Vinyl Decking Vs Composite

To avoid splitting planks, drill pilot holes for nails, countersink screws in wood, and predrill screw holes into composite. Choose zinc-coated or other corrosion-resistant fasteners, and use the right fasteners for composites. Also consider hidden fasteners or systems that hide the attachments.

Wolf® Decking

Capped with 100% synthetic material on 3 sides and including a 25 year fade/stain warranty, Edge is a good option for quality decking at an affordable price. As more and more people are opting for composite decking instead of traditional wood, the competition has become quite fierce. This has left many people wondering, is Trex Decking better than PVC? PVC decking is nothing like composite decking and especially Trex Decking. Snap-in-place fasteners are easy to install but unique to specific brands.

What To Know About Deck Railing Height

The problem is, you can’t fix scratches on a composite deck like you could with a wooden deck. Thinking of building your own low maintenance outdoor retreat with Composite or PVC? Check out our most popular decking projects here and feel free to use TimberTech’s deck design tool for inspiration.

Timbertech Pro Vs Azek: Which Decking Is Best For You?

Before we dive into the pros and cons of PVC and composite decking materials, it’s important to point out that PVC decking is not vinyl decking. The two terms are often used interchangeably at a consumer level. Many popular brands are made from 50 percent wood fibers and 50 percent recycled plastic. Composite decking is a solid color all the way through, so the ends of boards are not as noticeable.

If your decking has cracks, looks dirty, or suffers from mildew, it's time to decide whether to refinish or replace it entirely. We test, evaluate, and compare different types of decking to save you time and money.

A dry space under the deck is a great place to continue your deck party during a rain shower, or to create some useful dry storage. Screwing through the face of the boards is by far the fastest, easiest and most structurally sound method of fastening deck boards. Modern deck screws have reverse threads to suck the decking down tight to the joists and specially designed heads to prevent mushrooming. Some face-screwing systems, like the Cortex system from FastenMaster, allow you to countersink the screws and fill the holes with plugs made out of the same material as the decking. Installing the plugs is time consuming, but the fastener locations are almost invisible. Trex uses recycled plastic film and reclaimed wood to build a better decking material. PVC-wrapped composite decking is a plastic-coated board comprised of a composite core wrapped with a vinyl shell.

You should be able to get at least 20 years of use, depending on the conditions. PVC decking is typically made from virgin plastics, which can be recycled after use. Although Trex decking cannot be recycled due to the mingling of wood fibers and plastics, it can be repurposed into new decking materials. Even better, it contributes to less trash in landfills and on the planet. Although Trex contains plastic, it’s a composite decking material. As a result, you get the the eye-catching look of rich wood with the durability of a composite.

The ends of manufactured deck boards are ugly, and you don't want to leave them exposed. The easiest solution is to raise the fascia board so the top is flush with the top of the decking . But keep in mind that most fascia/skirt boards are 11-1/4 in.

Uncapped decking is the more cost-effective choice, but it is also more vulnerable to staining and mold growth if not carefully maintained. Easily customizable, PVC can be made to mimic the color of more expensive wood decking options, such as mahogany, ipe, and redwood. And because it’s completely plastic, keeping it clean is a breeze – you can even safely pressure wash this material without fear of splintering. Compared to natural wood, the plastic in composite decking makes it more resistant to moisture and insects. It also allows for greater style variation – you can choose a custom color and wood grain to match the aesthetic of your home.

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Ceramic-coated screws come in several colors, which helps them blend in. The width of the decking, its color and finish, and the design of the railing are important design elements. A ranch, raised ranch, or contemporary house style can work well with many deck designs. It's more challenging to make a deck work with older styles, such as Tudor, colonial, or 1920s bungalow. Many manufacturers of synthetic decking offer a variety of railings, such as provincial or Mission style, that can help the deck fit with the rest of the house.

As you can tell by their similarities, both composite and PVC are popular, high-quality decking options. Instead, you should ask yourself which best meets your needs.

For decades, ALL decks were built of simple pressure treated lumber, because vinyl and composite hadn’t been invented yet. Wooden decking material is by far the cheapest option on the market and will always be popular because of that. However, wooden decks are susceptible to rot, mold, insect damage, and splintering. In order to keep those problems at bay, you’ll need to re-paint or re-stain your wooden deck every summer.

• PVC is a lighter weight product, which makes it easier to handle on the jobsite.
• PVC decking tends to have a uniform, synthetic appearance, with regularly repeating grain patterns and color streaking.
• While both products can save you valuable hours on deck maintenance, which one is right for your backyard?
• Many brands, including Trex and Fiberon, sell products in this price range.
• Composite decking brands like ChoiceDek better capture the true beauty of wood with realistic wood-grain embossing and authentic, natural colors.

Deciding whether tobuild a deck or hire a prodepends on your skills. Many composite and PVC manufacturers sell only to authorized dealers, so DIY may limit your choices.

Nails and screws are inexpensive, easy to handle, and suitable for nearly any material. But nails can pop loose over time, while screws are more permanent.