PVC vs. Composite Decking

The low-maintenance decking materials currently on the market include hardwoods like ipe and cumaru and metals like aluminum and galvanized steel, but the two most popular are composite and cellular PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Both will save you from your summer staining rituals, but there are differences between them. In fact, there are even differences among particular products made from either material.

The history of plastic decking materials isn’t very long. Trex introduced composite decking — which is an amalgam of plastic and wood — in 1996, and PVC — which is pure plastic — came along in the early 2000s. That’s long enough to have a good idea of the wearability of these products, though, and both compare favorably to wood.

Here are some general points of comparison between PVC vs. composite decking.

Composite Decking

  • Composite decking is a solid color all the way through, so the ends of boards are not as noticeable.
  • Composites are stiffer than PVC decking boards and can span greater distances. The stiffness makes a composite board easier for one person to handle and install and helps hide minor imperfections in the framing.
  • Composites are less slippery than PVC decking boards when wet, which is an important safety concern.
  • You should be able to get at least 20 years of use, depending on the conditions.
  • Expect to pay about $6 per sq. ft. for the decking — not including installation.

PVC Decking

  • Most PVC decking is made from 100 percent plastic—and no wood means no mold or mildew.
  • PVC holds its color, it’s easy to clean and it won’t stain if you spill a little suntan oil or hamburger grease on it.
  • PVC is harder and more scratch-resistant than composite decking, which is good news if you have a large dog or heavy patio furniture.
  • All these benefits don’t come cheap. PVC decking will cost you about $10 per sq. ft. Some companies offer a limited lifetime warranty.

FAQ

How do these decking materials perform in extreme weather?

Owing to their wood content, composite boards have historically been vulnerable to moisture absorption in humid and rainy weather, but contemporary products are usually “capped,” which means they are coated with a moisture-resistant covering to prevent this. In contrast, PVC decking boards contain no wood and have no moisture vulnerability. Both products can easily outlast wood.

In hot, sunny weather, plastic can can get uncomfortably hot, so in this regard there’s no difference between PVC vs. composite decking. Because of their plastic content, both types of boards can warp in extremely hot temperatures, but because of the wood content, composites are less prone to this problem than PVC. You can minimize the effects of warping by following the manufacturer’s best practices during installation.

Which is more eco-friendly?

When comparing composite vs. PVC decking, composites hold a slight edge in eco-friendliness. That’s because many popular composite brands are made from a combination of wood fibers and recycled plastic. By contrast, much of PVC decking is manufactured from virgin plastic instead of recycled materials.

The “green” nature of both products is tempered by the fact that neither readily decomposes. If you don’t recycle old PVC or composite decking into other building projects, and you simply throw it away,  you’re contributing to landfill clog.