Synthetic Decking Sun City Center FL

Wood substitutes cost more but promise less maintenance

by Scott Gibson



Dozens of manufacturers together churn out millions of board feet of wood-plastic composites a year. In addition, a growing number make all-plastic decking — and for something completely different, there's powder-coated aluminum (see "An Aluminum Alternative," page 3).

With so many options, there's bound to be some trial and error when selecting and learning to work with a new material. One source of help is decking manufacturers, many of which provide detailed installation instructions on their Web sites (Figure 1). A basic understanding of how the materials are manufactured can also help deck builders choose the right products.


Figure 1. For the most part, composites can be screwed down just like wood. However, tighter joist spacing may be required, special screws are available, and you generally need to consider the material's movement along its length, not its width. Most manufacturers have installation guidelines on their Web sites.

Composite Soup
Wood-plastic composites are made from one of several polymers — polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene are the three most common — plus finely ground wood flour and a variety of additives that stabilize the plastic and protect it from UV damage.

This medley of materials gives composites several advantages over most species of wood.

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