How to Buy a Synthetic Deck

The main advantage of a synthetic deck is that it requires little or no maintenance, allowing owners to avoid painting, scraping or power-washing. There are new products entering the market all the time, and the popularity of these deck materials is increasing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Inspect the different synthetic deck materials on the market. Basic categories are polyethylene composites, which are generally made from softer plastics, and polypropylene composites, which come from harder plastics.

2. Examine the pros and cons of each. This takes some research into how the particular brand handles UV rays and other weather elements, fungus and exposure to water and foot traffic.

3. Look for dealers and availability in your area. Not all brands are available in all areas. Do business with someone nearby.

4. Take care with color selection. The color you buy is the color you keep. You can change those with if the composite contains 50 percent wood.

5. Select a product with UV protection integrated into the composite and not sprayed on afterward.

6. Remember that you can never get the real look of real wood. However, as the products improve over time, so does the appearance.

Tips & Warnings

• Synthetic decks use real wood posts.
• Aluminum is also a synthetic deck material. Most of the time you can't see the fastening system on the surface.
• Ask dealers about how the materials handle heat absorption and how they react to intense cold.
• Consult friends or visit blogs to get others' experiences with different products.

Resources

• Synthetic deck materials