Maintenance comparison between Ipe hardwood decking and composite
decking
Composite Decking Manufacturers stopped using
“Maintenance Free” when
describing their products early on after law suits. Nowadays they refer to
it as “Low Maintenance”. Composite decking sellers will tell you that the
product requires a good cleaning a couple of times a year to make it look
good again. (Good—not, “Like New”). The cleaners leave the composite
decking looking powdery. They are acidic and chemically strip the finish
and kill the mold for a time. Green clients should be aware that to
“maintain” these products it involves splashing chemicals around your yard.
A good stiff brush is required to physically scrub the decking. More on
environmental aspects on the two types of decking below, here the
maintenance of the composite decking. This is very simple; you cannot
refinish a composite deck—you simply replace it. 5 years from now, your
composite deck will look like a 5 year old composite deck—with scratches
and stains.
Instead, in the worst case scenario, your ipe decking
can be sanded over and over and a brand new deck appears. In fact, ipe decking is world-renowned for it's
ability to look just as good after decades. Your ipe hardwood decking is so
dense that it naturally resists, mildew, mold, fungus, and insects.
Instead, your composite decking because of the above outlined mixture
between vinyl and pulp wood, it absorbs moisture, then dispels it this
creates a pocket within the vinyl that soaks up moisture every time it gets
wet. Over time your composite decking will face black mold, like an
un-vented shower stall and it will never subside. Cleaners may make it look
alright for a few days—but it will always come back. Apparently they still
have issues. If composite decking contains wood it may be prudent to steer
clear of the product. Warrantees offered by Composite decking companies are
notorious for pointing out their tragic flaws. Pool chemicals, mechanical
wear, mold growth are often not covered by their limited lifetime
warrantee!
For example, a
company called Trexä, which is likely to be the largest composite decking
company in the world, has settled it’s class action law suit, and it
appears that they still have mold issues. Numerous people have called prior
to signing a confidentiality agreement with Trexä agreeing not to talk
about it. For more information about the Trexä Class Action suit try a search
on Google or click here for a good description of the
Trexä class action lawsuit. Talking about legal, using it for joists
and handrails then it will be deemed structural materials. Most composite
hand-rails are not Building Code Legal. Most composite decking manufacturers advise to
create a frame that has the joists about 12” apart, rather than the typical
16” since the materials will tend to sag under it’s own weight. So
composite materials are designed to compliment the deck via the same
manufacture but rarely are all needed railing parts stocked by supplier of
Composite decking, while in ipe hardwood there is a complete line of
matching railing lumber, post caps, lighting, balusters and much more. In
respect of the legal building code: landlords and real estate mangers, be
aware!
Hardwood deckings compared:
Composite
decking on price
Composite
decking on eco friendliness
Cumaru decking
Garapa decking
Massaranduba
decking
Tigerwood
decking
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composite
decking disaster prone to the elements
as
the pictures show, sellers that promise your WPC decking to be mold-free
are NOT telling the truth
this
will NEVER ever happen with your natural wood decking
more
composite deck failures
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