A great deck is one of life’s sublime joys. But the traditional deck, even those that are built of pressure-treated wood, does take a lot of work to stay looking good. This is particularly true in Framingham, where we’re regularly treated to four distinct extreme weather seasons. Heavy snow in winter and blistering heat in the summer can really damage traditional wooden decks. Boards dry, split, splinter and bend in these conditions, leaving you with a deck that looks terrible and is potentially unsafe.
Luckily, man is an ingenious creature. We use technology to create alternative building materials that perform better than the traditional options. Way back in the 1980’s, people began experimenting with plastic decking materials. These first early decks looked wood – kind of – and they did stand up to rain and moisture better than wood. Sun exposure and sub-zero temperatures proved to still be problematic, however, sending those early inventors back to the drawing board in search of a better solution.
The industry has learned a lot about how to recycle plastic so it’s durable, attractive, and easy to work with. The result is today’s composite decking, which beautifies homes while helping the Earth. Now there are so many aesthetic options: you can choose composite decking that looks like gorgeous cedar or redwood without damaging a single tree!
Best of all composite decking gives homeowners what they really want: a break from maintenance chores. Composite decks never have to be sealed, sanded or refinished. There are no worries about the sun warping the boards or heavy snow causing them to break. Composite decks are strong enough to support your family, furniture, plantings, barbecues and anything else you’d normally keep on a deck. All it takes to keep everything looking great is an occasional power washing, freeing you up to really enjoy your home.