I met Rob Foster (the writer & composite decking expert) on twitter… thank-you tweets! His point of view resonated with me as he offers a great solution to a problem many rehab-ers face when it comes to decking. In fact, yours truly (that’s me) contemplated replacing a deck of my own only 4 months ago. Rather than replacing the deck however, I chose to replace some of the planks. While I used your traditional wood, Rob articulates the benefits of composites or PVC boards.
New Life to an Old Deck: Replank vs. New Build
Is your old deck starting to show its age from years of harsh weather and heavy traffic? The first solution that might come to mind is rebuilding a new deck, but in today’s economy, an entire rebuild of your deck might not be in your budget. It also may be unnecessary. One of the best ways to give an old deck the “facelift” it needs is by replacing the older wooden planks with alternative decking materials such as composites or PVC boards.
Replacing warped or cracked wood planks with composite decking materials not only saves the time and money of a rebuild in the short-term, but it offers many long-term benefits. According to Remodeling Magazine’s “2008 Cost vs. Value Report”, composite decking products recoup almost 74 percent of their cost.
Low Maintenance: Hello!
Composite products are low maintenance because they resist sun and water damage, which makes continual sanding, painting and sealing a chore of the past. Planks come in variety of designs and color choices and some emulate the authentic look of natural wood.
Many products are designed to work with a hidden fastening system. These hidden fasteners help secure each plank onto the deck’s substructure creating a smooth, fastener-free, beautiful and safe surface.
Replanking can be a time and money-saving alternative for many deck owners looking to revitalize an old deck, but it is not a solution for everyone. Contact a licensed professional to inspect your deck to see if your existing structure is up to code for replanking. Some older decks may need more than just replanking. They may require an entire structural rebuild to ensure safety and durability. If a rebuild is in your deck’s future, consider a company such as TimberTech (www.timbertech.com) for a number of interactive design tools to help bring your deck to life!
[...] a revived expanse in the process! Expert Rob Foster tells us how. Originally posted here: Replanking SOME of your deck… spend instance and money! | Renovation Junky Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: and-create, composite, custom-decks, Decks, foster, [...]