Have an Existing Wood Deck? You May Want to Resurface with a Composite Deck
By now, it’s fairly well established that composite decking generally outperforms traditional wood decks when it comes to longevity, durability, and maintenance. However, many homeowners may hesitate due to the overall costs. For those with an existing wood deck, however, it may be possible to resurface your deck with composite—a highly cost-effective solution.
At Xtreme Exteriors, our team has custom-built countless composite decks over the years. In that time, we’ve also helped homeowners find cost-effective solutions like resurfacing to build the deck of their dreams while meeting their financial needs. Here’s how resurfacing your deck with composite may be the right choice to upgrade your existing deck.
What Does It Mean to Resurface a Deck with Composite Materials?
Much like other portions of your home’s exterior, such as your roof or your siding, your deck is best thought of as a complete system. In addition to the surface decking, it also includes various supports, framing, railings, and more.
Resurfacing a deck refers to a service where your deck builder installs new surface material over the original boards. They may or may not fully remove the existing decking, depending on its condition. This process can revitalize the deck and extend its life by many years.
What homeowners may not realize, however, is that it’s often possible to composite decking when resurfacing even if the original deck was made of wood. This can bring many of the benefits of composite decking at a lower price.
Can My Deck Be Resurfaced?
Not all decks will be a good candidate for resurfacing. Ultimately, it will depend on the condition of the various critical components of your deck’s existing structure.
When evaluating whether a deck can be resurfaced, your deck builder will inspect the entire decking system. In particular, they’ll check support beams and frames, posts, joists, footings, and more to ensure the supporting framework of the deck is in good condition.
This is done to ensure that resurfacing the deck will truly be cost-effective. After all, if you resurface your deck with composite but the wood framework begins to fail after a few years, the entire system will then need to be replaced.
Pros and Cons of Resurfacing a Deck with Composite Materials
While building a new deck is more commonly recommended, there are several advantages to resurfacing an existing deck. For one, it’s generally more cost-effective, as it requires fewer materials and the process is quicker. Rather than planning out a full custom deck, your deck builder will simply install the material over your existing decking or replace it with the new material.
In addition, when you resurface a wood deck with composite materials, you gain the advantages that composite decking provides, including resistance to damage and rot, supreme customizability, and greater longevity.
There are still potential drawbacks, however. For one, while resurfacing your deck is a longer-term solution than a repair, this still won’t last as long as building a completely new deck.
Additionally, problems could arise if your deck is not a good candidate for resurfacing but is resurfaced anyway. If this happens, the framework of your deck may begin to fail long before the surface decking, necessitating a full replacement.
This is why it’s always crucial to choose a deck builder with a long track record and superior expertise. A seasoned professional will complete a thorough inspection and make sure the framework of your deck is in excellent condition before recommending resurfacing.
Xtreme Exteriors: The Midwest’s Leading Composite Deck Builder
At Xtreme Exteriors, our experienced team of deck builders has perfected the composite deck building process. Resurfacing your deck can be an effective option if your deck is a good candidate, but a thorough inspection must be completed before we can recommend this option.
If you’re looking to extend the life of your deck with new composite materials, our team is ready to make it happen! Reach out to our team to book an inspection or find an Xtreme Exteriors location near you:
Nixa, MO | Shawnee, KS | Rogers, AR | Pittsburg, KS | Goodlettsville, TN
