what is the best material to seal composite boards
In this Article
Wood-Plastic Composites
Durability
Capped Composites
All Plastic Decking
Maintenance
Warranties
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Almost half of new decks now utilize composite or plastic decking and the number continues to abound. The driving strength is the promise of a wood-like advent with minimal maintenance.
How well each product lives up to this promise varies. At that place have been a few notable failures – blended products that rotted, for example, and were taken off the marketplace.
But, for the most part, these products perform well and require but a periodic cleaning to wait, at-a-glance, like real woods decking. But don't wait miracles. To some extent, all products volition fade over time, and surfaces will scratch and stain from normal use.
Besides, be wary of deal products, which ofttimes skimp on manufacturing quality. Making a loftier-quality constructed decking requires expensive ingredients and good quality control. There are many places to skimp in the procedure.
Most products fall into the few categories discussed below, but each has unique characteristics and installation requirements. In all cases, review the product specs and, if possible, look at a few installations before purchasing.
Composite Decking: What Is It?
Decking materials fabricated from finely ground woods cobweb mixed with polymer resin take been in use for well-nigh two decades. While these woods-plastic composites (WPCs) have by and large established a good track tape, they accept not always lived upwards to owners' expectations of a truly maintenance-free production. Many WPCs employ a loftier percentage of recycled materials making them appealing to dark-green building advocates.
Almost composite have a solid core and are sold in sizes that friction match and install similar standard wood decking. Others are extruded with hollow cores, which reduce weight and add stiffness, but require special trim pieces to hibernate the open ends. Using less material also reduces manufacturing costs.
In full general, blended decking materials are dimensionally stable, resistant to the elements, and tin be worked and installed more or less like wood decking. Special screws designed for composite decking leave a clean hole without dimpling around the spiral caput. Most solid products cannot exceed xvi-inch on-center framing, and they feel a fiddling bouncy underfoot due to the material'south greater flexibility (low modulus of elasticity) compared to wood.
Some products have an embossed wood-grain finish that may clothing abroad over fourth dimension. The colors too tend to fade over time and the surface texture roughen, giving an appearance similar to weathered forest. For some customers, this is fine; others who expect the decking to expect new forever may be disappointed.
Many of the bug faced by commencement-generation products take been reduced with newer formulations. Ii trends in particular – adding a plastic pare to composites and offering all-plastic (cellular-PVC) options – have brought the industry closer to delivering on the promise of a "maintenance-free" wood-like decking.
Durability of Composite Decking
A combination of overzealous marketing past manufacturers and wishful thinking past homeowners created unrealistic expectations when composites were beginning introduced. Many customers thought they were getting a cipher-maintenance product that would final forever. Within a few years, homeowners discovered that composites weathered under sunlight, got stained past cooking oil, sunscreen, or tree sap, and could abound mildew or mold if left under a pile of wet leaves.
In some cases, products failed altogether as the blended chemistry failed to concord together or the wood fibers in some products captivated h2o and rotted. Class-action lawsuits take been filed against Fiberon, Trex, TimberTech, Azek (plastic decking) and simply about all major manufacturers for fading, color alter, mold growth, surface deterioration, and in some cases structural decay. Even when mixed together with plastic, wood fiber still acts like wood.
In response, manufacturers toned down their marketing and stepped up their maintenance instructions – recommending regular cleaning with a composite deck wash. They also modified their formulations to better performance and durability.
One of the big challenges for manufacturers is that their raw materials are highly variable, so the products they output are variable. The raw materials are forest flour – essentially sweepings from the lumber mill floor – and (at least partially) recycled plastics from sources such as old bottles and bags. Some batches take not turn out so well, resulting in sporadic product failures. How widespread problems have been is hard to determine as nearly of the lawsuits are settled out of court and are non public record.
Many factors affect the long-term performance of woods-plastic composites including the wood/plastic ratio, wood species and cobweb size, the blazon of plastic resin and whether it is new or recycled. The manufacturing process also affects the surface characteristics and h2o absorption, which is disquisitional to long-term resistance to mold and disuse.
Chemical additives also play a large function. The quality and quantity of the pigments used for color affect fading resistance. And proprietary additives and stabilizers are used make the products stiffer and more resistant to UV radiation, crumbling, and mildew growth. High-quality ingredients and additives add a lot of cost to the formulations, so manufacturers must brand choices of cost vs. performance.
On the plus side, these products have been sold for nearly 20 years and have definitely improved over that time. Despite sporadic problems, nigh composite decks have performed quite well, especially if the owner has done the bones maintenance of removing piles of wet leaves and debris, wiped upward spills, and done a periodic cleaning with a deck wash.
