The Pros & Cons Of Composite Decking In The Greater Boston Area

Hi there, are you a fellow homeowner in the Greater Boston area who’s ready to replace your outdoor deck?

The question is, when was the last time you did this? For most folks, it’s either been quite a while or this is your first time going through the process.

The good news is that Your Decking Options have grown and evolved over the last decade.

Sure, wood is still wood, and wood decking is still wood decking. Still, composite decking has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to growth in popularity, modern innovation, and technological manufacturing! 

In today’s article, let’s look at the pros and cons of composite decking in our specific area of the country. 

The Pros Of Composite Decking

Far Less Regular & Annual Maintenance

Something else hasn’t changed when it comes to all-natural wood decking —-the upkeep. Wood still needs all the regular TLC and attention it always has to look fresh, crisp, and clean. Sanding. Painting. Staining. Replacing damaged areas. Cleaning. Owning a complex wood deck is both a financial investment and an investment of your time. 

Most homeowners who go with wood decks do so because they enjoy the maintenance. Or, it’s just not a bother to them for whatever reason. 

On the other hand, composite decking gives you all the exact same functional value and looks nearly identical to wood—without maintenance. All you have to do is occasionally hose it off and take other precautionary steps to keep it looking like new. Some examples include:

• Keep gutters working smoothly and keep runoff from bombarding areas. 
• Don’t leave wet towels and clothes on the deck to dry in the summer sun. 
• When you wash, be sure to hose between boards to get rid of the muck. 
• Only use woven mats, not rugs with rubber backing that traps moisture. 
• Occasionally sweep the deck off to prevent debris from piling up. 

Composite Decking Is Environmentally Friendly

Here at Solid State Construction, we specialize in TimberTech AZEK composite decking. And most people don’t know this, but their particular composites are made with two recycled materials:

• Wood fibers so it accepts their gorgeous paints and stains. 
• Plastic material being reused in a long-lasting product. 

In fact, their capped polymer boards are 54% recycled.

This is why we call them composite because they’re not 100% organic material. But the benefits are that your deck made of recycled materials will be highly resistant to moisture, mold, mildew, and general weathering here in the Greater Boston area of the country.

The Large Variety Of Colors & Styles

With wood, you can have really any color you can imagine, but you’ve got to do the painting and everything involved with that task over the years. With composite decking, you’ve got a massive variety of styling and color choices THAT LAST. 

Not only do they last, but with TimberTech they don’t shear or splinter either. 

Do they fade? No. Not for a very long time or after serious neglect. 

Are they easy to stain? No, absolutely not. They actually come with an industry-best 50-year limited warranty on Fading & Staining. 

Its Long-Lasting Strength & Durability

Modern composite decking the caliber of TimberTech is going to last decades. 

That being said, your installers matter! You don’t just want a deck that looks beautiful on the outside, but that’s absolutely impeccable down to the finest detail. Here at Solid State Construction, we don’t just craft beautiful decks. We craft Mega-Stout, Built-Like-A-Tank, Will-Last-Decades Decks!  

We like to tell our Boston area customers it’s essentially the last decking your home will need in your lifetime. Most homeowners are only in their homes for about 20-30 years. 

The Cons Of Composite Decking

It’s More Expensive

Let’s say you’re considering the price differences between your average pressed-pine wood deck and a guaranteed TimberTech composite deck. Yes, wood is cheaper. Maybe 15-25% cheaper, but that’s a very generalized number. It’s impossible to tell without knowing the scope of your project. 

Composite decking is more expensive because there’s much more to it! And the benefits speak for themselves. 

It’s Not 100% ‘Natural’

If you’re the type of person that ONLY eats organic, food, you might be the type of person who settles for nothing but all-natural wood decking. A decking purist. That’s great! We all understand. As we mentioned earlier, composite decking has recycled wood fibers in it but it’s not like the real thing.

Next Step: Call And Talk To The Decking Professionals

Have more questions you need answers to about composite decking? Want to know more about the benefits of TimberTech AZEK lines from the point of view of our product experts? Simply pick up your phone and Contact Solid State Construction.

We’ve been serving homeowners in the Greater Boston area a long while, and we’re happy to help you make the right choice. Thanks for your time today, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.