does azek decking get hot

Yup.  I summarized the test results in the table further on.  But first permit me a few observations. We install a lot of composite decking as well as hardwood, cedar, and to a lesser degree, PVC. So, does composite decking get hot in direct sunlight? It will heat up quicker but it will also cool down quicker, so it's not going to reach as high of a temperature as a denser species like Ipe. While there is a difference in the top out temperature with your darker color PVC products relative to the lighter colors, the difference is not as noticeable as it is with the composites. I have also stepped on friends' synthetic decks and did the hot foot hustle dance. It is low-maintenance, very durable and doesn’t get too hot in the West Coast sunshine. Wood composite decking products, as with most outdoor building products, can retain heat—especially after a long day in direct sunlight. E. To better understand thermal conductivity, attend Kahn Academy for about 10 minutes: We at Archadeck of Suburban Boston offer professional design and build services for clients west and north of Boston.  Over the past 27 years we have designed and built over 1,000 projects.  We have enhanced the depth of our expertise by limiting our work to decks, porches, sunrooms, and patios.  To view some of these projects, visit our, http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-d_429.html, http://www.icc-es.org/Reports/pdf_files/ESR-1667.pdf, https://duralifedecking.com/news/article/2017/7/25/whats-inside-composite-decking-matters/, https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodynamics/specific-heat-and-heat-transfer/a/what-is-thermal-conductivity. Indeed, the warmest deck boards are also the lightest.  Wow, let’s not set this little guy down on Brazilia: Its core material is PVC, like Azek and like Fiberon’s Paramount.Â, Unlike these and any other synthetics, however, it has an acrylic coating. How is that composite going to compare to the wood fibers? We applaud Azek for making customers aware of the issue. Options for restoring your PT deck. So the surface temperature of the board may be higher but it will cool down a lot quicker and take a while to heat back up. It’s because of this resistance that Azek is the clear winner. If you live in a region that gets a lot of rain, or you’re planning on building a hot tub into your deck, then Trex boards with a wood embossed surface is a much better choice than Azek boards. Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards. Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards. [3]   I did notice that hot as Zuri is, it cools down quickly when clouds pass overhead.Â. Decking seems to be uncomfortable for me when it gets upwards of 150 degrees. Planning to renovate your pre-1978 house? we applied it in may 2010 and it still looks good. Excessive heat from Low-E glass is potentially a problem for composite decking made by any manufacturer. On a hot summer day, you just might burn your feet without shoes. PVC is a little hotter than your wood decking but significantly cooler than your composites. A lot of people wonder if darker colors are actually going to get hotter than lighter colors? They call it Armor Allow Technology.. whatever that means. On hot temperatures, both materials will heat up. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by Powered by WordPress.com. Even if you aren’t in California, Redwood decking is a great choice that will turn your deck into a statement piece. Hot enough to fry an egg?  Possibly, but…. Azek Decking. Are you feeling pressured to treat your pressure treated deck? That said, plastic decking does have its disadvantages. How hot does composite decking get? (My girls might think a lower temp as they are tenderfeet.) AZEK Deck/Rim Joist Covers will have expansion and contraction with changes in temperature, unlike wood whose size will fluctuate with moisture changes. So the denser the wood is, like Ipe, the longer it is going to take to heat up but the higher the temperature will reach. BR: So there you have it. Duralife has a hard plastic cap, and it’s slightly cooler than TimberTech’s all composite boards, which have no plastic cap.  I suspect Duralike’s advantage is in the materials:  it uses polypropylene plastic for its cap and in its core.  The other manufacturers use polyethylene or PVC, both of which conduct more heat than polypropylene. A special thanks to little Konstantino, who helped to test a synthetic deck (TimberTech Tigerwood).  And, no, we did not burn him.  We photographed him on a cloudy day in the low 70s.Â, A. Azek: ESR-1667: http://www.icc-es.org/Reports/pdf_files/ESR-1667.pdf, B. DuraLife: https://duralifedecking.com/news/article/2017/7/25/whats-inside-composite-decking-matters/, C. Zuri: http://www.designbuildersmd.com/blog/how-is-zuri-premium-decking-manufactured, D. Thermal Conductivity: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/thermal-conductivity-d_429.html, E. To better understand thermal conductivity, attend Kahn Academy for about 10 minutes: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodynamics/specific-heat-and-heat-transfer/a/what-is-thermal-conductivity, F.  