Capped Composites
To address customers' concerns, many manufacturers have introduced a new generation products that wrap the composite core with a "capstock," – a tough plastic veneer virtually 1/xvi in. thick made of PVC or proprietary plastics. Capped composites are the fastest growing segment of the composite decking market, referred to past some equally "ultra-low maintenance."
In improver to keeping moisture away from the wood fibers, the covering allowed more than appealing (to some) faux-woods finishes and, more importantly, a more than durable, easy-to-make clean surface that is less prone to fade, scratch, or stain, or to back up mold and mildew. Nevertheless, how well the faux-wood finish holds upward to the elements over time is unclear.
The best embossed wood-grain finishes look pretty realistic, much like Pergo flooring. Some companies encapsulate the core on all sides, some just the tiptop, and some everywhere except the installation slots. In all products, the ends are exposed assuasive limited moisture penetration at those points. Non surprisingly, each manufacturer claims that its detail capstock configuration is best but in that location is footling data to support these claims. Also some manufacturers take reduced the quality of the underlying core stock to reduce costs.
The capped products are more expensive than standard composites and tend to comport longer warranties, usually with a number of important limitations. Since these products are fairly new and the capstock material is in some cases a company secret, it's best to find 1 that has at least a few years under its belt – and to read the warranty carefully. The exclusions give yous some idea of how much confidence manufacturers have in the product.
Capped composites might turn out to exist the killer app of composite decking, but it's too before long to tell. Long-term testing is lacking and hard to evaluate as manufacturing specs are often tweaked over time. One big business organization with capstock decking is swelling of the exposed ends, which tend to absorb water as they are not protected past the capstock. Some contractors seal the ends or apply a trim slice. In general, the higher the wood content of the blended, the more swelling volition occur.
All-Plastic Decking
Another pop approach to ultra-low maintenance decking is to eliminate those pesky wood fibers altogether with 100% plastic decking. The growth of PVC decking has been driven, in large part, by the widespread popularity of Azek and other cellular PVC products now widely used for exterior trim.
In fact, Azek decking is essentially the aforementioned as Azek trimboards, but with a tougher skin. Together with capped composites, solid PVC decking now accounts for almost half the new residential decking marketplace. Other large manufacturers of cellular PVC decking include Wolf Domicile Products and Gossen.
Less common, i-of-a-kind types of plastic decking include BearBoard (HDPE), NyloBoard (recycled rug fiber, and Eon (polystyrene, Canada only).
Older versions of PVC decking were made from hollow extrusions like in profile to a vinyl window frame. Most products now have a solid core of cellular PVC encapsulated in a harder "capstock" skin like to capped composites.
Considering in that location is no forest fiber, PVC decking is allowed to forest-related problems such as mold and forest decay. As with capped composites, the hardened outer skin provides color and realistic wood-grain textures, forth with resistance to staining, fading, and scratching. Besides cellular PVC tends to be stiffer than wood-plastic composites and do not need pre-drilling.
Resistance, yet, does not mean the material is indestructible. Plastic can be scratched by heavy article of furniture or stained by problems spray, oil or red vino that is not removed quickly. Also, fading can be expected occur over time, especially with darker finishes. Azek refers to this as "weathering" not "fading," but the effect is the same. At that place are renewal products on the market that can help restore a new look to some extent just these are not easy to utilize and may not concluding much more than than a twelvemonth.
Like PVC trim, PVC decking cuts, drills, and installs more-or-less similar wood. Despite the pregnant thermal expansion that can occur in unrestrained boards, Azek recommends butting terminate joint tight. If you follow their installation instructions for either face-screwing or hidden fasteners, the thermal expansion will exist restrained and the deck surface will remain dimensionally stable, co-ordinate to the manufacturer.
Hot Anxiety. All decking products tin get hot underfoot with a directly overhead sunday exposure, but plastic and composite decking take a reputation for getting uncomfortably hot in warm, sunny climates. In full general the darker the color and the denser the material, the hotter the material volition get in full sunshine. If that's a concern, a simple comparison of competing products laid out in the sunday is the best way to go. The same goes for night wood decking when the original dark color is maintained.
Maintenance of Blended & Plastic Decking
With and so many products, you can at present find synthetic and blended deck boards in well-nigh whatsoever natural or stained woods color and with a smooth surface or realistic embossed grain design. The large question is not so much what the product looks similar in the showroom, but what will it wait like 3, 5, and 10 years later after exposure to the sunlight, human foot traffic, tree sap, and nutrient and wine spills. The answer depends on the specific product, exposure to sunlight, vesture and tear, and user maintenance.
