2 year old composite decking with visible green mold.

Although Advantage Trim & Lumber refuses to sell, recommend, or have anything to do with composite decking products we often receive calls from composite deck owners who are having maintenance issues. Surprisingly, they call us for composite deck maintenance advice after they spoke with the manufacturer or the store where they purchased it.

A question that we sometimes get asked is, “I have composite decking that is starting to mold and don’t want to spend the money to replace it. Can’t I just flip over the deck board?

Our answer is always the same. Flipping deck boards is a waste of time and energy. The reason for this is that if your composite deck boards are rotting on the surface chances are its even worse on the underside of the board. “Why?”

Such little light penetrates your deck’s surface gaps that the underside of  any deck board will inevitably be more damp. Even if you decide to take a chance and flip over those parts of your composite deck that are rotting, keep in mind that when you flip the boards you will not be able to screw in the same holes.

You will have to drill new holes, which, let’s face it will make your deck look even worse. You will not only have screws showing but will also have un-used holes from the previous installation.

This begs the question, if flipping composite boards is out of the question, what can you do?

If you’re in the position of having to replace your composite deck, call us. Tell us your horror story and send us pictures of your deck, and we will work out a deal with you to replace your composite deck with some of our hardwood decking.

Genuine wood decking produces spectacular structures you can depend on.

Wood decking is the best material to use for garden and outdoor decks. Period. Case closed…

Not buying it, are you? Are you still thinking that composite decking is a viable and better choice? After all, it IS “eco-friendly” and “maintenance free”, right? What makes wood decking any better?

Here are 10 Reasons why Wood Decking species like Tigerwood, Cumaru, Garapa and Ipe are better choices for your deck:

1. Why settle for the “look of real wood” when you can get the real thing? Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that your real wood deck is 100% genuine. Most species have such a distinct look that you now see composites coming out with “tropical looking” decks. If you wanted to buy a Mercedes and the dealer showed you something that looked like a Mercedes, would you buy the imitation? Probably not.
2. A better overall value. When you consider the long-term maintenance and possible replacement cost of a composite deck to the performance of woods like ipe, it makes sense to go with decking that is proven. For those still on the fence and still comparing composite materials to wood decking, then take a look at the litany of complaints, lawsuits and even government recalls that plague plastic decking products. It’s clear that there are just way too many variables and potential problems that you could face…is it really worth it to take a chance and spend money on an unproven product?
3. When it rains, it doesn’t disintegrate. Exotics like Tigerwood and Cumaru are dense materials that dry quickly and repel water. This raises the natural resistance to mold and mildew. Composite materials end up actually soaking in water which leads to internal rot and many headaches.
4. Eco-friendly decking comes from renewable resources and sustainable forestry. Every species we offer you comes from regulated forests and are 100% LACEY Act compliant. Even the non-FSC material we sell originates from managed forests that we personally inspect throughout North and South America. These mills and managed forests are in place to ensure that the every rule and regulation is followed.
5. The Composite Decking life cycle is not eco-friendly. Petroleum/oil turned into plastic. Plastics get recycled and fused with wood fibers to form composite decking. The more wood fibers are used the more porous the material. The more plastic is used the more artificial the look and delamination is possible. The result? Non-recyclable deck boards are tossed into landfills because a great majority of recycling facilities are ill-equipped to separate the wood fibers from the plastic. Ergo, composite decking is a recycled plastic product that can’t be recycled. When you factor in the recent oil spills and high price per barrel, it just doesn’t seem right to call composite decking eco-friendly, does it?
6. The stuff just lasts! You can find stories online about ipe wood being REUSED close to a century after it was installed. Recently, some Coney Island boardwalk made of ipe was refurbished into upscale furniture. The toughness of exotic wood decking cannot be denied.
7. Safety comes naturally. Have kids who like to run around barefoot? Do you have a pool near your deck? Tigerwood, Cumaru, Ipe or Garapa are scratch and sliver resistant materials that dry fast and are safe even for bare feet. Composite deck boards can be slippery, delaminate and decay to create a unsuitable surface that you have to be mindful of. Point blank, if you have to think about gingerly walking on your deck, you are using the wrong material.

