“We have two dogs, Jackson and Ponder. And they are definitely high energy canines,” Samuel said. “They go everywhere at full speed, all the time. That includes out the door, across the porch, and down the steps. You can definitely see where they travel. Their nails dig into the wood, and the edges of the stairs are all rounded off. The second stair from the bottom actually has a chunk gone out of it! We’re going to have the Framingham deck builders come and replace everything this summer, but I want to make sure we’re spending our money wisely. What can I do to keep the dogs from destroying our new porch?”
Dogs add a lot of joy to our lives, but they can be destructive. When durability is a top concern, you want to think twice about using wood for your porch steps and decking. Wood splinters, cracks, and crumbles under a steady onslaught of dog traffic. Your dog is not going to stop going outside for walks or to play once the new porch is in place! You need a building material that’s made to look great no matter who’s running across it.
Composite decking and PVC decking are two top choices for heavy traffic decks. This engineered materials are far more durable than wood. They resist the weather, standing up to all four seasons in Framingham. Whether the winter winds are blowing or summer sun is beating down, composite decking stays solid and strong. Many times dogs’ toenails damage decks in areas already compromised by the weather, expanding existing cracks or splits. Because PVC decking won’t develop those cracks or splits, it means less damage from your dogs.
Another nice thing about choosing composite or PVC decking is the color stays strong and true for many, many years. As you know, wooden decks have to be stained, painted, or sealed on a regular basis. If you’ve ever had your canine companion run over a freshly painted porch, leaving colorful pawprints everywhere they go, you know how much fun that is! With PVC decking for your Framingham porch, you never have to worry!