To their credit, synthetic decks require much less maintenance than wood decking. No sealers, stains, or sanding will ever be required. With standard composites, once the surface weathers, it bears a stiff resemblance to weathered wood, just without the customary warping and checking. Capped products should retain their color and surface texture with normal wear and exposure.
To forestall mildew growth, standard composites need to be keep gratis of leaves and debris and done periodically with a blended deck launder. For capped products (blended or PVC) a gentle lather and water wash is adequate. For all synthetic decks, oil and grease, red wine, and other substances decumbent to staining should be removed with warm soapy h2o forth with a soft castor for embossed patterns. For other stains and general maintenance requirements, make sure to read the manufacturer'due south recommendations or you run a risk voiding your warranty.
Warranties for Constructed Decking
I accept all building material warranties with a large grain, or shovel-full, or common salt. They generally comprehend only materials, non labor, and are often prorated for years in service. And in that location are plenty technicalities and limitations that the manufacturer can always merits that you didn't follow some aspect of the installation instructions.
That said, a stronger warranty from a reputable company is worth more than a weak warranty from a fly-by-nighttime or out-of-business firm. Because of the relatively high failure charge per unit of decking products information technology'southward foolish not to read the warranty and supporting documents. In add-on to installation details such equally maximum spans and fasteners, limitations may apply to types of cleaners and chemicals used, how fast yous remove stains, ventilation space below the decking, clearance to the ground, treatment of ends, and maintenance requirements, such as "no abrasive cleaners or metal-edged snow shovels…"
Since almost warranties are voided for things like "improper installation, or failure to bide by Manufacturers' guidelines" for such things every bit handling, storage, and maintenance, you will need to do a little detective work to notice out what those guidelines are. If information technology'due south unclear call or email the manufacturer. You can usually observe this additional information on the manufacturer's website, although sometimes in unlike places: Installation Instructions, FAQs, Cleaning & Maintenance, etc. If you lot don't detect what you're looking for, by all means call or email the manufacturer.
Here'due south a limitation from Azek, somewhat illogically covered nether "Care and Cleaning," that you probably never thought of: "Sunlight, which may be reflected by low-emissivity (Low-E) drinking glass, can potentially lead to impairment of exterior building products, including AZEK Deck…products, due to elevation of surface temperatures which far exceed that of normal exposure of the aforementioned materials to direct sunlight. Possible damage by such reflected concentrated light may include melting, sagging, warping, distortion, surface discoloration, increased expansion or wrinkle, and unusual weathering."
Look for products with the longest warranties with the fewest limitations. Limited warranties on the best products are frequently 20 to 25 years. In moisture climates or applications, look for products rated for use in ground contact or close to the ground equally these will likely be the most impervious to moisture damage. Above all else, look for a reputable manufacturer who has a reputation for standing behind its products. Contractors' lumberyards are a practiced resource hither.
Choosing the Right One
Synthetic and blended decking offers a bewildering assortment of products – some with a decent track record, some make new, and nearly made using a proprietary recipe and manufacturing process. Visit a contractor lumberyard that carries several lines. Look at lots of samples to see what appeals to you lot. Some look like plastic; some you couldn't tell from existent wood when viewed from a foot away.
Ask the lumberyard which products concord up the best for the application you lot are planning. Accept home some samples. Effort to scratch them with keys, stain them with cooking oil, carmine wine, and permanent markers, so try to clean them. These quick-and-dirty tests can tell yous a lot near real world performance, at least in the curt run. If yous're in no rush, exit a few samples out for several months to see how they fare when exposed to the elements.
Products are constantly changing and minor manufacturers come and get. With composites, many technical factors involving materials and manufacturing are difficult or impossible to know or evaluate – the percentage of wood vs. polyurethane, particle sizes, additives, and cap materials, among others. Since information technology's hard to know exactly what you are ownership, you are actually banking on a manufacturer that you tin trust is putting out a quality product and will exist around to honor the warranty if at that place is a problem.
While some of the largest manufacturers, such as Trex, Fiberon, and TimberTech have had high-profile failures, they have also been around the longest, have made huge investments into R&D, and are most likely to exist around in the future. Along with other industry leaders such as TimberTech, Azek, and Gossen these companies have the most pare in the game and the strongest commitment to producing loftier quality products and supporting them. Especially avoid dwelling house-center brands equally they are sourced from different manufacturers and you take no idea what you lot are getting.
Finally, don't expect miracles – and purchase enough actress stock to repair the occasional damaged lath in the future. You tin't just sand and refinish a bad ding, or buy a lath at the local lumberyard in iii years and expect it to match.
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Source: https://buildingadvisor.com/materials/decks-porches/composite-plastic-decking/
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