Who doesn't enjoy hanging out on a covered porch, sipping lemonade while the kids play in the front yard? Though they're enjoyable, until recently the decking (flooring) materials for covered porches have been maintenance headaches.  Traditionally, decking was made from pine which was painted with oil based paint.  With the phase-out of oil based paint, however, decay and rot in pine decking became more prevalent so other materials were sought. 

 

Woods such as cedar, mahogany, teak, and ipe have more natural resistance to rot and decay, but are much more expensive than pine.  They also require frequent maintenance if stained.

 

In the 1990’s, the advent of composite decking (a factory made mixture of wood fibers and various glues) suggested that a maintenance free alternative to wood was at hand.  Unfortunately, early composite decking was highly susceptible to fading from the sun’s UV rays.  If used in a covered porch application, the differential fading caused by shadows could actually make the porch floor two different colors.

 

Finally, a fade resistant composite decking has been created.  Transcend decking by Trex® incorporates a hard outer shell that is scratch and stain resistant, and carries a 25-year guarantee against fading. We began using this product in 2010 and have been impressed with the quality, look, and feel. More information is available here: http://www.trex.com/plan/products/decking/transcend.