Low-maintenance backyard living is a must if you love the outdoors. Fortunately, creating a beautiful outdoor oasis is easy with composite decking.
A lot of homeowners want an outdoor living space, but don’t want the endless sanding, staining or painting that goes with a wood deck. The solution is beautiful and low-maintenance composite decking. It offers the beauty of wood, but won’t rot, warp, crack or splinter.
Composite decking — made from a blend of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic film — is stronger than regular wood planks and has a much longer lifespan.
Because of its protective cap, composite decking won’t rot, warp or decay like wood.
Benefits of Composite Decking
Here’s why more and more homeowners are choosing composite decking over wood:
Durability. Composite wood is ideal if you’re busy or have little time to maintain your deck. You won’t have to worry about replacing rotting wood, staining, or anything other than an occasional wash with soap and water.
Lifespan. A traditional wood deck lasts, on average, 10 to 15 years. However, composite decks are engineered to last 25 years or longer. This means a composite deck will theoretically last twice as long as a wood deck, without the added hassle of applying wood sealer and replacing rotting boards.
Environmentally friendly. Composite decking is sustainably made from recycled plastic and reclaimed wood, so you’re helping to save the planet by reducing deforestation and diverting plastics from landfills and waterways.
Beauty: Composite boards are available in different colors and have streaks and grains for a real-wood look that matches any home style.
Trex Enhance composite decking is made with a high-performance shell, so it won’t fade, stain or scratch. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Trex Enhance®
Trex Enhance composite decking is long-lasting, features an authentic wood-grain appearance and comes in many attractive colors.
Its high-performance shell is fade, stain and scratch-resistant, and no sanding or painting is needed. The low-maintenance material cleans easily with soap and water.
Plus, it’s not just good for your home; it’s also good for the environment.
No tree is cut to produce Trex decking — and it’s sustainably made from 95 percent recycled materials, including reclaimed industrial wood waste and polyethylene plastic film.
Finally, any major home improvement is an investment, but you can buy composite decking with confidence. Trex Enhance is backed by a 25-year limited residential warranty and a 25-year fade and stain warranty.
You don’t have to be a pro to install a composite deck. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
How to Install Composite Decking
Composite decking is a great do-it-yourself project, especially with Trex Enhance, which features grooved edges that allow for installation with hidden fasteners.
Trex® Hidden Fasteners screw into the joists and create uniform gaps that allow for expansion and contraction.
If you have an elevated deck, installing the Trex® RainEscape® system allows you to keep the underdeck area dry, which creates a space for storage or an additional outdoor living area beneath the deck to enjoy. The system of gutters and downspouts — designed to divert water from reaching the area below your deck — is installed above the joists to protect the entire substructure from moisture penetration and damage.
And Trex Enhance decking comes in nature-inspired, fade-resistant colors, including Rocky Harbor — a contemporary slate gray with rustic sandy undertones — so it matches any style of home.
Remove old deck boards. Use a wrecking bar to pry the boards from the joists.
Make sure the joists are in good shape before you install composite decking. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Inspect your deck’s frame. Most deck frames are constructed of pressure-treated wood, so it’s important to ensure that it’s structurally sound and can support new decking. If this isn’t the case, or if you’re building a composite deck from the ground up, you’ll have to build a new frame.
For added moisture protection, use Trex® Protect™ joist, beam and rim tape before you install the composite boards. This protects the tops of the joists and beams from developing rot and wood decay. Plus, it’s backed by a 20-year warranty.
You can install composite boards closer together, unlike wood boards, but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for gapping. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Align your composite boards with the deck frame. Make the necessary cuts to ensure a clean fit.
Trex’s hidden fasteners tuck in neatly between the boards for a smooth, hardware-free surface. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Attach composite boards to your deck frame. When working with composite decking, you should use the Trex Hidden Fasteners rather than nails to achieve precisely consistent spacing between boards. Although the installation may take a bit longer, the result is a cleaner, more secure deck.
Install deck railing. Replace old deck posts, rails and spindles with Trex Enhance railing components. This railing system has the same weather-resistant characteristics as the deck boards.
Place finishing touches. Clean and reinstall existing lattice and pressure wash any bricks or stepping stones. Add extra features like riser lights on the stairs, along with plants and planters.
Composite decking lasts for years with minimal maintenance. (Trex)
How to Maintain Composite Decking
Composite decking couldn’t be easier to clean — occasionally rinse it with soap and water. So, you can spend more time enjoying your deck instead of maintaining it!
To keep it looking new for decades, do the following:
Sweep regularly
Immediately clean grease and food debris
Scrub sticky spots with water and dish soap
Remove snow with plastic shovels to prevent damage from scraping.
Ready to make this home improvement? Trex decking is available at The Home Depot — purchase in stores or order online for home delivery or store pick-up.
With help from our friends at The Home Depot, we’ve compiled this list of timely chores to keep your house clean and comfortable.
Listen to this special-edition Today’s Homeowner Podcast, and follow along below, to learn all about the top summer home maintenance projects!
Changing the air conditioner filter makes your AC work better to keep you cooler. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
1. Change AC & Heating System Filters
Regularly changing your HVAC system’s filters is important because a dirty filter will slow down and strain your system. It should take about two to three minutes to take out your old filter and put in a new one.
Also, once your filter is out, go ahead and vacuum the cavity in case of dust build-up.
Your AC drain line can get blocked with mold and mildew, causing its pan to overflow. Flush it with bleach twice during the summer, when it’s working at its hardest.
3. Check for Loose Railings or Damage on Wooden Decks
Changing weather can take a toll on your deck. Nails and screws can loosen during the temperature change and splinters can pop up once the heat rises.
Inspect and repair any damage to your deck so you can have some safe fun in the sun. Top it off with a coat of sealer to keep it protected all summer long.
Check for any loose parts or rot (if it’s wood). If you have cushions, be sure to wash them. In addition, if your cushions get wet from rain, be sure to hang them out to dry on a sunny day to avoid mold.
If you do this on a regular basis, it makes it a lot easier to keep everything clean.
Your fireplace will be ready for winter if you have it inspected this summer. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
7. Have Chimney Inspected & Cleaned
Now’s a great time to have a professional inspect your fireplace and chimney because you aren’t using them during the summer.
Plus, you’ll have more time for repairs if needed.
Scrape off peeling paint and put on a fresh coat for an exterior refresh. (mehampson, Getty Images)
8. Scrape Loose Paint from Siding & Trim
Boost your home’s curb appeal by freshening up siding. Scrape away any loose paint, sand if needed, then prime and paint on a fresh coat.
If it’s an older paint, be sure to test it for lead as a precaution.
Mix 1 teaspoon of baby shampoo to 1 gallon of water, or 1-1/2 cups of vinegar to 1 gallon of water, and wipe windows down with newspaper for a streak-free shine.
Involve family members and tag-team to speed things up! Have one person clean the windows inside while another cleans the outside.
Finally, summer blooms are burgeoning! Now is the perfect time to pull any weeds from garden beds and prevent further weed growth by adding 2 to 3 inches of mulch.
Listen to this special-edition Today’s Homeowner Podcast for more summer home maintenance tips!
