Wood plastic decking : What to know before you buy, Threel WPC

The pleasures of having a wood deck on your house are counterbalanced by deck maintenance. Wood deteriorates—it's just a natural thing. Deck maintenance is all about slowing that natural process with regular staining and sealing. As exposed as they are, floorboards especially bear the brunt of the weather. Isn't there a way to slow down the deterioration more, and without all of that staining and sealing?

Wood composite plastic decking(wpc decking) is one of the best alternatives to traditional wood decking, along with composite and aluminum decking. If you're looking for deck material that's durable, low-maintenance, and never needs to be finished,wpc decking may be right for your deck.

What is wood composite plastic decking?

Some different decking:

①PVC Decking

The type of deck lumber often called plastic lumber is made from either recycled plastic or from new materials, typically single resin polyethylene (HDPE and LPDE), polystyrene, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

PVC plastic decking appeared on the building material market in the late 1980s and is available in dimensions similar to traditional lumber.

Plastic lumber has other applications besides decking, include trim boards, railings, outdoor furniture,siding, and fences. One thing you cannot use PVC for is structural applications, so the support posts, joists, and beams of a deck must be built from a different material, usually wood.

Plastic lumber has the reputation of being durable forever. Plastic lumber is durable since it does not absorb water. Since it contains no organic materials, it cannot rot. But plastic lumber does not last forever. After being exposed to the sun and other elements for long enough, plastic lumber may peel or crack. Its color will eventually fade. Unlike wood, which can be sanded and re-stained, plastic decking offers no such repair alternatives: It can only be replaced.

②Wood Composite Decking

Plastic decking is not the same thing as wood composite decking , which is made of plastic and wood fibers. In many cases, up to 95-percent of the plastic used is from recycled materials. Plastic decking is only plastic, although it can have any number of additives for resistance to sun damage, scratching and weather.

With composite decking, the plastics polypropylene or polyethylene link with the wood fibers for a strong bond. They also help to create a richly textured surface with color that more closely resembles wood than PVC decking.

Wood Composite Decking

③PVC-Wrapped Composite Decking

A combination of PVC and composite decking, this material has a composite core that is wrapped in PVC.

Pros of Wood Composite Decking

Pros

Can be molded into many different shapes and sizes,surface
Waterproof and resists rot and mold without sealant
Stain-resistant against many chemicals and substances
Manufactured in a range of colors
Short-term fade-resistance
Does not contain chemical treatments
Does not splinter
Resists insects
100-percent recyclable
Comes with a manufacturer's warranty

Installation

Wpc decking can be cut and drilled like wood. No special tools are required. This makes it an option for do-it-yourself installation. It can be screwed down to a wood deck structure, just like wood decking, but many types of plastic decking are designed for hidden-fastener systems that leave the top of the decking unmarred by screw heads.

Keep in mind that wpc isn't able to span as far as wood, and you must provide adequate support for the decking boards. Also, leave room for the plastic boards to expand. For these and other reasons, like maintaining the warranty, it's important to follow the manufacturer's installation specifications.

How tomaintain wpc decking