If you would like a maintenance-free deck (no sealing, no splitting, and no splintering wood), then composite materials may be right for you.
Today's selection of materials include composite decking with simulated wood grain texture, vinyl decking, PVC and composite railings, plastic lattice, composite trim boards.
Quite often different combinations of products are used for a maintenance free deck. For example, Carefree™ makes a great looking solid vinyl railing system that's often used with Trex or Evergrain™ composite decking.
The list of new products grow every year. Most consist of either reclaimed plastic, PVC or solid vinyl.
Note: The cost of a maintenance free decks can sometimes be more than a Clear Cedar or Redwood Deck.
These materials are usually 90%+ recycled. They are made from Polypropylene or Polyethylene (plastic bags or milk jugs) and sawdust or fine wood particles (wood flower). It takes about ten milk jugs and eight cups of saw dust to make one foot. It is manufactured under heat and pressure to encapsulate the wood in the plastic. These materials tend to lighten in color over the first six months unless they have a UV inhibitor.