Composite Deck Installation Insights and Information
Explore what makes composite decking a superior building option from Ontario's premier deck builders for over 20 years.
What makes a composite deck a superior choice for your project?
Composite deck boards combine wood fibers and polymers in engineered profiles that greatly outperform traditional lumber. Leading brands design their caps and cores for extreme durability. For example, composite deck boards carry a capped composite shell that resists fading and will change color by no more than 5 Delta E (CIE) units under UV exposure. Composite decking also meets stringent structural ratings: boards are able to span 16 inches with a 100 psf live load and handle stair loads of up to 750 psf (300 lbf on 4 in²). ICC reports confirm composite decks are as durable as pressure-treated lumber (resisting decay, termites and fungus) and perform from –20 °F to +125 °F. In practical terms, composite decks won’t split, splinter or rot, and maintain strength in freezing Canadian winters as well as in summer heat.
Composite deck boards similarly are also able to use 4‐sided polymer caps and inorganic cores for moisture and UV resistance. Its capped composites (and PVC boards) feature advanced materials science that keep boards up to 30 °F cooler in sun than older composites. This cooler surface is safer on feet and pets. Advanced composite deck board products include 50-year fade and stain warranties, and boast superior moisture resistance (being 100% polymer with no wood flour). Independent testing confirms capped composites won’t split, splinter, or rot and require only soap-and-water cleaning. In effect, composite decks do not absorb water like wood and resist mold/mildew and UV chalking long-term.
Are there specialized types of composite deck boards?
In some cases, composite deck boards use a 4‑sided cap of polymers over a high-recycled-content core. For example, rice-husk composites are proven to resist water penetration, so a deck will not mold, rot, or swell. All color ranges are fade and stain resistant under manufacturer-specific limited warranties. Composite deck boards can also incorporate “heat blocking technology” for cooler surfaces, giving consumers a more durable board than basic composites, with minimal maintenance.
Depending on the manufacturer, composite decking also employs an ASA capstock (“COLORWATCH100”) to maximize UV stability. Materials are moisture, mold and mildew resistant, making them ideal for humid or coastal climates. Composite deck boards of this type resist rotting, delaminating, splitting and cracking under normal conditions. An ICC evaluation confirms that composite decks are equivalent to treated wood in durability, with use validated from –20 °F to 125 °F. Composite deck boards also minimize water absorption, so even heavy rains or poolside moisture have little effect. Structurally, composite deck boards that are either grooved or solid boards span 16″ at 100 psf and allow 12″ stair-tread spans, matching industry standards. Fastening tests show that composite boards of this type with hidden‐clip systems achieve ~100 psf wind uplift resistance.
Let's work together on your next decking project! With 20+ years of experience, we're proudly Ontario's premiere composite deck builders.
Composite decking is superior to other decking types as it can also be co-extruded in a polymer shell with UV stabilizers. These boards are engineered to be stronger than wood; laboratory data show a flexural modulus ~3700 MPa and impact resistance in the tens of J/m. Like other top composites, these types are dimensionally stable (thermal expansion ~3.2×10⁻⁵ in/in·°C) and its polymer cap dramatically slows UV oxidation. This grants the material the ability to be designed to resist fading, although no product is entirely fade‐proof, which is typical of all polymers.
Finally, premium composite decks use high-grade cellular PVC with advanced surface finishes. This technology uses a “Kynar Aquatec® coating for superstar UV protection” and a locking design rated for winds over 210 mph. By extension, this type of decking similarly relies on multi-layer UV‐shielded polymer caps: you gain essentially no water absorption, no rot, and near-zero maintenance. In sum, composite decks from these manufacturers share key technical advantages: virtually no rot or warping, superior UV and stain stability, broad temperature tolerance, and structural strength on par with (or better than) the best treated-wood systems. For Canadian climates (cold winters and intense sun) composites like these offer a long-lasting, low‐maintenance deck that won’t split, decay or fade for decades.
Professional work
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Happy clients
We always strive to leave our customers satisfied. See what our clients have to say about us here.
We deliver composite deck projects on-time and on-budget.
Free estimates with detailed, written quotes.
Written five year warranty on all workmanship.
Pre-job inspection provided with installation.
Collaboratively designed, professionally engineered.
Direct phone/e-mail/SMS access to site supervisor.
Managed building permits for each project.
Areas we service.
We are happy to service nearly all major Ontario municipalities, including the GTHA, Kingston, Trenton, and more. For information on services provided for each municipality, please see below.
What do our customers have to say?
With a 98% satisfaction rating on HomeStars, we strive to uphold the highest standard of work in our industry, and our commitment to excellence is reflected in the experiences of our valued customers.
Tasha - Toronto, Ontario
I would highly recommend Modern Decks, Alan is very professional and highly skilled in building above average quality decks with a very modern look. I appreciate the dedication in completing the work despite rainy weather conditions and the time taken afterwards ensuring everything was cleaned up. I am extremely satisfied with my deck!
Catherine - Bowmanville, Ontario
Alan and his team are the most professional contractors I have come across. The quality of workmanship is superb and the customer service is exceptional. If you are looking to install a fence or deck with no hidden charges and costs and a company that will actually show up on the date and time agreed upon, look no further.