Trex decking is one of the composite decking materials that has a proven track record with homeowners. Trex is different from other alternative materials for use as decking because it has a higher percentage of wood in its components. It is also very environmentally friendly and is completely recyclable. Although Trex decking does contain wood, it does not require the same level of maintenance as wood decking does.

Trex decking prices may turn you off when you first look at the price tag associated with it. However, when you compare Trex decking to using wood as decking material, you have to look at the other important features of Trex composite decking. With wood, you have to paint and stain it just about every year. It is subject to rot and insect infestation. You do not have any of these problems with Trex decking and it will last a lifetime. Compare the prices of what it will cost you to keep your wood deck in good shape and you will see that Trex offers the best bargain in decking.

Some of the other impressive features of Trex decking include:
· It doesn’t crack
· It doesn’t splinter
· It is slip-resistant
· It will not swell when exposed to moisture
· It has minimal shrinkage in cold temperatures

You can saw and fasten the Trex composite decking to the wooden frame of the deck just as you can with wood or another brand of composite decking. It has UV protection so that it won’t fade from the glare of the sun on the hot summer days. Even though you pay the higher Trex decking prices, you will notice some light fading in the first few months. This is the natural process of the composite decking acclimatizing to the location.

Trex composite decking means that the material is made from plastic and reclaimed wood. The wood can be fiber or sawdust and often the plastic is recycled as well. Each plank or tile that you have has the color going all the way through. When you purchase an installation kit to help you out, you will also get the instructions as to how to create a beautiful deck with Trex decking. You can also visit the company website and download the instruction. The cost of the installation kit is in addition to the Trex decking prices so you do have to allow for this in your budget.

It is best to buy all of the Trex decking that you need at the same time. This is because if you run out of the Trex composite decking and have to return to the store for more, the next shipment may not be exactly the same color. At various times, you may be able to get the Trex decking on sale and when you have to buy some at a later date, you will have to pay higher Trex decking prices.

To find out more about Decking visit Peter’s Website The Decking Guide and find out about Trex Decking and more, including Wood Decking, IPE Decking, Composite Decking and Pool Decking.

Bookmark to:

Aluminum decking creates a deck that appears as if you installed it all in one piece. Aluminum makes the perfect decking material because it is lightweight and easy to work with when installing. It is much stronger than wood and can hold heavier loads. Even in the coldest temperatures it does not get brittle and crack, so you will have a deck that will last you a lifetime. Aluminum decking simply does not rust or rot, allowing you the piece of mind that it will not cost a fortune to keep it looking new.

When you use aluminum decking for a 2nd or 3rd story on your home, you have a deck that doesn’t have any gaps. The area underneath is perfect for storage or for a car park. Extruding is the process of pressure forcing heated aluminum through a die so that it takes on the cross-sectional shape of the die. Extruded aluminum decking help to create a seamless product made to exact specifications. This decking material is mildew resistant so you don’t need to use special cleaners to make sure there is not build up of mold and mildew.

When you have extruded aluminum decking installed on your patio or balcony, you don’t have to worry that it might catch fire if you want to install a fire pit or patio heater. The aluminum is fire resistant and therefore it will not ignite or burn even if the house burns down around it. You don’t have to worry about any allergic reactions because the aluminum material for decking is hypoallergenic. Having extruded aluminum decking means you never have to worry about rot or insect infestations because aluminum is impervious to both of these.

Aluminum decking stays cool in the summer. You won’t burn yourself when you touch it during the hottest part of the day like you can with other kinds of decking material. The properties of aluminum allow for the maximum dissipation of heat, which means the deck won’t dry out in the heat. If you live in an area where there is lots of snow in the winter, extruded aluminum decking is well able to withstand about 50 pounds of snow per square inch. If you don’t want to bother with shovelling snow off the deck in the winter, aluminum allows you to install heating strips so that any snow that lands will melt right away.

There are many benefits to having aluminum decking in addition to the attractive properties of the material. It adds significantly to the appearance of your home and increases the value of your property. Once you do the initial work of installing the decking, you will never have to touch it again when it comes to doing maintenance work. Aluminum decking outlasts wood, it is completely watertight and does not age like other decking materials.

To find out more about Decking visit Peter’s Website The Decking Guide and find out about Composite Decking and more, including Wood Decking, IPE Decking, Trex Decking and Pool Decking.

Bookmark to:

Cedar is a truly remarkable material for use in a variety of building products, including (or perhaps especially) decking lumber. This magnificent softwood lends something of the Pacific Northwest to the exteriors of many residences and offices, with warm cinnamon tones that age gracefully to a seasoned silver. Apart from being attractive, with a rustic beauty that is unparalleled, cedar has many natural properties that give it a built-in resistance to the ravages of the elements as well as attack by insects. As such, cedar as a decking material has become one of the most popular choices when planning an exterior addition to a property. Red cedar in particular represents a robust choice in durable and visually striking materials for the kind of decking that adds all kinds of value to any given exterior.

Cedar is a resilient, reliable building material

Red Cedar for use in decking and in other building products is a species native to the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. The wood itself is naturally imbued with a high resistance to UV rays, moisture, and insect damage due to the presence of certain chemicals that protect it from degeneration. This is the reason why the species has thrived in such a moisture-heavy environment. These attributes are also a key reason as to why red cedar has been so heavily relied upon as tools and building materials since before the area was settled by Europeans. With these strengths in mind, red cedar is also a softwood, making it very easy to work with. Its look, its natural protection against the elements, and even the pleasant scent that is associated with it, lends it an organic warmth and general appeal that can easily be translated to your decking projects.

Cedar for use as decking

Carrying these benefits over specifically for the purposes of building a deck, cedar does not contain many of the resins or pitch found in other types of wood. This means that applying finish is much easier, which means further protection against the elements. Cedar is resilient enough to discourage the corrosion of decking fasteners, a problem that often leads to leeching of rust into a pressure-treated deck. Cedar is durable, and yet it is also lightweight, adding another level of easy workability when building your deck. Once completed, your deck will retain the natural feel and look that is reminiscent of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, along with the practical benefits of heat insulation (making for a cooler walking surface than many other wood decks), sound absorption, and dimensional stability that makes it a structural benefit to the rest of your property.

Rich and distinguished red cedar decking

The color of cedar is definite benefit to any decking project, and one which presents a number of options when planning one. When cedar is milled, the color ranges from amber to a pinkish hue, taken as it is from the heartwood of the species. By the time it ships, ready for use as decking lumber, it has matured to a cinnamon reddish-brown. As the cedar ages, the color changes yet again; this time to a distinguished silvery gray, if it has not been stained. But if you choose to stain, the possibilities are even wider!

Rob Jones is Communications Coordinator with BuildDirect, a leading online wholesaler of building products. Rob writes articles for commercial contractors and DIYers on features, installation, and maintenance of building materials used in commercial and residential projects. These articles focus on materials such as flooring, decking, roofing, and siding, and other related topics.

Bookmark to: