Vinyl decking has become really popular lately owning to its flexibility and low cost. Vinyl is an artificial substance that has two advantages over traditional hardwood – its easy to clean, and does not require daily cleaning.
Like hardwood decking, vinyl too is quite strong and can withstand a large range of temperatures. It doesn’t crack, decompose or decay easily. It can stand a lot of moisture, so if you live in a rainy area, you can rest assured that your decking won’t decay and rot (vinyl is water proof by nature).
Besides, vinyl decking is also comparatively safer as it doesn’t have any edges or nails sticking out. This is something that you should keep in mind if you have young children in the house.
Vinyl decks are pre-modelled and you can order them for any particular size that suits your requirement. The planks are usually patterened after wood or some other natural substance. Most manufacturers will have a plethora of options to choose from and you can even pick out a custom pattern that goes well with the overall theme of the house.
A great advantage of vinyl decking is that it is relatively very easy to install. While wood decks require professional expertise and can take a few days to weeks to install, a vinyl deck can be up and running in no time (keep in mind that these come pre-modelled). The other advantage is that you can get it in any color or pattern, unlike hardwood which has only a fixed pallette.
But of course, there are some disadvantages too. For one, it can give your deck a cold, artificial feeling. Nothing can really replace wood, which gives a natural warmth. Vinyl decking can end up looking very artificial, as something of an after-thought, detracting from the overall look of the house.
On the other hand, vinyl decking is more environment friendly than wood since it is usually made from recycled materials. So if you are environment conscious, this makes a good choice, even though most of the hardwood used in decking nowadays is sourced from ecologically managed forests.
Vinyl is a great alternative to hardwood decking and you should definitely consider it, especially if you want a custom pattern or color and don’t want all the hassle associated with wood.