A key consideration when planning your upcoming Nashville custom deck addition or redecking project is whether to use wood or a synthetic decking material such as composite. Wood is a long-standing, traditional building material for decks but composites are quite popular due to their low maintenance benefits. Composite decking materials like TimberTech, AZEK, Trex and Fiberon do carry a higher price tag than a deck built from traditional PT wood.
If you are reading this, chances are likely you are considering using composite for your new or improved deck project — and you may be asking yourself is the investment really worth it?
Decks are a popular (and highly visible) home feature that can receive a lot of wear and tear. Whenever improving, repairing, or updating a deck, it is wise to choose materials that are long lasting. Especially if you are planning to live in your home for the long term, investing in a composite deck will pay off with many years of durability and low-maintenance enjoyment.
Just as we pointed out in our article Should your new Nashville low-maintenance deck be traditional composite, capstock or PVC? there are different genres of synthetics but all synthetic decking is designed to withstand exposure to weather and sun, without fading. This means a synthetic deck, whether it is composite, capstock of solid PVC will retain its original color and the synthetic deck you start with is the deck you will be able to enjoy for years to come.
— A Nashville composite deck leaves more time to enjoy outdoor living!
Composite decking provides more than just a deck that looks new longer than wood, too. After all, they are touted as low-maintenance for a reason! A Nashville composite deck requires no staining, sealing, or painting, ever! Cleaning is the only maintenance your composite deck will ever need, and that can easily be done with a garden hose and some soap.
Composites also resist many of the woes that plaque aging wooden decks. These include splitting, cupping, splintering, blistering, peeling, flaking, cracking, rotting and/or structural damage from insects or fungal decay. Wood naturally expands and contracts under the heat of the sun and in the cooler temperatures of the winter. This natural expansion and contraction causes wooden decks to degrade over time, which is natural. Splinters, cracks and other structural damage are not an issue with composite decking, making bare feet happy in your outdoor living space!
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Unlike wood, synthetic decking materials come with extensive warranties giving you piece of mind in your investment. Here at Archadeck of Nashville, we recommend TimberTech composite decking and AZEK cellular PVC decking as our preferred products. Both offer high-quality materials with above average warranties in the world of composite and PVC decking. TimberTech and AZEK decking products are backed by impressive 25 and 30-year warranties. These warranties cover protection against staining, fading, resistance to mold, mildew, stains, and scratches along with material defects, splinters, and damage from termites or rot.
Synthetics are also a top choice for homeowners looking to improve an existing deck. In many cases, Archadeck of Nashville may be able to convert your existing wood deck into a composite deck. If your existing deck’s substructure is in good shape, it may only need minor corrections or amendments to accommodate switching to composite. We call this re-decking and it’s a very popular option.
— Is a composite deck worth the investment?
Even though synthetic decking is a greater investment up front, the benefits outweigh the costs in the long run. If less maintenance, longevity and having more time to enjoy the outdoor living lifestyle you deserve is high on your list of priorities then a composite deck is worth it!
If you are considering retrofitting or adding a new low-maintenance deck to your Nashville-area home, please give us a call for a design consultation at (615) 640-3628, or send us an email at nashville@archadeck.net.
