Offered exclusively from DuraLife®, the Step-Clip™ hidden fastener system installs quickly and easily along the entire length of the framing joists. Each of the 1-5/8-inch wide (x 23” long) polypropylene interlocking strips covers the width of joist, shielding it from water damage. When he does, I’ll recommend Fortress Building Products to him. My experience is that the composite decks that last are the ones in which even the smallest chance of a failure has been engineered out. Fortress Deck has engineered their Infinity composite decks down to the core, using bamboo instead of sawdust for greater strength and water resistance. Fortress boards use Hulk hidden fasteners to anchor the decking down without providing a path for water to penetrate to the core of the board. This system makes the boards even longer-lasting, and gives the deck an elegant, uninterrupted look.

• The Hulk hidden fastener system has screws that are 40 mm long and will go into a two-by-four without the hitting the concrete beneath.
• As part of their manufacture, composite deck boards are treated with preservatives that help ward off rot, mold, and mildew.
• Planks are dyed in a host of a colors and imprinted with a range of textures, most of which convincingly resemble genuine wood grain.
• This hidden fastener system gives your deck a sleeker, more sophisticated look while also leaving the boards caps intact and better able to resist moisture.
• It’s a fully capped board for protection from moisture above and below and uses a combination of recycled plastic and bamboo flour for strength and water-resistance.
• One composite deck system with these features is Infinity by Fortress Building Products.

Facts About Composite Decking

You’ve decided it's time to replace your outdoor deck and you’re ready to take it on as a DIY project, or you’ve decided to work with a licensed and bondedcontractor for the heavy lifting. Among wood decking’s pros and cons, affordability is a decided benefit. Typically, wood decking is lower cost to purchase than composites, especially in the initial purchase. However, although the initial cost of wood is less, composite usually ends up paying for itself within 2-3 years when including the cost of annual maintenance. The price differential also depends on the wood species chosen versus the brand of composite decking, and local market conditions. While all-wood decking will eventually splinter, composite decking is made with small wood fibers encased in plastic, so it won’t splinter.

Composite Decking: Does It Really Stack Up?

Can You Install New Decking Over Old Deck Boards?

What they forget to tell you is that the wood flour itself is a food source for mold. So, if it is not protected, or the protection wears off, your composite deck becomes a giant smorgasbord for many species of mold and mildew no matter how clean you keep it. A wood deck gets hot enough so that walking barefoot is mildly uncomfortable. All composites and plastics get hotter than wood – some get hotter than concrete. Dense materials retain more heat and get hotter than less dense materials.

What Kind Of Decking Is Best For Winter?

Some manufacturers use vinyl which is decidedly un-green. On the surface, composite materials look mighty un-"green" with lots of unpronounceable chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic. So, are you trading convenience for some sort of health or ecological disaster when you select composite decking materials? But, neither are composites especially environmentally friendly. What is certain is that making WPCs requires a careful mixing of ingredients not just for performance but to keeps costs under control.

Do you want a pink deck, or alternating purple and yellow boards? Just remember that, whatever color you choose, you can’t just change your mind and paint over it. Initial costs of composite decks will likely be higher, both for materials and labor.

Using a hidden deck fastener system in a composite deck means that your deck will be free from screw heads showing. These hidden fastener systems create a beautiful, smooth surface and an easy transition from the inside of your home to your outdoor living space. The cost of composite decking materials falls in the middle.

Before choosing a color for your composite decking, ask to see samples of weathered boards, if possible. Though variations exist, composite decking is generally made from a mix of wood scraps—called wood flour—and plastic particles. Although some manufacturers rely on virgin wood and plastics, others make extensive use of recycled materials. In 2010, Trex reused 3.1 billion plastic grocery bags, while TimberTech says that each year its products incorporate 107 million pounds of post-industrial and post-consumer waste materials. Once all the old deck boards were out of the way, I had the green light for the composites. The first new board went down beneath the hand rail and flush with the outside edge of the deck.

The Hulk hidden fastener system has screws that are 40 mm long and will go into a two-by-four without the hitting the concrete beneath. This hidden fastener system gives your deck a sleeker, more sophisticated look while also leaving the boards caps intact and better able to resist moisture. It’s just one example of the thoughtful engineering that Fortress Building Products puts into its whole line, from decks to railings to fences.

The Best Decking For Winter Weather

One way to reduce costs is by reducing the amount of material used. It's a principal reason why a lot of lower-priced composite decking is flat on just one side and scalloped or grooved on the other.

The making of composite decking is virtually waste-free, and the product contains no toxic elements. Thousands of tons of wood and plastics are diverted from landfills and incinerators each year in the composite deck manufacturing process. Hidden deck fastener systemsare an option when installing a composite deck. Composite deck boards are manufactured with grooved edges on the sides to allow for the placement of hidden deck fasteners. Hidden fastener systems provide uniform spacing and gapping between the boards, which means there is no guesswork involved in the installation process. This type of system also gets rid of the need to pre-drill holes since there are no exposed screws.