Colorado gets plenty of wet, windy, and cold weather. While a winter wonderland makes for great snowmobiling and skiing, it is not a friend to decking materials.
Harsh winter weather full of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice is extremely hard on deck flooring. A snow-capped mountain makes for some frosty fun, but a powder-filled deck can cause damage to your decking boards.
Come rain, snow, sleet, or hail, maintaining a deck is a lot of work. While natural wood is an excellent decking option, you must be prepared to put in the time, money, and energy to safeguard that raw wood. Regular maintenance is necessary to preserve the function, strength, and durability of a natural wood deck.
For this reason, a deck made of composite materials is now a popular choice amongst Colorado homeowners. Not only is a composite deck strong and sturdy year round, it is also designed to withstand the impact of wintry precipitation with little maintenance requirements.
What is a Composite Deck?
You might hear composite decking referred to as composite wood decking or wood-plastic composite decking. This is because composite decking materials are made of a combination of natural and artificial materials. The specialized blend of both wood fibers and plastic fillers gives composite decks their unique qualities.
Why is Composite Decking Winter-Friendly?
Composite decks can tolerate winter weather for numerous reasons, including:
Composite materials don’t expand and contract like natural wood.
When wood is exposed to moisture or humidity, it expands. When wood begins to lose that moisture content, it shrinks. Heat also expands raw wood, and cooling contracts it.
Wood shifts and moves as a result of these changes, which can disturb the look and function of a natural wood deck. Composite materials do not respond to moisture and temperature like raw wood does. Composite materials are stable and sturdy through all the weather changes Colorado can dish out.
Composite materials are water-resistant and rot-resistant.
Moisture and humidity contribute to mold, mildew, algae, and fungus growth on raw wood. Fungus growth leads to wood rot, decay, and decomposition, which results in a damaged and dangerous deck. Fungus overgrowth breaks down the density and integrity of wood, making it lose its strength and stability.
While raw wood soaks in moisture, composite decking repels it. Colorado residents know how wet winter gets, and composite decking will not break down when the going gets tough.
Plus, composite decks are slip-resistant. Mold and mildew accumulation make the surface of a wood deck slippery, but the rot-resistant properties of composite decking protect a deck from becoming an ice-rink of slime and goo.
Composite decking does not crack, splinter, and warp.
When exposed to harsh weather, natural wood can twist and splinter due to moisture overload or fungus growth. This reduces the safety and security of your deck, and it also creates a splinter nightmare.
If you want a safe deck that won’t tear up tiny toes and bare feet, a composite deck is for you. When the snow melts away and spring emerges, your composite deck will be ready to go without the risk of splinters.
Composite decking products do not need a stain or sealant to upkeep the surface.
Wood decks require regular applications of stain or sealant to avoid weather-related damage.
The reason composite products are low maintenance is because of its water-resistant and rot-resistant attributes. Wood decks need protection, while composite decking materials come already protected.
Composite decking makes snow removal a breeze.
Snow storms are inevitable during a Colorado winter. Although composite decking is some of the strongest material out there, it is important to shovel off snow buildup every so often. Snow is heavy and wet, and no type of decking boards are completely invisible.
Fortunately, composite decks are easy to clean. All you need is a plastic-tipped shovel. Composite decks are a level, flat surface, so clearing away snow is a smooth process. With wood decks, homeowners tend to catch their shovels on wood that is cracked, broken, or splintered.
A Composite Deck in Colorado is the Way to Go
Building a deck is a big investment. When considering what type of material to use, it is important to select a material that is right for your region.
Yes, proper maintenance and upkeep of a wood deck will go a long way, but a composite deck will be able to weather those Colorado storms with no problem. Whether you want to construct a new deck or need to replace an old one, consider a composite deck for your next home project.
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One of the best things about composite lumber decking and fencing is that they can withstand Colorado’s harsh winter weather. With temperatures below freezing, strong winds, rain, snow, hail, and other types of precipitation, it’s essential to have a lumber product on your property that can handle all of these things.
