Low Maintenance Composite and PVC Decks Offer Lasting Quality

Spending time in the great outdoors can mean different things to different people. For some, it could mean a week communing with nature deep in the forest. For others, the great outdoors begin when they walk out their patio doors and onto their backyard deck for an afternoon of entertaining friends and family.

For those more civilized types, getting the right deck is critical to the long-term enjoyment of their outdoor space. Installing a low maintenance decking system made of materials other than wood is the best option, according to Hickory Dickory Deck Ottawa co-owner Theo Melburn.

“When renovating a home depending on whether it’s a kitchen, bath, basement, or deck, you get different returns on the value of your investment,” said Melburn. “Statistically speaking, post-pandemic a lot of people are looking for good quality outdoor living space. Having spoken with many real estate agents including my daughter and son-in-law, they’re saying people are getting 70 to 80 percent return on investment. Kitchens are always #1. Master baths used to be #2. Most people are saying having quality outdoor living space tends to be #2.”

According to Melburn, getting a high-quality deck means building it from any of the three most versatile types of low maintenance decking materials. These include uncapped composite, capped composite, and vinyl (PVC).

Low maintenance decking encompasses three types of decking materials: composite, capped composite, and vinyl (PVC). Uncapped varieties of composite decking were the first version of low-maintenance decking and are made of a combination of wood and recycled plastic materials. These boards look attractive and are extremely durable. If there is a fault, it’s that the uncapped composites are more vulnerable to fading and staining than the newer capped composites.

Capped composites are manufactured in a similar fashion; however, they have an outer and completely non-organic shell or cap on them. This capping provides the added benefit of being UV resistant and available in a wide variety of colours.

The third option for low-maintenance decking is vinyl (PVC), which contains no organic materials. PVC boards are a good option for any eco-conscious homeowner. The lack of any wood in the product means that this type of decking is extremely low maintenance and is not susceptible to mold or mildew. PVC is also harder and more scratch resistant than composite boards, and because the colour is embedded in the plastic and not just applied to the top, it holds its colour better. Many PVC boards look just as nice, if not nicer, than the capped composites.

“Our most popular decking is PVC and the main reason for that is the temperature and anti-slip characteristics,” said Melburn. “The PVC being 40 percent lighter in weight doesn’t get as hot on the feet, so it’s ideal for pets, young children, and people who don’t like heat on bare feet. The PVC is the top choice as far as durability and appearance wise it’s a nicer deck board.”

All three are listed as low maintenance, and that’s good news for homeowners who want to enjoy their deck more than maintain it. According to Melburn, only one bit of regular maintenance is required.

“Just keep it clean. Wash it. There’s no staining or sanding. You don’t get any cracked or warped deck boards. They don’t change colour. Really all you have to do it just wash it and keep it clean. You can use soap and water if you want. Generally, depending on debris that’s on the deck, just some mild dish soap like Dove, a scrub brush and a garden hose.”

Hickory Dickory Decks is the best choice in the Ottawa area for new deck installation.

Visit their website at https://decks.ca/deck-builders/ottawasouth-ottawawest-kanata-kemptville/n or call them at  613 834 1361.

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