Harrison Construction

When to go composite. A composite deck is at least 3x as expensive as a wood deck-so why would you go this route? If you are staying in your current location for 20 years it becomes obvious that this is the way to go. Wood requires upkeep or you have about 7 years of use before you have to replace the decking. Depending on the amount of sun hitting your deck, you should put a coating on it after the first year. I have seen decks in full sun that are white after one year wi...th no protective coating added so you have to monitor your deck as see how fast it degrades. Many of the coatings out there are going to require annual refreshing so if you add this cost to the initial deck cost and multiply it by 12 years, which is about the average decking longevity given the new formulas they are using for the pressure treating. The old green preservative did last longer. I wonder if they are trying to sell more wood...? See more

THE REALITY OF COMPOSITE DECKS. There is a difference between composite and PVC decking. If you are planning on doing a deck in one or the other, you should know the relative value of each. Composite is a composition of plastic and organic material like wood chips. Mold and mildew can grow on the organic matter. Almost all composite decking is capped with PVC because it is harder and more durable. So why not use PVC as your decking. It costs a bit more but wont expand and contract as much and wont heat up as much. It lasts longer, fades less and no mold or mildew will grow on it.