Don't Fret the Deck
Simple solutions for a long lasting deck that’s as easy on the eyes as it is on the checkbook.
By Shannon Larsen

There are just two things the homeowner wants to know when purchasing a deck: what are my choices, and how much will it cost? Routine maintenance, additional coatings and the deck’s lifespan are all things assumed to be part of some magical all-inclusive warranty. With the new advancements in decking technology, builders are finding it easier than ever to keep up with the homeowner’s expectations.

Where high-maintenance originates
“As a former HOA manager, I saw first-hand how ignoring maintenance on waterproof decks could be very expensive,” says Bill Leys, president of WaterProofDeckCoatingAdvice.com. “All waterproof coatings need to be renewed, sometimes as often as every two to three years. Even though the deck may look pretty good and the paint is still there, by year three, there is little protection afforded to the under layer.”
As a general rule, soft deck coatings — urethanes, elastomerics and floating systems — will need maintenance more frequently than hard concrete-based deck coatings. They have a better chance of failing prematurely if they are not maintained as recommended, with concrete-based systems allowing the most forgiveness.

Urethanes and slip-sheet systems also share an unfavorable commonality — UV breakdown. And since urethanes can’t prevent cracking from occurring at plywood seams, urethane manufacturers will use fiberglass tape to reduce the seams from telegraphing through the finish — often with dubious results. Slip-sheet systems typically crack at flashing attachment points. Add in a heavy item on the deck, such as a wine barrel planter, and the slip-sheet is prevented from moving properly — leading to costly stress cracks.

An equally major consideration when choosing a deck coating is vapor transmission; urethanes and slip-sheet coatings are unable to “breathe” moisture out through the coating and require vents or specialized costly flashing that allows vapor transmission. Since water can get under a coating via many different sources and create an ideal breeding ground for mold, the life of the deck greatly depends upon moisture management.

Metal lath deck systems
The good news is that decking technology is finally catching up and making these issues more of a thing of the past.

The recently introduced Desert Crete® by Hill Brothers Co. is one such coating that won’t break down from UV degradation, carries a Class A fire rating and has an additional two years on the standard deck coating systems before resealing is needed. Requiring approximately the same installation time as other systems, Desert Crete is a double-reinforced coating with metal lath and fiberglass acting as an anti-fracture membrane.
Similar metal lath deck systems are manufactured by LifeDeck, Plydeck, Mirthcoat, Duracoat and Multicoat.

The money matter
The older deck-covering systems are also no longer financially feasible when compared to newer materials. The cost of urethane, which previously served as the economic route, has risen with the fluctuating cost of petroleum.

“A typical deck coating system with 1,000 square feet needing to be resealed every three years, at the average cost of $2 per square foot, will cost $2,000 each time,” Leys comments. “If the lifespan of the coating is 30 years, you will need to reseal that deck 10 times over the duration. The maintenance cost on that one deck will add up to $20,000; add that into the initial cost of the purchase, and you have the true cost of ownership.

“Now compare that with a metal lath system, with the same sizes and costs, but you only have to reseal the coating every five years — or six times over 30 years. The savings are anywhere from $8,000 to $12,000 less in total reserves costs.”

The popular alternative
Designed to extinguish the problems of typical wood decking, composite decks tend to cost a little a more upfront but have big future pay-offs. While the initial claims that composites never need staining or maintenance have proved to be slightly grandiose, the manufacturers of composite decks are constantly improving on their products — and it’s apparent in the marketplace.

“Composite decking is currently around 12 to 15 percent of the decking market,” says Dick Gauthier, vice president of marketing for Universal Forest Products, or UFP, the nation’s leading manufacturer of wood and wood-alternative products.

Royal Crown Limited’s Advanced Decking System is one option for low-maintenance construction. Made from less wood fiber than is used in traditional composites, the product is aimed at addressing the complaints seen with some composites.

“Composites have received a bit of a bad name due to product failures like staining and color change — a result of the wooden part of the product,” says Deron Manwaring, national marketing and sales manager for Royal Crown Limited. “Our product uses only about 10 to 15 percent wood fiber and then encapsulates those fibers in cellular PVC that is then finished with a vinyl cap.”

And after all, when it all boils down, what beats out a beautiful wood deck better than a superior fake?

Shannon Larsen is an editor of Residential Contractor magazine. She may be reached via e-mail at slarsen@penpubinc.com.