A lot of thought needs to go into selecting the right material for decking if it’s going to hold a hot tub. While it’s possible to make do with cheaper wood or aluminum decks, you should look at choosing a material that’s far better suited. So what are the options?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best decking options for a hot tub are capped composite and capped polymer (PVC). Both composite and polymer decking have superior strength and durability when compared to traditional wooden decks. Capping provides extra strength than uncapped models and greatly improves its resistance to wear and tear.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many factors to consider besides strength and durability, however. This article is going to take an in-depth look at decking requirements for a hot tub, as well as what you need to know before you start to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The decking for your hut tub needs to cope with several factors, including chemicals, heat, water, and weight. And the most important consideration when choosing a decking material is safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although many types of decking wood are more than strong enough to support a hot tub, you want to avoid anything that will become slippery when wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Softwoods have a coarse grain that can split open after drying and getting wet repeatedly, which means large splinters to walk over. Hardwoods with treatments resist water and become slippery when wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though you can apply non-slip coatings of strips to the wood, these will cause deep abrasions if someone trips and falls on them. The safest solution is composite decking with grooved channels for drainage and grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decking for a hot tub needs to resist:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composite decking is wood infused with plastic to create a product that is in keeping with a traditional hot tub but with more benefits. These composite and PVC boards are strong and will stand up to the load that a hot tub, full of water and people, will exert on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composite decking is not porous, and it is also resistant to stains, rot, and mold growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composite decking is not a new invention. For decades, composite and PVC decking has been the go-to material for its excellent drainage, grip, and appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common composite decking is made by fusing wood by-products, a pigment, and recycled plastics. This mix is pushed through an extruder and comes out as grooved planks, as with those from the manufacturer Trex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result is a low-maintenance decking wood of fixed color that helps save the environment and does not require repainting. PVC decking is 100% recycled plastic, which is cheaper than a blended composite and has a wider choice of colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aluminum decking is much more expensive than composite boards but has a shorter life span and gets dangerously hot in the sun. 100% wooden decks require a lot of maintenance and are prone to rot and splitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both PVC and composite decking have similar benefits and lifespans. And both decking materials can be manufactured as capped or uncapped materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composite decking is a combination of reprocessed plastics and something called wood flour. Wood flour is a mix of wood by-products, ranging from sawdust to recycled paper. The result is a wood-like product is a strong and lasting material that is easy to machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capping this composite makes the decking impervious to stain, scratches, and fading. Customers can specify the decking to better match their needs and to suit any profile. Manufacturers such as Armadillo and Timbertech from Azek can use capping to create composite boards of any color and pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that you can have an easy-install wood-effect composite deck at a fraction of the price of natural wood decking. DecKorators is one such manufacturer with an impressive line of capped composite boards, all with long-lasting warranties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PVC decking was the solution to the lack of colors and styles on offer with post-millennium, non-capped composite woods. Now both materials come formed as capped and non-capped, and both offer similar benefits in terms of appearance and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PVC decking is easier to cut than composite decking. Manufacturers such as Azek and Zuri promote the material as having better texture and choices of colors than real wood. Even photorealistic wood-grain capping is available, though some patterns are more delicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Capping PVC gives this type of decking a longer-lasting surface, helping it to compete with other composite materials. The capping process seals the texture from wear, the effects of weather, and the dulling caused by UV rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best boards are those that are capped on all four sides to resist attacks from mildew, mold, and spilled spa chemicals. The incredibly long warranty durations, such as Timbertech Pro’s 30-year fade and stain guarantee, show just how confident the manufacturers are in the material.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat to Look for in Decking for a Hot Tub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Capped Composite vs Capped Polymer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Capped Composite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Capped Polymer (PVC)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
What to Know Before Building Your Deck?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n