Five-Point Plan to Build a Composite Deck
When you imagine how much time your family and friends will enjoy on your deck, it seems smart to do your homework on composite decking reviews. You can see your kids and friends there, sitting with food, chasing each other barefoot, dancing and mingling. So the question isn’t if you need a deck - the question is, “What will I use to build it? Composite decking has been around the block a few times and now unbiased, qualified reviews are readily available.
Composite Decking Review: Consumer Reports
The who’s who of composite decking review sites has to be Consumer Reports (CR). CR remarks that composite decking holds many advantages over other materials, especially traditional wood.
CR notes that composite decking is low-maintenance compared with wood. It collects less dirt and is easier to clean than wood. It keeps its looks, grows little to no mildew, won’t splinter, and is competitively priced compared to cedar or tropical wood. And the site points out that wood is prone to cracking and needs regular treatments to look nice.
How Many Weekends of Maintenance Will You Save?
The Decking Guide hosts composite decking reviews that show that the product adds to the appearance of your home, providing a deck that won't fade from the light or heat of the sun. They point out it’s safe for children because it doesn't contain harmful chemicals.
The site explains that painting, staining and sealing are foreign duties for composite decking owners — composite decking simply doesn’t need that level of maintenance. To clean composite decks, which are resistant to rot, owners simply spray them down with water from a garden hose.
Contractors Gush Over Composite Decking
Deck builders and contractors talk about various brands of composite decking, on the Contractor Talk forums. According to contractors that install it, composite decking won’t warp like wood. With CR, noted above, Better Homes & Gardens agrees that composite decking requires very little upkeep compared with wood.
A Builder magazine reporter recently noticed WeatherBest at a builder’s expo and noted that the decking is made by wrapping a protective ASA/PVC layer over a core of foamed PVC. The high performance decking is resistant to scratching and staining, and provides a true wood look. It’s also lighter than some types of composite decking, which can speed up installation time.
Feel Good, Build Green
Another benefit of using composite decking is that the product is earth-friendly, made from pre-consumer wood flour - wood that would go to waste - and recycled plastic.
This innovative new decking is as beautiful as real wood, but lasts longer.
As composite decking reviews, and in particular WeatherBest reviews, continue to come out, note what they and the experts have to say about building an outdoor room for recreation and relaxation.