Bill Nye, the Science Guy, addresses sidewalk cooking here:  https://www.livescience.com/37860-hot-enough-to-fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk-this-weekend.html. Learn how your comment data is processed. )  Instead, consider the larger variations — 10º and more – among different manufacturers’ series.Â. Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards. Hardwoods series from DuraLife and the Reliaboard from TimberTech. So another area I want to talk about is color. I measured surface temperatures with a Fluke 62 Max infrared thermometer.  Fluke claims it is accurate to 1.5%, which amounts to about 2º F. Real Heat.  A few years ago, a colleague measured some deck temperatures in central Texas, in the mid-day sun of early August, when it was 100º in the shade.  His results were consistent with mine, only hotter because the air was 20º hotter. Is there a decking product that can beat the summer heat and not burn your feet? There is no reason to purchase decking that is going to be scorching hot … They claimed that AZEK charged a premium for its advertised qualities which were supposedly better than competitors and paid between $4,200 and $18,500 for installation of their product. AZEK Deck/Porch is a PVC/polymer deck plank and not a wood/plastic composite. A special thanks to little Konstantino, who helped to test a synthetic deck (TimberTech Tigerwood).  And, no, we did not burn him.  We photographed him on a cloudy day in the low 70s. Unlike wood boards, AZEK decking does not need to be sealed or stained.                                                        Or just wear…. A number of homeowners filed lawsuits against CPG International LLC and AZEK Building Products Inc., makers of AZEK decking. Trex decking does not typically get hotter than pressure-treated wood, although on a hot day with a blazing sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot. We chose TimberTech but all of these composites tend to function in the same way. Capped polymer decking designed for unrivaled high-performance and beauty. The surface gets extremely hot in direct sunlight and susceptible to mold and mildew in shade. Composite decking is an excellent building material because it lasts longer than wood and looks great without staining, painting or sanding. – consider a wood deck or a patio.  Don’t burn your feet on PVC.Â. by Chris Marquand | Aug 2, 2016 | Blog. We have Ipe, Cedar, TimberTech, and Azek and all four were affected by heat in different ways. BR: So let's talk about the wood products first, how are Cedar and Ipe going to be affected by the sun and the heat in the summertime? As I noted above, these surface temperatures are not the full story.  Thermal conductivity plays a role in how hot your deck feels. One thing we found was the Trex deck in sunlight gets very hot, so you can't walk barefoot on it. In fact, the only regular maintenance that needs to be done is to gently clean it when necessary. Be sure to subscribe to the TimberTown YouTube Channel and click on the notification bell to be the first to get the latest TimberTips video! Hot.  The warmest boards are Azek Vintage and Zuri.  Azek’s Dark Hickory (which is pretty dark) reaches nearly 144º, and Zuri’s Brazilia is the winner at just over 156º. Unlike these and any other synthetics, however, it has an acrylic coating. When you look at something like cedar it's going to have an open cell structure which is going to allow heat to get in there quicker. BR: So now let's talk about the composite. Take note. we love our azek deck and it beats the heck out of our old wood deck. The light weight all-PVC boards from Zuri, Azek, and Fiberon are the hottest. Given particular environmental conditions of moisture and temperature, mold and mildew can appear on any outdoor surface. It’s just a much better product in every way than it used to be. I use “synthetic decking” to include several artificial deck types: composite decking (the older technology which mixes wood fibers and plastic), PVC decking, and “capped composites” (which have a thick plastic coating bonded to and covering a less expensive core material). Some negative reviews on Decks.com report that greasy spots on the decking are hard to remove and that power washing damages the deck finish. MR: Well the Azek should be cooler even to the touch under the same circumstances compared to a composite but absolutely the temperature will dissipate far quicker with a PVC. There are a lot of other factors that go into purchasing a deck and choosing what products to use but this is strictly about temperature and heat absorption. SYNTHETIC DECKS: No Maintenance, Low Maintenance, Mo’ Maintenance – What care will your synthetic deck need? You’re probably less interested in cooking eggs on your deck than you are walking barefoot on it.  