Are Vinyl Decking Boards Good?

Preferences

• The choice of vinyl deck boards for decking material is usually based upon lifestyle. For instance, if you live in a suburban setting and have a vinyl-sided home, then a vinyl deck is a good choice. With many colors and options, vinyl decks can provide years of use with limited to no maintenance. Choose deck colors to contrast or complement home colors to make bold landscaping statements.

Manufacture

• People usually group vinyl deck boards and composite deck boards into the same category, but they are made differently. Manufacturers make composite deck boards from recycled or reclaimed plastics and wood or other organic materials. Vinyl deck-board manufacture consists of extruding plastics into board shapes; no wood is involved. Vinyl deck boards will have a much longer life than composite materials, as it takes many years for these plastic materials to show any wear. Vinyl boards are good to use when you don't want additional work keeping a deck looking sharp.

Decisions

• When considering a deck addition to your home, look at all the options. Review your lifestyle; the design of your home; its placement, such as whether it’s in the city or country; and the statement you want to make with your living space. Vinyl is definitely easier to maintain and provides the same look year in and year out. If you have no time for outside maintenance, but want the option of an outdoor living space a deck provides, then vinyl boards would be a sensible choice.

Board Type

• Review the top manufacturers of vinyl and composite decking and make comparisons; most of these manufacturers maintain websites with product information. Since these deck materials cost much more than wood, examine the warranties, the installation requirements and the added materials needed to complete the installation. Estimate the costs, including installation materials, and compare. Deck size also drives the cost up. If you’re building a small deck with a hot tub next to it, vinyl deck boards might be a good choice. Pools and hot tubs work well with vinyl decks because the chlorinated water usually doesn't affect the deck’s appearance; wood may experience some bleaching and discoloration from the water used in pools and hot tubs.