12
May
Still Decking it Out
Posted by William SmithIn our last post for the optimist, we broke down some advantages of adding a composite, cedar, or ipê (ee-pay) deck to your home. Now for you glass half empty folks, we will list some disadvantages to each one to help you in your decision making process.
Disadvantages of Composite
- Only wood will truly give you the true look of a wood deck
- Will scratch or stain. Immediately clean with warm water and soap if there is a spill.
- Hot grease from the grill could melt a panel
- It will fade over time. A tan line effect could happen if you have rugs on your deck. We also recommend choosing a darker color than you want to counter act the fade.
- Not completely maintenance free. It needs to be cleaned to maintain a fresh look
- It expands when heated and contracts when cooled so be sure your installer is accounting for this fluctuation by applying a gap between boards.
- More expensive than a natural wood deck
Disadvantages of Cedar
- Requires a power wash and stain at least once every 3 years
- It may crack, splinter or warp
- Softwoods deteriorate quicker than hardwoods
- Can mold if it is not well maintained
- The upfront cost is cheaper but over time it cost more to maintain
- Cedar is not as flexible as composite decks limiting the ability for custom curves
- There aren’t as many color variances in comparison to a composite deck
Disadvantages of Ipê
- Hard to work with because of its weight and lack of flexibility
- Expensive. Cost is about the same as your high end composite decks
- Availability can be an issue since it is imported from South America
- Requires additional labor. (pre-drilling of fasteners)
We hope we have helped you in making an educated decision on what kind of material to use for your new deck. If you would like more information on deck designs feel free to contact us. Our next blog will be on windows. If there is a topic you would like for us to blog on leave a comment request and who knows the next blog could be just for you.
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