Yes, you are reading this list from a wood decking supplier. So, we encourage you to do your own research. Search for composite decking lawsuits, recalls, and complaints. See the evidence for yourself.

If you have a composite decking story to share, send us pictures. Likewise, if you are an Advantage customer and want to show off your wood decking, contact us and we’ll be happy to feature your home in our Deck Design feature.

The research this homeowner did prior to buying Tigerwood has paid off.

It’s almost Summer and thousands of homeowners across the country are getting ready to start working on their deck. Some will be remodeling and many will be building a deck for the first time. But, before hammer goes to nail, the question you must answer is, “What kind of material is best for decking?”

Should you go with real wood decking, or composite “wood” decking? Regular readers of this blog already know the limitations and problems that plague composite deck materials. Let’s face it; if plastic decking were so good, wood decking would be obsolete. But, because of the documented issues that both composite and PVC decking face, many people are opting for real wood deck materials.

So, let’s say that you chose to buy wood decking. What material should you choose, and what pitfalls are to be avoided when buying decking?

Here are 5 Ways to Save Money When You Buy Decking:

1. Don’t settle for chemically treated and cheap decking materials. This is the “You get what you pay for” rule of shopping for anything. If you are on a tight budget, it pays not to settle for pressure treated decking. Yes, it’s cheaper than hardwood, but when you read about the chemicals used to treat the pine wood, and see how pressure treated wood decking looks in such a short amount of time, does it really benefit you to sacrifice your long term enjoyment? If you are on a tight budget, there are still some wonderful hardwoods out there that might cost a bit more, but will give you years of worry-free use. For instance Tigerwood and Garapa are very affordable. They are also great looking and naturally durable, without all the problems that treated decking has.
2. Price is not as important as you think. Of course, you want to get the most for your money. We all do. But, when it comes to buying lumber, it’s easy to order something and not know what you’re really getting until the truck arrives at your job site. If you’re shopping online, check to see if the supplier is FSC certified, been around for at least a decade and, at the very least, willing to share some testimonials or pictures of jobs that have been completed with their products. I know what you’re saying, “Ok, that’s all well and good…that still doesn’t clear up how to buy wood decking!” Let me address that by saying…
3. Lumber grade is more important than price. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Some suppliers don’t want you to know the difference so they put up pretty pictures that they’ve doctored to cover up the flaws in their material. They also put up a very low price. This combination has led to many frustrated homeowners trying to get their money back in vain. So, with this in mind? It pays in the short and long run to ask up front about the grade of lumber BEFORE you buy. Here is a description of lumber grades to help you:
   • Common/Select Grade – Common grade can be poorly milled and come with unappealing color variances. It often contains sapwood, visible knots & worm holes.
   • Premium/Clear – This is the best grade and is all heartwood. There should be no knots, or worm holes. Premium grade wood is carefully milled material that truly reflects the colors and natural accents of the wood.
4. Convert square footage to lineal feet. Ah, math. The bane of many children and of people who are building a 500 square foot deck and order 500 lineal feet. Sure. you’ll get your wood, but you’ll have just enough to build half of your deck! An error like this means paying TWICE for shipping. You can avoid this pitfall and keep more of your money by using our Square Foot to Lineal Foot Calculator.
5. Buy Random Lengths. When it comes to buying hardwood decking, you save more money when you specify a range of lengths.  Many suppliers will charge you more if you demand one specific length. Why? It’s a simple matter of cost, inventory, and waste. With a majority of product originating in domestic and South American mills, suppliers buy a range of lengths of 8’ through 20’.  Selling within this range is the norm. There’s also the matter of waste. If a supplier has a greater inventory of 15′ decking and you order 13′ boards, there’s the cost to mill and dispose of all that waste. Besides, most deck builders will almost always use a range of lengths depending on both your home’s and the deck’s design.

These tips will save you hundreds of dollars and increase the chances that you will enjoy your new wood deck for a very long time.

Questions? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.