Most of the decks we do we consider low maintenance which means you will have to use a garden hose to clean off the dirt once and while. Some salespeople use the term “no maintenance” incorrectly unless you are planning to cover the deck with something it is going to get dirty being outside. The intent of the various sales personnel is that you will have to never stain or paint the product. The popular name brands are Azek, Timbertech, and Trex. There are other brands that the big stores carry which in most cases are made by one of the large companies but re-branded.
If the product is solid, coated or wrapped PVC the technology has improved over the years that it now performs well in our seasonal weather changes. There a few brands that we prefer for many reasons, stock availability, pricing, colour choices, sales & technical support, successful company & product over time and matching colours for other deck products.
Some customers are confused about vinyl, PVC, and composite products. Lumping them all together as one. There are many products that we will not install due to historical problems or concerns. Some customers have bought product and asked us to install it for them but it is not worth the risk of our reputation. Many products easily stain or discolour. You have to ensure you review your choices with a knowledgeable person on the various products.
When we meet clients for the first time and they have requested a low maintenance deck solution our primary goal is to guide the customer through the various products available. The investment you will be making in your deck is significant, and we need you to understand what we are installing for you and why we think it is the best choice for your lifestyle. All brands are not created equal nor are their product lines. We spend countless hours researching deck products and attending trade shows so that we are the most informed and knowledgeable person you will talk to. We will highlight each product’s benefits and you can make an informed decision.
The internet has a lot of misinformation about deck products. I guess you could say that about any product though. Sometimes you get information overload and it confuses the heck out of people. Some salespeople have an invested reason to sell you their product. We don’t get paid by the manufacturers or distributors so if we have an issue with a product or a company we will not sell their product or services. Unless you’ve invested the time and resources we have educating yourself from hands-on installation to performance studies you make a bad decision. Take what you read on the internet with a grain of salt as there is as much bad as good information