Composite Decking Allows More Time With Family at Homes in Reston, VA
What alternative materials should you consider for your new wrap–around deck in Reston, VA? Composite decking is increasingly popular for busy professionals seeking green materials that are safe for the environment and their families. The minimal maintenance required means you have more time for family when you are not working. We know striking the work– / home–life balance is challenging enough without having to spend time sanding, resealing, and re–staining your deck.
So here are some of the basics you should know about composite decking:
Materials
What is in composite decking? When you choose composite decking, you are helping divert over 40,000 tons of wood and plastic waste from landfills and incinerators because these are the materials used in composite decking. The plastics you put in your recycling bin and remnants of the lumber industry go into making composite decking. Some composite decking is made up of more plastic than wood, or you can select decking that is made up of more wood. So, if you are green minded and want to use recycled materials, composite decking is an excellent choice.
Treatment of Composite Decking
Pigmentation and preservatives are added during the manufacturing process. You choose your color from a wide array of natural colors, which blend well with many environments. Composite decking is also pre–treated with anti–fungal chemicals to prevent rot and decay. Many ask why this is necessary at all with all the plastic. As the decking can be made up of as much as 70 percent wood, there would still be the potential for rot over the years if not treated during the manufacturing process.
Cost and Warranties
So how does the cost of traditional wood compare to the cost of composite decking? Reston, VA homeowners can expect on average to spend a little more upfront on composite decking over traditional pressure–treated wood decking. Traditional wood, however, requires more money for upkeep, in the long run costing more than composite decking. Higher–end woods – more exotic woods – can have a longer lifespan than traditional pressure–treated wood and will be more expensive than composite decking. The initial costs of composite decking are somewhere in the middle, and over the long run, are lower in cost than solid wood most often used to build decks.
Manufacturers offer warranties for the materials, and then there are warranties for the work. Most manufacturer warranties are about 25 years for composite decking, and others offer a limited lifetime for structural elements. Warranties do not cover wear and tear, such as scratches that come from typical usage.
Among the many materials you can consider for your home in Reston, VA, composite decking is an option that we promote, especially for busy families and the environmentally conscious.