How to Choose Composite Decking

Are you on a tight budget?

Composite decking costs $3 to $7 per sq. ft. ($1.50 to $5 per lin. ft.). Most lumberyards and home centers stock at least one or two brands and can special order others. Most brands of the basic composites are similar and will perform just fine. The differences come down to variations in design, colors, mix of plastic and wood, installation systems and texture. If you're OK with a limited palette of colors; a simple, repetitive grain pattern; and a smooth or combed finish, you'll find a variety of low maintenance, lower-cost products that meet your needs. Composite decking usually comes in 12-, 16- and 20-ft. planks, and railing components in 12- and 16-ft. increments. Planning your deck design around these measurements can save you money and cut waste. You can also keep your costs down by using a system that installs with face screws (rather than hidden fasteners) and building rails from wood.

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Set and Nail Decking Perfectly

Lay your first board along a chalk line
Set the first board along a chalk line to start straight. Then sight down the boards occasionally to make sure they're staying straight. If they're not, vary the size of the gap between boards gradually over a few rows as needed to straighten them.  Measure an equal distance in from each end of the deck, allowing for an overhang (if desired), and snap a chalk line as a guide for the first row of decking. Align the first row with the chalk line and nail or screw the boards to the joists. Then use spacers at each joist to keep the gap between boards consistent and to keep the boards running straight. Sixteen-penny nails are about the right size for spacing deck boards. But sight down your boards occasionally as well. You can easily spot when a board is off.

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Easy Deck Inspection and Deck Repair Tips

Check for lag screws in ledger board

The ledger board holds up the end of the deck that's against the house. If the ledger isn't well fastened, the deck can simply fall off the house. A building inspector we talked with said the most common problem with DIY decks is ledger boards not properly fastened to the house. For a strong connection, a ledger needs 1/2-in. x 3-in. lag screws (or lag bolts if you have access from the inside to fasten the washers and nuts) driven every 16 in. This ledger board was fastened mostly with nails instead of lag screws (and no washers).

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