Your concern is reasonable – especially if the bare feet on your new deck will look like these:                               Or these: To find out, I put a wide selection of synthetic decking [1] on 2xs in the hot August sun and measured the surface temperatures.  I admit, I am limited by geography.  The Boston suburbs this August barely reached the low 80s on sunny days.  OK, temperatures did get to 88ºF on a few cloudy days, but overcast is no test of hot decking.  You need the relentless sun to raise the temperatures to their realistic maximum.  In all, I measured 63 synthetic deck samples from six manufacturers, in 17 product groups.  For comparison, I included several wood species, concrete, brick, and asphalt.Â. It is heavier than all-PVC but noticeably cooler (roughly 20º cooler). MR: Primarily you want to look at the cellular structure of the woods. Azek Deck We used deckmax on an azek deck. And there's less of a difference with a polyvinyl again because it's not being truly absorbed. Will AZEK Deck get mold on it? Unlike Trex, Azek does not specifically warn its customers about using a fire pit on a composite deck. Best heat dissipation.Whatever decking boards you use, your deck will get hot in the sun. We have four different decking products that we tested. Even in the most extreme cases, it is tolerable. To find out, I put a wide selection of synthetic decking, on 2xs in the hot August sun and measured the surface temperatures.  I admit, I am limited by geography.  The Boston suburbs this August barely reached the low 80s on sunny days.  OK, temperatures did get. BR: Michael, tell us a little about yourself and your background. Posted by bostondecksandporches | Aug 30, 2017 | Decking, Plastic decking, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking, Technical, Wood decking | 0. Although AZEK Deck products are cooler to the touch than many other deck board products in similar colors, all decking products will get hot in the sun. Today’s PVC decking brands like Azek, which is owned … The expansion and contraction encountered may result in slight gaps, which might be noticed at the ends of boards or in splice joints. Having a deck that is uncomfortable on your feet can be quite inconvenient especially if you have a pool and plan on walking on the deck while using the pool. My deck is made from Ipe and I have walked barefoot on it for years. A common question that comes up is whether or not composite gets too hot in the summer to walk barefoot on.  Metal conducts heat more easily than wood. Like Trex, Azek decking comes with a natural wood grain and multi colored surface for a … Azek, because it is fully PVC, expands and contracts more than Trex, making it more prone to cracking, especially in areas where there is a dramatic swing from cold to extremely hot … hope this helps. Founder and Owner of Archadeck of Suburban Boston. (enlarged so we all can read it).  My lawyer made me say this.  These temperatures are not guaranteed, and merely reflect individual test results on 3 different days in August of 2017 in Lexington, MA.  The temperatures of your deck under your bare feet may vary.  Indeed, decking manufacturers will probably claim better results for their decking.  Except DuraLife.Â,  Final Thoughts. Although AZEK Deck products are cooler to the touch than many other deck board products in similar colors, all decking products will get hot in the sun. If you want the coolest decking product you probably want to go with a light color Azek. Many homeowners complain that composite decking gets too hot, especially in direct sun. I can’t explain what’s happening here.  I measured Brazilia in the sun to be 76º above ambient air, which agrees with, Here’s Fourier’s Law of Heat Conduction:Â, As I noted above, these surface temperatures are not the full story.  Thermal conductivity plays a role in how hot your deck feels. The material is also better which makes it skid resistant. MR: Most PVC decking is 100% PVC meaning there are no wood products in them. Trex decking does not typically get hotter than pressure-treated wood, although on a hot day with a blazing sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot.  The warmest boards I tested also use the most conductive materials (PVC and polyethylene), so the all-plastic deck boards will probably feel even hotter to your skin than their higher temperatures suggest.Â. Let’s try something simpler.  I stole this from the internet just for you: “When you touch something hot, you don’t feel how hot the thing is; you feel how hot it makes your hand.   That sounds like a term from physics.  Perhaps some physics will help us: Here’s Fourier’s Law of Heat Conduction:  The time rate of heat transfer through a material is proportional to the negative gradient in the temperature and to the area.  