Possibilities—this is perhaps the best word to describe what a well-built deck can afford a home. Whether your home needs more room, you love the outdoors, you live for entertaining, or you want a space to enjoy with family, the right deck can add value to your home and life in many different ways.
But all too often, adding a deck also increases your properties’ maintenance needs—which means an investment in time and money. However, the right decking material can help alleviate this burden while providing the numerous benefits of a beautiful deck.
In walks Barrette Outdoor Living composite decking.
As an experienced exterior contractor, our team chooses to install Barrette Outdoor Living composite decking because it is designed to outperform its competition while looking beautiful. It’s a great choice for homeowners looking to extend their livable space outside.
What Is Composite Decking?
Simply put, composite decking is a faux-wood decking material. It is typically comprised of wood fiber, plastic, and a binding agent to create a product that gives a wood-like appearance.
The various plastic and wood materials are mixed together and then melted down in order to be cast into the resulting decking boards, which are typically created to look like traditional wood decking.
But the two materials couldn’t be more different.
Composite vs. Wood
Beyond the composition of wood and composite materials, composite decking performs and looks different from wood.
- Wear and Tear—One of the main reasons for the manufacturing of composite materials is their ability to outlast traditional wood. The partial plastic makeup helps the boards resist weather in the way that wood breaks down.
- Maintenance—A wood deck will need continual maintenance to last and look great over the years. It will need continual painting or staining, sanding and adjusting, and cleaning. Composite decking is easy to maintain and never needs sanding or staining.
- Beauty—While wood is a stunning decking material when first installed, it breaks down over time. It simply cannot maintain a lasting luster, even with heavy amounts of maintenance. Wood wears out from weather conditions, and its porous nature makes it susceptible to unsightly stains. Composite decking is designed to look the same as the day it was installed throughout the years without fading or deteriorating.
- Installation—While composite materials are heavier than wood, they are also easier to apply. The boards are often created for ease of use. Barrette Outdoor Living decking was designed with a step-clip fastening system, making the installation process fast and easy.
Why Choose Barrette Outdoor Living in St. Louis
Barrette Outdoor Living is not just designed to outperform wood; it’s also manufactured to outperform other composite and PVC decking materials. St. Louis homeowners face a plethora of weather conditions and temperature swings, which makes Barrette Outdoor Living decks the best choice for the St. Louis area.
Built for Weather
Barrette Outdoor Living was designed to resist harsh weather climates and changes like those St. Louis sees from season to season. It resists the harmful sun’s rays, which fade decking in the summer. And it won’t warp from swings in temperature. There’s no cracking or bowing in the boards, and the decking material also resists the growth of mold and mildew when moisture levels are high.
The extreme durability of the product makes it perfect for withstanding icy and snowy conditions as well.
Polypropylene Shell Cap
As far as plastics are concerned, polypropylene far outperforms polyethylene (the more common form of plastic) in terms of being less brittle and more resistant to warping. Barrette Outdoor Living’s unique co-extrusion manufacturing process covers three sides of its boards with a polypropylene cap for added protection and performance, which resists stains and fading and makes the material stronger.
The CoolTrac Advantage
Barrette Outdoor Living decking is specifically engineered to stay cooler than any other composite material. Composite decking absorbs heat, making it hotter on bare feet than wood, which can be one of its biggest disadvantages, especially in the extreme heat of St. Louis summers. But the Barrette Outdoor Living polypropylene cap helps keep your deck 18% cooler than other traditional composite decking options.
Slip Resistance
The same polypropylene cap makes the surface of your deck more slip-resistant. In wet conditions, Barrette Outdoor Living is136% more slip-resistant than other composite options. In dry conditions, it is 56% more resistant. So, whether it rains, you have a pool, or the weather is completely dry, you won’t have to worry about accidents.
Beautiful Color Options
Matching your deck to the aesthetic of your home is essential to the cohesiveness of the project. Barrette Outdoor Living makes this easy with a wide range of both variegated and unvariegated colors.
Reliable Warranty
Barrette Outdoor Living backs its products with a 25-year limited stain and fade warranty, which also covers 2 years of replacement labor.
Environmental Impact
Not only does Barrette Outdoor Living decking last longer than wood, reducing the waste placed in landfills—it is also 90% comprised of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials. If sustainability is important to your home, Barrette Outdoor Living is a great choice.
Choosing the right deck can add immense value to your lifestyle. Click here to learn more about the benefits of a deck or porch addition.
Simple and Superb Deck Installations
Giving your home the outdoor entertainment space it needs doesn’t have to mean extra work or worry for you. Our Lakeside Renovation & Design team doesn’t just install high-end products; we also offer service you can depend on without the worry of high-pressure sales tactics.
From start to finish, you will love your new Barrette Outdoor Living deck. See how a reliable exterior home contractor can help you curate the perfect backyard oasis by creating the perfect deck extension.