Cedar Deck Boards

Cedar deck boards are absolutely gorgeous. However, in 2010, are there products that look almost as good but last longer and require less maintenance? Cedar is a great wood for decking boards, very hardy and with a finish it is has a formidable barrier. A water-repellent sealant, a preservative, is what cedar soaks up and loves but is must be applied by hand on the deck boards. There is an oil-based stain that is almost as good on cedar. Both of these solutions protect against water absorption from their decking board.

Trex deck boards have been around for about a decade now. It is made out of a wood-polymer hybrid combination and it has proven itself in all different types of environments. Unlike cedar deck boards, which are 100 percent wood, Trex is just 50 percent wood deck board according to its weight. What is special about this is that it is a green product, it is not cheap decking boards and what makes Trex environmentally sound is that is maintains the same plastic bags that you see at stores. These bags are on their second go round; they have been recycled so they are not overwhelming our landfills. This is ingenious. This is why there is little maintenance because half of Trex is comprised of plastic decking boards. The decking boards of Trex require no sealant whatsoever, no weatherproofing, which is just spectacular. Trex never cracks or breaks apart, no splinters either. Termites really cannot tear it up, moisture is never really a concern and you do not have to worry about breaking your wrist or tail bone via slipping since Trex decking boards can grip your shoes pretty well.

Composite deck boards are competitive with Trex in that they require little maintenance. They will never warp but they are a little tedious to install. There are not any necessary reasons to lay down a layer of sealant either. Composite decking boards are not too expensive, about the same price as Cedar, around $20 per sq. foot. Vinyl decking is around $16 per sq. foot. Tropical hardwoods are pretty pricy at around $23 per sq. foot, which could be the highest in decking board prices. So, since composite deck board requires little maintenance, it may be the superior choice compared to Cedar.

Trex may have met its match as well as cedar deck boards. The party does not last indefinitely. This is not plastic deck boards but it is not cedar either. It is called fiberglass reinforced plastic or FRP. It looks great and lasts longer than anything on the market. This could be the future of decking, but will the wood purists ever switch over? Can it match Trex’s hybrid system and innovative green aspect?

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,