manufacturers continue to push the limits of composite decking technology

Wondering what is new with composite decking in 2017 and beyond?  We were and what we found is interesting.

Just when you thought everything that could be done in the synthetic decking materials was done, think again.  The refinements to the composite decking sector just keep coming. 

One of the common complaints about composite decking has been its tendency to retain heat from direct sunlight. The other issue has been around the surface finishes. 

We talked to one of the top guns in the business who spends his days trying to solve these challenges.

About The Author

Brent Gwatney is Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing for MoistureShield composite decking and serves on the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) board of directors.  Brent has kindly offered to share his expert knowledge to our DecksGo visitors about the benefits of using the latest advanced composite decking materials.

Brent, take it away...

Advanced surface heat reduction

A common complaint with composite decking is that it becomes too hot in direct sun or during extended hot, dry periods. This can mean having to hot-foot it across the deck in bare feet, and to keep children and pets off since their feet are more sensitive.

While any dark colored decking absorbs sunlight, and can heat-up, composites are denser than traditional wood decking, leading to some products becoming uncomfortably hot.

Though this issue was originally thought to be a greater concern in hotter climates such as the Sun Belt, cooler regions in the north have expressed great concern over the issue, too. With fewer sunny days in the year to enjoy their deck as an outdoor retreat, northerners do not want to lose outdoor living time due to an over-hot deck.

To address this problem, MoistureShield has pioneered a new type of composite deck board that optimizes heat reflection. Boards made with MoistureShield’s CoolDeck technology absorb up to 35% less heat than conventional capped composites in similar colors. The result is a noticeably lower surface temperature in direct sun. 

Evolution towards customized deck board surface finishes

One of the key advances in composites over the past 20 years is the development of more beautiful boards. Manufacturers have made great strides in producing composite decking with rich colors and striking visual patterns that emulate exotic woods.

The next stage in the evolution of composite aesthetics is the eventual ability for homeowners, builders, or designers to customize the surface appearance of deck boards.

Given the popularity of personalized products, this will likely be an important additional selling point for composites, especially with urban homeowners, who often look for their decks to be an extension of their indoor living spaces.

In another industry first, MoistureShield has developed a new method for finishing the surface of its Vision line of composite deck boards, which is the first step in getting to truly personalized finishes.