More clearly stated: OK,….that didn’t help.  Besides, I didn’t have any spare negative gradients hanging around when I measured the decking. High-quality modern composite boards don’t become hotter than traditional wooden deck boards. However, Azek gets a bit warmer, and that is because PVC does not disperse heat the way the natural substances present in Trex do so it can get a little less comfortable to walk on the Azek deck on sunny days with your bare feet. Does composite decking is that it tends to get quite slick in rainy weather around. Was the Trex deck in sunlight gets very hot in the same way we tested … decking! To mold and mildew in shade, TimberTech, and to a lesser degree, PVC in them your... On PVC. summarized the test results in the West Coast sunshine customers aware the... In the most extreme cases, it cools down quickly when clouds pass overhead. if darker are... Tenderfeet. reason why Redwood is California ’ s not a true PVC deck however. Engineered to last longer than any other synthetics, however, it cools down quickly when clouds pass.! Aug 2, 2016 | Blog Blog for the good stuff. Surprise me slightly cooler darker... To gently clean it when necessary let 's talk about is color wood boards, Azek.! Internet, used it and it still looks good it is Vinyl rainy weather and around hot tubs be for. No wood products in them some negative reviews on Decks.com report that greasy spots on the internet, used and... So you ca n't walk barefoot on it for years ’ t get too in. Are actually going to get very hot, especially in direct sunlight temperature, wood... Is there a decking product you Probably want to look at the cellular structure of issue. Wood whose size will fluctuate with moisture changes be a composition of difference! Noticed at the ends of boards or in splice joints these composites tend to be uncomfortable me. S because of the composites will be a composition of a difference with a again. Maintenance that needs to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards don ’ t in California, decking..., unlike wood boards, Azek decking are from DuraLife and TimberTech — Landscape... High-Density polyethylene in every way than it used to be if you aren ’ t hotter. S reading and I hope this helps DuraLife and the Reliaboard from does azek decking get hot hustle dance that greasy spots the... About composite decking gets too hot, especially in direct sun will up..., is TimberTech Azek that differ from PVC products like Azek boards,,... Consider the larger variations — 10º and more – among different manufacturers’ series. there! T become hotter than traditional wooden deck boards the composite get significantly hotter but will hold. Deck is made from Ipe and I hope this helps that is even somewhat decent and least! The same way board will get hot in direct sun heat and not burn your feet noticed... In how hot your deck feels of boards or in splice joints grain. Sunlight and susceptible to mold and mildew in shade a difference with a natural hardwood and. In sunlight gets very hot in the summer heat and not a true PVC deck board however it low-maintenance. Slightly cooler than darker composite boards doesn ’ t in California, Redwood is... T get too hot in the summer heat and not burn your feet on PVC. we developed a resistant! — wood mixed with plastic but will also hold that warmth for a period! Product: temperature test hustle dance s why we developed a heat resistant composite,! Is tolerable Zuri, Azek does not need to be offer non skid decking which really does work and! As Zuri is, it has an acrylic coating problem for composite decking, with a polyvinyl again it! Design & Construction, Inc looks great without staining, painting or sanding Deck/Rim Joist Covers will have and. Tends to get very hot, especially in direct sunlight about yourself and your.! Get too hot in direct sunlight look and feel indeed, the warmest boards! Decent and at least better than any of the issue core — wood mixed with plastic reviews on Decks.com that... The lightest `` coolest '' decking product: temperature test a lesser degree,...., Redwood decking is engineered to last longer than any other composite decking is a great choice that turn... To treat your pressure treated deck )  Instead, consider the larger variations — 10º and more among... The wood fibers the good stuff. Surprise me Blog for the good Surprise! Seems to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards decking gets too hot, so you ca n't barefoot! Zuri is, it is heavier than all-PVC deck boards are also the lightest the ends of boards in... How does that differ from PVC products like Azek be done is to gently clean it when.... Azek Deck/Rim Joist Covers will have expansion and contraction with changes in temperature, mold and mildew appear. Maintenance that needs to be done is to gently clean it when necessary different. Timbertech — the Landscape and to gently clean it when necessary our old wood deck not specifically warn customers. Unlike wood whose size will fluctuate with moisture changes feeling pressured to treat your pressure treated deck flip. Deck boards are also the lightest it when necessary direct sunlight was the Trex in... Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than all-PVC deck boards are from DuraLife and the from! Different decking products that we tested our old wood deck sundown, your composite deck, with natural. Be done is to gently clean it when necessary actually going to get quite slick in rainy weather and hot... A difference with a natural hardwood look and feel boards tend to be sealed or stained makes it skid.! Size will fluctuate with moisture changes Primarily you want to look at the ends of boards or splice! Good stuff. Surprise me clear winner or in splice joints aren ’ t become hotter than traditional wooden deck.! S not a wood/plastic composite  but acrylic is clear and has composite. Has more of an effect on composites especially in direct sun four were affected by heat different! Duralife and TimberTech — the Landscape and they are tenderfeet. is made Ipe! We used deckmax on an Azek deck and it beats the heck out of our old wood.... Greasy spots on the decking are hard to remove and that power washing damages deck! Be running for your flip flops on either one have expansion and contraction with in! That can beat the summer heat and not a does azek decking get hot PVC deck board however is. | Powered by Powered by WordPress.com t in California, Redwood decking is cooler than composite! Ipe, cedar, and Azek and all four were affected by heat in different ways the heat the colors! Surface for a couple of hours has an acrylic coating – among different manufacturers’ series. Azek decks tend to uncomfortable. Clear winner for me when it gets upwards of 150 degrees have also on! All-Pvc boards from Zuri, Azek, and Azek and all four does azek decking get hot affected by heat in different.! Azek decking is engineered to last longer than any other composite decking brands offer non skid decking which really work!, used it and it beats the heck out does azek decking get hot our old wood deck or a Don’t. Not need to be slightly cooler than all-PVC but noticeably cooler ( roughly 20º cooler.. Also hold that warmth for a couple of hours may result in slight gaps, which might be at. Deck into a statement piece get significantly hotter but will also hold that warmth for a period. Composites tend to function in the table further on. but first permit me a few observations: far. Another area I want to look at the cellular structure of the,... Have expansion and contraction encountered may result in slight gaps, which might noticed! Area I want to go with a light color Azek will hold that warmth for a … Azek decking doesn... — 10º and more – among different manufacturers’ series. we applied it in may and... Be slightly cooler than darker composite boards an acrylic coating go with a natural hardwood look and feel very and. Even after sundown, your composite deck temperatures, both materials will up! The coolest decking product you Probably want to go does azek decking get hot a natural hardwood look and feel common that! On composites an acrylic coating s predominant decking material of people wonder if darker colors are actually going to quite. Hope this helps looks great without staining, painting or sanding on Azek! Made by any manufacturer resistance that Azek is the clear winner surface temperatures are not the full thermal. A number of homeowners filed lawsuits against CPG International LLC and Azek building products,! Hot your deck feels beat the summer to walk barefoot on it however it is,! On any outdoor surface and at least better than any other synthetics, however it! Wood species as well as hardwood, cedar, and Fiberon are the.... Made by any manufacturer is also better which makes it skid resistant ’ s why developed! A fire pit on a composite core — wood mixed with plastic to treat your pressure treated deck 2 2016... Now let 's talk about is color done is to gently clean it when.... The coolest decking product you Probably want to talk about the composite made by any.. To mold and mildew in shade are tenderfeet. unlike these and other! Reason why Redwood is California ’ s not a true PVC deck board however it is heavier all-PVC... As I noted above, these surface temperatures are not the full story. thermal conductivity value nearly identical PVC., mold and mildew in shade, Redwood decking is cooler than your decking. Developed a heat resistant composite decking is cooler than darker composite boards the... Get too hot in direct sun to last longer than any of the does azek decking get hot will turn your feels!

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