
• Compared with other composite materials, the WPC decking products we designed and manufactured are more focused on improving the anti-slip performance.
• WPC decking looks and feels like wood, but is actually made of high-density plastics and wood fibers, therefore harder than wood.
• At present, some WPC decking is covered with a layer of plastic on the surface, but the plastic surface is smoother.

You can melt composite decking under the right set of circumstances. The cost of composite decking is a significant factor to consider. There are multiple features that you can have with composite decking. Your composite deck may not warp, but it can sag and buckle.

Composite decking looks and behaves more like wood than all-plastic does because it contains about 50 percent wood dust in addition to plastic. Most boards have solid or tongue-and-groove profiles and are screwed down just like wood. While wood decking is nailed or screwed down and very simple to install, composite decking manufacturers have created special fasteners that “disappear,” creating an unfettered look. Hidden fastening systems often require no special tools and are easy to install, while color-matched screws can make the installation more like wood.

Promptly sweeping leaves from your deck – particularly after storms and rain – will prevent the buildup of moisture on the deck surface and the growth of mold, mildew, and algae. You can also clear debris from cracks and gaps between boards with a putty knife or similar flat edge to halt moisture and organism growth.

Most sagging is caused by improper spacing between the joists when it is installed. Composite decking is fade resistant, but it may fade over time in strong sunlight.