What Are Composites?

Most of the alternative decking materials sold are “composite” blends of approximately 50% waste wood or sawdust and 50% plastic polyethylene or polypropylene resin. The plastic can come from many sources including waste milk containers, plastic grocery bags and pallet shrink wrap. While Composites are a good use of waste materials and have many advantages over traditional wood surfaces, they have several shortcomings that homeowners should understand.

The wood in composites is the weak link in the performance chain of a deck surface.

• Inconsistency. Because many types of waste wood and plastic are used, composites tend to be inconsistent in color and performance from batch to batch.
• The wood fibers that are exposed to the elements are subject to the elements and the environment.

• Fading - Many composite products caution consumers that their products will fade and “weather” in just a few short weeks after installation. In other words, a composite deck will start to look “old” in a short period of time.

• Stain absorption- Composite decks can rapidly absorb stains during use – suntan lotions, red wine and other spills can leave blotchy marks on your deck. These stains can be treated and often removed – but do you really want that maintenance step?
  

  A typical composite deck after a few months has faded and stained.

• Internal mold & mildew. While mold and mildew can grow on almost any damp surface, these invaders can actually eat away at the wood fibers in a composite deck. They require special cleaners and scrubbing to remove them.

• Moisture absorption . Composite decks installed in wet or damp areas can absorb moisture and swell. This swelling can distort your deck and jeopardize its structural integrity.
  

  Composite deck that has stained and warped after absorbing moisture

• Not Maintenance Free! Explore the websites of any composite deck manufacturer. Extensive space is allocated to fixes for these problems. Homeowners are advised to stain their decks to restore their original color, to purchase special cleaners to remove stains and mildew, and to protect the decks from excessive moisture.
• Composites cannot keep the promise of preserving color & finish with no maintenance. But TanDeck can!

TanDeck keeps the promise of a low maintenance deck that will keep its new look for years and years.