Monthly Archives: April 2015

Top 3 Tips on Hiring a Decking Professional

Ekologix, April 22nd

composite decking on backyard pool area
Would you like to add a brand new deck to the outside of your home? Is this something that you can do on your own? Many people believe that the least expensive way to go about creating a deck is to purchase the tools, lumber, and use their limited expertise in order to create one, but you can find that this may cost you more money. Trial and error means that you will buy more supplies such as screws, nails, and, of course, the decking that you will recut as you make mistakes. If you want something that will truly stand out and will take the least amount of time, hiring a decking professional is a wise decision. Here are some tips on how you can hire a professional that can install your deck for the lowest possible price:

Overview of What a Deck Is

Most people understand what a deck is, simply an outside piece of architecture attached to your home that adds functionality and aesthetic appeal. Most people barbecue out on their deck, accessing it through a sliding glass door, and entering and exiting on the outside via an attached staircase to the unit. Decks are typically made of real wood, although synthetic materials can also be used. It is often elevated above the ground, allowing people to access it from the first or second story of their home, and is constructed outdoors. Some of them have a covering so that even if it is raining or snowing, people can still go out on their deck. Most decks are made of composite or treated lumber, using mahogany, teak, or Western Red Cedar in order to get that very familiar appearance. Composite decks are made of wood or bamboo and plastic, or WPC (Wood Plastic Composite). Although this may seem straightforward, it is not the material that is confusing, nor the actual appearance of the structure, but putting it all together. Let's now look at how you can find the best professional in your area that can competently and affordably install your ideal deck.

Finding a Professional to Construct Your Deck

Decking Installers usually advertise their services in the local paper, on the Internet, and if they are large enough, in national magazines. Decks are big business, especially for homes that are newly built, helping to add to the overall property value. Expert installers can bring together a crew of able-bodied veterans that can work together to create this structure very quickly. Regardless of the material that is used, the height of the deck, or whether or not you would like an overhang, they can complete this project in a minimal amount of time, something that you probably cannot do on your own. Here are four tips on choosing the best company in your local area that can create your deck:
  1. The first thing to do after finding an assortment of these contractors and business owners is to check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against them, something that can definitely be a deciding factor.
  2. Second, ask people that you know that have recently had a deck installed. Check their quality of work, and how happy your friends or family members are; you can use this personal information to make your decision.
  3. Finally, if you have determined that they are a reliable company but do not know of anyone that has recently had a deck installed, you can visit their websites and check their portfolio of previous works. This will help you to see what they are capable of doing, and how it conforms to the ideas that you have about your dream deck.
Once you have a couple of them in mind, get a few estimates from these companies and choose the one that will not only be able to build this for you on your schedule, but will save you the most money. If you do have some experience in contracting, and you have built a deck before, this is a weekend project that you might want to consider doing on your own. However, if you would like to have this done in the shortest amount of time, and you do have a budget to work with, a professional that installs decks on a regular basis is the best way to go. No matter what type of material that you want to use, they should be able to easily utilize the lumber or PET plastic that you would like to use for your deck. The final product will look exactly like what you had in mind, and will be to your liking, if you have used the three tips in this article for hiring a decking professional.

PVC vs. Composite Decking: Which is better?

Ekologix, April 8th

outdoor composite decking

Decking materials come in various types of shapes, materials, and sizes. While some people still maintain their loyalty to the traditional wood, other people want to explore the differences in the newer style of woods. However, prior to exploring these alternative sources of wood, you must consider a variety of factors.

In this article, we will explore the makeup of the composite decking and PVC decking. This will include a comparison of the pros and cons of each type of decking to ensure you’ll make an educated choice.

What is PVC Decking?

The materials used in the PVC decking are more of a polyvinyl chloride. It is a wood plastic composite decking material. Its shape is like a piece of wood. However, this is a plastic type of polymer that has the durability and lifetime of plastic.

Pros of PVC

Ability to endure a large amount of foot traffic is a big pro of the PVC decking. When you host a lot of parties, you may not think about the foot traffic that can ruin your wooden decking, but it can. However, the PVC is made to withstand the foot traffic, and it will not wear out as quickly as what people expect. So, this means you do not have to replace the decking often.

Most of the time, a wooden deck is limited to a single type of wood. However, with the PVC decking, you can make it into a different styles.

Cons of PVC

The sunlight’s UV rays can damage the PVC over time. Damage causes fading or colour problems. With this issue coming up, you often have to replace the boards to guarantee the deck looks great over time.

What is Composite Decking?

This is the other type of decking that we are going to cover. The composite decking is made up of a blend of materials. The materials blended are the reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. This makes this decking green and does less harm to the environment.

Pros of Composite Decking

Eco-friendliness is a great pro of the composite decking. Since this deck uses recycled materials, it can be considered a green deck. So, it will not create any major negative impact on the environment.

The strength and look of the deck are other features that people enjoy with the composite decking. While most people think these decks are weaker because of the materials used to make them, they need to realize this is not always the case. In fact, this decking often has the same strength, if not more as the traditional wood decking. Also, this decking, like the PVC, offers the option for people for selection of different types of wood styles.

Cons of Composite Decking

Scratches can appear in the composite decking over time. These scratches need to be fixed, or the deck could start to fall apart and have a bad look. The weather condition and storms can cause scratches. Also, not lifting the patio furniture properly when it is moved onto the deck can cause scratches.

A new deck is a great way to add value to your home. However, you need to know that decks vary depending on the materials used and the purpose. So, before installing a deck in your home, take time to compare the PVC and composite decking to determine which is better and suitable for you.