I am thinking of replacing my wooden deck with one that requires minimal maintenance. I like the composite decks, but do they still have a heat problem, or has that been resolved?—Ozzie Voortman, via email
Dave Bartnik, the president and founder of Deck Masters of Canada, understands why you’re asking the question. “This has been a hot topic, so to speak, for a long time.”
But wait. What do you mean by composite? “People use the word ‘composite’ like they use the word ‘Kleenex,’ ” says Bartnik. There are actually three broad categories of manufactured decking material. 1) true composite decking—a mix of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and some form of cellulose; for example, sawdust; 2) polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decking; and 3) synthetic decking.
Signs that it’s time to repair or replace your deck
Like almost all materials and surfaces that you might walk on in bare feet (including patio stones, sand, and, yes, wood) manufactured decks can get hot when they’re exposed to the beating sun for hours. This is especially true, of course, if the surface is a dark colour. “That’s why you can fry an egg on the roof of a black car,” says Bartnik.
While synthetic decking has only been on the market for a few years, and there’s less data on how it performs in heat, composite and PVC have been tested in controlled lab settings and IRL, says Bartnik. They perform differently. “Composite absorbs heat continuously and retains it,” he says. “That means the deck could be hotter at 4 p.m. than it is at noon.” Because of its construction, PVC has “similar heat retention properties to wood,” says Bartnik. “It releases heat throughout the day.” Why? Vinyl deck boards have small air bubbles in-side them. “It’s like what you’d see if you cut into an Aero chocolate bar.”
According to research, when tested under full sun, a PVC deck can be 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler, or possibly more, than a composite deck of the same colour, says Bartnik.
How to check your deck for rot
This means PVC may be a better option for you. (It’ll still be less maintenance than wood.) But, if your heart is set on true composite, there is some good news. Manufacturers are developing technology to, if not completely resolve, at least mitigate the decking material’s heat-retaining properties. In fact, last year we Cottage Life–tested-and-approved a line of lumber from MoistureShield. See “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, No Sir!” (Workshop, Aug ’23).
This article was originally published in the August 2024 issue of Cottage Life.
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