As the weather warms up, now is a great time to start thinking about adding a new outdoor space for your home. A well-designed deck will not only add value to your home, but also create a comfortable transition between the inside and outside.
Do composite decks get hotter than wood?
There are many options for choosing the right wood for your project. A variety of manufacturers produce various lines of composite and synthetic lumber. Some are hollow, requiring end-caps; others are dense, solid boards.
Some manufacturers use fake decking wood molding, which produces solid planks that are then fitted together like natural lumber. Others use extrusion processes that press raw materials through molds to form a board shape.
Most composites are made with a blend of hardwood and recycled plastic. The wood fibers are mixed with a high-density polyethylene plastic that’s often sourced from post-industrial and post-consumer waste.
They’re more durable than wood and don’t rot, warp or attract termites. They can be resealed or stained and require very little maintenance other than an annual hose-down to keep them clean.
You can choose from a variety of different colors and grain patterns. Some are made to look and feel just like real wood, while others are designed to hold up better under harsh weather conditions.
Some companies, such as Envision Outdoor Living Products in Pennsylvania, make solid decking by pressing a resin-based compound into a pressure-molded mold. This process results in very dense and heavy decking boards with deep-textured surfaces. They offer several product lines of decking boards, railing components, and fascia boards, in a range of wood tones and grays.