Fences/Decks Architectural Features / Structures

Does Trex Decking Get Hot?

June 30, 2022

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The application of wood composite decking as a substitute for natural wood is growing significantly because of its numerous advantages such as its superior durability. But like most other walking surfaces including wood decking, beach sand, asphalt, and concrete, composite decking comes with various drawbacks like its tendency to get too hot to walk on during days with direct sun.

Composite decking, like Trex decking, does not usually become hotter than traditional wooden deck boards, but in sunny weather, most surfaces will become excruciatingly hot.

What Is A Trex Composite Deck?

A winter strategy for your own dock is vital if the body of water freezes. Many floats can quickly be pulled in in the fall and put back in spring. A more helpful way is to leave the floating dock in and use bubblers and de-icers to lessen ice formations on your dock.

Does Composite Decking Get Hot In The Sun?

Composite decking can become hot because of weather and sun exposure as with all decking products. It will absorb heat and feel hotter or warmer and several components will impact just how much heat your composite decking will emit.

Material Used

The Trex decking material will perform a part in the amount of heat the deck can hold onto and, consequently, transfer to your bare feet. Every manufacturer and brand will have a distinct composition for the artificial composite boards so each will be qualified for different decking usage.

Capped composite decking equips your deck boards with a protective polymer sleeve utilized to reduce the amount of water soaked up by your deck boards, but it also reduces the amount of heat absorption. Thus, capped composite decking may retain and absorb less heat than other composite decking products. This also applies to hollow deck boards. Based on density and weight, the lighter your boards are, the less heat will be retained and absorbed.

Exposure To Direct Sunlight

All sorts of materials absorb heat when subjected to direct sunlight. This mainly has a connection with the science of heat absorption and reflection. Decking is a flat surface reflecting the sun’s heat more than cool grass in your property, making the decking hotter in the sun than somewhere else in your backyard. Even natural wood decking gets very hot to step on barefoot when exposed to the direct sun for a long time, which means that despite having a composite or wood deck, it will be hot in the sun.

Nonetheless, once exposed to extreme heat, wood decking does not only become fervid to walk on; it may even contract, split, or splinter. In contrast, composite decking boards can withstand heat without such shortcomings.

Colour of Composite Decking

Another determinant that affects the amount of heat absorbed by your composite decking is the colour of the specific deck boards. Similar to clothes and other materials, the darker the colour, the more heat it will soak up and the hotter it’ll be to the touch. Lighter-coloured Trex decks are likely to be somewhat cooler than darker ones.

Wrong Ventilation

Without ventilation underneath your deck, there is nowhere for the surplus heat to go but towards your bare feet. Creating air flow and circulation is necessary to guarantee your decking can cool down and remain that way.

How Hot Does Trex Composite Decking Get In The Sun?

Although wood becomes searing enough to cause walking with bare feet uncomfortable, most composite decking becomes much hotter. Typically, composite decking can get a deck surface temperature of 35°–76°F more scorching than the surrounding air. Wood decks will retain that same heat more prolongedly than composite decks. On such hot days, care must be carried out to ensure skin does not have prolonged contact with the deck’s surface, particularly with young kids and those with disabilities.

How To Keep Trex Composite Decks Cool In The Summer

When you already have an existing deck that becomes very hot, you can try to minimize the problem with quick solutions such as the following:

Natural & Artificial Shade

If you reside in a place with a high temperature, building decks in the area with the most shade can reduce heat retention. You can build some shade, either natural or artificial.

You can grow trees and plants to screen the Trex decking from the sun for natural shade. Not just that, but plants are proven to mitigate heat absorption. Some connoisseurs even consider that planting trees can boost your property value. Therefore, when it gets hot, remember to add some foliage.
If you don’t have enough space for plants or don’t have time to wait for them to flourish, you can opt for an artificial shade. A simple umbrella can solve the problem when you have little outdoor space. Shade umbrellas have made considerable progress in the past few years. They now have a massive variety of styles and designs.

If you want shade for an expansive terrace composite decking, an umbrella probably won’t be enough. In this instance, having a covered porch might be the more suitable choice to reduce the amount of heat soaked up by the composite materials. It’s quite an appealing method to build a beautiful backyard area while providing shelter from the direct sun.

It will not just maintain the cleanliness of the composite deck boards, but it’ll also be perfect embellishments that give more vitality to your outdoor spaces.

Pick The Right Material

Not all composite decks are the same. Choose composite decking products that have confirmed that they stay cooler and read reviews on the internet to know how that pledge stands. With a lot of potential for adaptation based on the wood and fibre by-products at the board’s core and then a plastic material to overlay it, every manufacturer and brand can offer something distinct.

There are various types of outdoor materials that are specifically created to withstand scorching summer days. If you employ an expert, ask them for recommendations on the material to keep your decking cooler.

Increase Ventilation Beneath The Trex Deck

Improving ventilation underneath the Trex deck will help cool the decking above. The decking will shade the zone below which will lead to cooler air combined with nearness to the cold ground which will help cool the decks. If air can flow through this zone, it can drive the cool air through the spaces between the deck boards and function almost as a natural air conditioner below your deck. Add drain rocks beneath to help absorb the heat from the above composite deck to keep the ventilation area cooler.

Choose The Right Colour

As mentioned above, the lighter the colour of your composite deck, the less heat it will absorb. The darker the shade you pick, the more heat is upheld; therefore, the hotter the decking will feel during the summer. Every company or store will suggest a particular colour that will withstand the heat the most. Across all manufacturers, choose the coolest decking material in the lightest shade attainable to lower heat retention for those in hotter climates.

Add Rugs & Furniture

Floor covering like rugs, patio seating, chairs, couches, and tables will cover the composite deck boards from direct sunlight and generate a cooling barrier between the hot Trex decking and your bare feet. Not only will a furniture set and rug enable you to go barefoot in the summer season, but it also can offer relaxing beauty of the indoors in your outdoor space.

When buying a rug for your composite decking, it’s essential to obtain something resilient that can survive the elements. Refrain from synthetic fibres because they can heat up quickly and induce skin irritation. Alternatively, pick natural fabrics.

It’s necessary to note that not all outdoor furniture is made equally, and a few may be just as conductive as decking. Avoid metal and wrought iron frameworks that may get alarmingly hot during the hottest time of the day.

All Decking Material Will Get Hot

Trex decking will generally remain cooler than natural wood and many other outdoor surfaces. It will also offer slip and weather resistance and present even more vitality for your outdoor area. No matter how hot it gets outside, your Trex composite decking will still invite you to spend some time in your yard. Appreciate the relaxation your deck has to provide without your slippers on, even when under the sun.