Composite decking is permanently colored

Composite decking is perfect for homeowners who want the classic look of a wood deck without the maintenance that treated wood decks require. Composite deck boards, including brands like Trex and WPC Deck, are a unique combination of reclaimed or recycled wood and plastic fibers. This "green" option resists fading, will not twist and crack like wood can after time, and comes in a range of colors. Composite decks don't require staining and generally doesn't need more than an occasional washing to keep them clean. composite lumber deck

Wood decking is warm, classic and completely customizable. Treated lumber that has been chemically treated to resist damage and fire lets you create your dream deck on a budget, while high-quality cedar is naturally resistant to decay. Mans can help you decide which species of treated deck lumber is right for you, then choose from Mans Lumber and Millwork's wide selection of high-quality sealants, stains, and cleaners to keep your new deck looking beautiful. Talk to a Mans staff member to learn more about treated and cedar decks, fasteners and installation techniques, or have Mans recommend a licensed deck builder for you.

Composite decking is permanently colored to avoid or reduce maintenance. But that also means the color, tint or shade cannot be changed. Standard wood can be repainted or refreshed, while the only way to alter a composite product's appearance is through a surface cleaning. Mild outdoor cleansers remove debris left by weather, and bring the original manufactured color back to life.

Darker colors may lead to fading, an irreparable occurrence that happens in projects where full exposure combines with high traffic. Other potential damage, including severe scratches and deep gouges, is difficult to repair without replacing individual deck boards. It may be difficult to obtain a uniform finish in these cases, although fading will even out over the long term.

Composite decking presents a number of pros and cons to homeowners, covering everything from maintenance to budget, appearance and availability. Consider each composite manufacturer individually before making up your mind, and be sure to think about how the final deck design will appear in pressure treated wood, cedar wood or your preferred brand of composite decking.

If the natural look of wood is tops on your list, use cedar. The heartwood of the tree (the deeper colored red part, not the white sap part) is rot resistant. Cedar doesn't readily absorb moisture— and, since moisture is what creates twisting and splitting, cedar decking tends to lie flat and straight. Most carpenters figure a lifespan of 15 to 20 years for cedar deck boards, but it can deteriorate faster when used for ground-level decks and for shaded decks that are slow to dry out.

To retain the color, you have to clean it and reseal it every year or two, and even then it's a losing battle. I've never seen a 10-year-old cedar deck that still had that warm, rich look of new wood. Cedar is also soft; when used for stairs or for decks where furniture gets dragged around a lot, the edges in particular can get beat up. Finally, the cost of the cedar is moderate, more than pressure-treated but somewhat less than composite. Recycled Wood/ plastic composite

This study emphasizes on closed-loop recycling of wood-plasticcomposites (WPC) which consists of two parts. The first part concentrates on re-processing industrial scrap of WPC profiles and its mixture with freshfeed. The ratio of WPC scrap:freshfeed at 30:70 was found to be the most appropriate. The second part involves recycling the WPC profiles up to seven passes. Reductions of the molecular weights of the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix were detected due to the molecular chain scission of the shear stress during re-processing. Mechanical test results demonstrated that the WPC could be recycled as WPC again without critically affecting its mechanical performance.

Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber is one of the prime uses for recycled plastic trash bags and waste wood fibers. The composite material is used to produce building products such as decking, door and window frames, and exterior moldings. Manufacturers claim that products produced with recycled wood/plastic lumber are more durable than conventional preservative-treated lumber. Also, these products contain no toxic chemicals such as those used in conventional treated lumber.

Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber typically consists of a 50/50 mix of wood fibers from recovered saw dust and waste plastics that include high-density polyethylene, PVC, and others. The material is formed into both solid and hollow profiles. backyard patio wood plastic wall