There are many reasons why KAYU Hardwood Decking is a superior choice to composite decking for your new outdoor living space. This article describes just a few reasons why making the choice between a beautiful KAYU Hardwood Deck and a synthetic deck is much easier than you may have previously thought.
Composite Decking is Not Maintenance-Free
There is a myth that composite decking is maintenance free and will last forever. Several lawsuits have been filed over the years, where several customers alleged that mold, mildew and other black spots developed on their “maintenance free” decks. The composite decking companies claimed their decking products, made of wood and plastic composite material required only sporadic cleaning to stay attractive and had no need for sanding, painting or refinishing.
Composite decking is susceptible to mold problems since the wood used is normally left-over, “pulp” (small wood particles) that is of species not proven for outdoor durability such as KAYU Batu or KAYU DRM (Dark Red Meranti). When this black mold forms it is a health factor and will need to be replaced. In turn, your composite deck will last forever… in a landfill.
Composite Decks Cannot be Refinished
Mold and mildew are not the only means to send your synthetic decking straight to the dump. There are many other means for it to get replaced much faster than the average consumer would think. For one, composite decks cannot be refinished. KAYU Hardwood Decking, with its amazing quality and high density (Decking Density Comparison Guide) can be enjoyed by future generations with just with a little refinish work every few years.
Once a composite deck wears, it shows. Scratches, discoloration and stains cannot be fixed. Your four or five year old deck will simply look like a four or five year old deck. If a new looking deck is your wish, you will simply have to toss the old one and buy a new one.
Composite Decking Cannot be Reused or Recycled
The environment is another important determinant when shopping for exterior decking. Automatically people are led to believe decking made from recycled materials is going to “take the cake” environmentally. However, as previously mentioned, because composite decking is generally made of a mixture of wood pulp and synthetic material, the material cannot be reused. If your tastes and preferences change the deck will end up with other plastic bags in the landfill similar to the ones it was once created from.
With KAYU Hardwood Decking, simple maintenance will keep it looking new for decades. If, however there ever is a reason for the deck to be taken out, the material can be reused, burned as firewood or taken to a composting facility that chip it and turn it into soil.
Cleaning Composite Decking Requires Harsh Chemicals
Not only is the method of disposal for composite decking less favorable than hardwood decking, the method of cleaning is even worse. Because the tendency for composite decking to grow mold and mildew is higher than hardwood decking, they must be cleaned more often. Before the lawsuits, most composite decking companies stated their products were “maintenance free.” Now days they are listed as “low maintenance” which can even be a stretch. Special cleaners are advised and leave the deck with a grimy residue. They are acidic and only temporarily kill mold and mildew. The environmentally conscious should take note that a simple pressure washer will not do the trick. Plenty of harsh chemicals will be splashing all around your yard.
Nothing Comes Close to the Real Thing: KAYU Premium Hardwood Decking
From this, we can gather that though synthetic decking is good in theory, nothing quite comes close to the real thing. If you want the most superior quality of the real thing, look no farther than the premium hardwoods of KAYU International.
