Do your porch, deck or railings need a long-awaited upgrade? If you currently have wooden banisters it’s probably been a while since they’ve been refurbished. Now it’s time for an upgrade and there are so many options for materials to choose from.
Composite & PVC Options
Composite decking has been trending as one of the leading materials used for outdoor construction. It is an equal parts combination of wood and plastic. One competitor of the composite material that is often overlooked is called PVC. This is a vinyl-adjacent material that is made up entirely of recycled plastic. It’s created to be durable and can easily be manipulated to use for various projects. Additionally, it has a very sleek and modern look that’s guaranteed to boost your home’s curb appeal.
Significantly Less Maintenance
Wood is a very high-maintenance material. It needs a lot of love and care that most people don’t have the time for, and weather plays a big role in its upkeep. Unfortunately, the seasons in New England aren’t very forgiving, causing wood to rot, warp, and splinter. However, PVC is a great replacement material that requires less than half of the maintenance needed for wood.
No Painting Required
Though it’s been proven that paint can significantly boost your curb appeal, when you install PVC boards you automatically skip the painting part. PVC can be ordered in a variety of different colors so there is no need to paint or stain anything. When wood is painted, it often loses its clean look pretty quickly. It might bubble, chip, or peel due to weather or other factors. PVC on the other hand has a sleek, shiny, coat that not even a Nor’Easter could destroy. In addition to painting or staining, wood has to be sanded and sealed – PVC doesn’t require that kind of maintenance.
No Pressure Washing
As the Summer season approaches, do you dread the day you have to pressure wash your deck and railings? Are you sick of spending hours outside wasting water trying to make post-winter wood look brand new? PVC is the answer to your problems.
Any outdoor structure that you choose to build using PVC as opposed to wood doesn’t need to be cleaned as often or as thoroughly. You can switch your pressure washer out for a garden hose and enjoy the simple task that is rinsing off your deck or railings. Not only will it take a fraction of the time as pressure washing wood, but it will indeed look brand new when you’re done.
Longer Lifespan
PVC decking, railings, and other construction can last upwards of 25 years with minimal upkeep. The materials used for PVC are deliberately chosen to make the boards as strong and long-lasting as possible. They’re entirely synthetic and essentially resistant to all weather types as well as rot. Wood on the other hand tends to last anywhere from 10-15 years. That may still seem like a long time, but that estimate includes rigorous upkeep every season, and the regular replacement of cracked, splintering, or molded boards.
Making the switch from wood to composite or PVC material is just what you need to keep your space looking fresh for longer.
