Those Composite Deck Materials Look Great and No Maintenance!
Regularly I receive requests for replacing an old deck surface with new composite material. Typically, these decks were constructed 20 or more years ago using either 2”x 6” pressure treated or 5/4” x 6” pressure treated boards. And now they have become maintenance hogs due to splitting and checking (splintering).
The short answer is, replacing old wood with new composite boards is not always the best option.
As beat up as it looks, the existing deck surface is contributing to the structural integrity of the framing under it. Most, if not all composite decking adds no strength to your existing deck framing, but it does increase the weight that the framing needs to support. The composites are heavier and will conform to the framing that supports it. So, if the old joists are deflected or warped, the new composite surface will not look flat or smooth. Think of it as putting down a vinyl sheet floor on a surface that was previously covered by carpet. Every defect in the underlying structure will show.
So, what’s a homeowner to do?
Using pressure treated decking but selecting and applying it differently may be a more affordable choice. Not all boards are created equal. Selecting and orienting pressure treated boards with the “bark side up” solves some of the problems. As deck boards age and dry they have a natural propensity to curl. When the bark side is down, they cup and hold water. When the bark side is up the crown and shed water. Occasionally a board is sawn from the center of a tree and the bark side at one end is not the same at the opposite end. Cutting and orienting everything with the bark side up minimizes cupping, and therefore reduces the need to repaint and extends the life of deck.
Fastening the deck to the underlying framing has come a long way since your deck was built. We now use concealed fasteners instead of nails punching holes in the finished surface. Concealed fasteners give your deck the appearance of composite and also extend the life of your deck: no holes mean no water intrusion, reducing weathering and deterioration.
Understand extra costs ahead of time.
If you know me, you know that one of my big “things” is making sure clients understand all costs from the very beginning. You should expect to incur some extra costs around meeting code mandates and repairing the existing structural defects. The structural standards, mechanical connections and flashing required when your deck was built were less specific than they are today. Resurfacing your deck requires a building permit to make sure the underlying structure meets today’s code standards.
The bottom line.
Composite decks are beautiful and low maintenance – but quite expensive. Wood decks, if properly maintained have a life expectancy of 30 years at a fraction of the cost.