The popularity of composite products, such as composite decks, has sparked a fresh debate about the future of construction over the last decade. What do you prefer: original wood or composite materials?
Both have their pros and cons. However, many passionate wood users support the material; the composite-versus-wood debate is still raging.
Project managers and engineers across various industries have discovered that composites are a viable alternative to materials such as wood.
Wood has long been a popular construction material for its strength and natural texture. Today, we'll look at wood composites and potential wood substitutes. Specifically, how wood composites are created, the wide varieties, and their applications.
Wood composites are wood products made by bonding wood strands, fibers, or boards together. It's also known as engineered wood, synthetic wood, and wood-plastic composite (WPC).
Wood composite materials are often made from the same hardwoods and softwoods used in lumber, as well as sawmill rejects and waste. They are created by blending pulverized wood particles with hot thermoplastic resin. Some combine and process the components into pellets, which are then re-melted and molded into the final shape, and others generate the finished product in a single phase of mixing and extrusion.
Polyethylene-based goods are manufactured from virgin and recycled thermoplastics. Colorants, coupling agents, ultraviolet stabilizers, and lubricants can be added to make a product that is precisely fitted to its use, and solid and hollow shapes can be created.
Plywood is the original composite wood product, made from cross-laminated veneer sheets joined with moisture-resistant adhesives and heated under pressure. Particleboard is formed from wood chips or sawmill shavings pressed with a synthetic resin, while fiberboard is made by mixing wood fibers with wax and a resin binder under high temperatures and pressure.
Oriented strand board is constructed of layers of wood strands glued together with moisture-resistant adhesives. These are then cross-oriented to add strength and rigidity to the panel. Laminated timber is made up of dimensional wood that has been glued together to form structural columns or beams. In contrast, laminated veneers are made up of thin hardwood veneers that have been bonded together to form a vast billet that may be used for rafters, beams, and joints.
Composite wood products can be used in a wide range of applications, including both residential and commercial buildings. In construction projects, wood composites are frequently utilized to replace steel joists and beams. Outdoor deck flooring is their most common application, but they're also famous for railings, fencing, benches, window and door frames, cladding, and landscaping.
While composite wood may be used in most applications where solid Wood is usually used, it is also a popular material for flat-pack furniture because of its low manufacturing costs and lightweight.
So, why is composite decking such a good option? To begin with, composite decks are almost maintenance-free. They usually don't require sanding, sealing, or staining. However, they need maintenance twice a year; this can be done using a mixture of soapy water and a soft-bristle brush or a low-power washer machine.
Composite decks are durable materials that withstand harsh weather and natural wear for up to half a decade. Unlike Natural wood decks, which can last 10-30 years, you will need to repair them to remain in good condition. On the other hand, composite decks will not splinter, rot, or become insect-prone.
Furthermore, most composite decks have built-in ultraviolet protection, so they won't fade as quickly as natural wood. However, if your composite deck fades over time due to direct sunlight exposure, you can stain or paint it to restore its appearance. Many people are unaware that composite can be painted, but it can be done and can improve the appearance of your home.
Decks have used wood for their construction since their inception, so we know it's a tried-and-true material that looks natural. When it comes to wood, the major advantage is that it's affordable, long-lasting, and available in various forms, from low-cost, pressure-treated options like yellow pine to higher-end varieties like cedar and redwood.
Despite its durability, wood decking is significantly more labor-intensive and requires more maintenance. Most decks require a full retreatment every 2 to 5 years, including sanding, cleaning, staining or painting, and sealing. The deck will fade and eventually rot if left untreated.
Furthermore, wood decks are splintered or warped due to environmental conditions or typical wear and tear. This is particularly apparent in pressure-treated wood. On the other hand, a well-maintained deck can last up to 20 years.
High-strength timber is costly and hard to get. Pultruded reinforcing can be put on wood to maintain and increase its strength in this situation. Solid wood beams can be replaced with glue-laminated (or Glulam) beams.
Pultruded epoxy reinforcement can be bonded to these glulam beams to further strengthen them.
The insertion of a pultruded strength member near the bottom of the beam, where tension failure is most likely to occur, will help equalize the results between tension and compression, or allow the compression to be the weak link.
We are giants, savants, and leaders in the FRP composites business. Tencom uses pultrusion to manufacture FRP components. This means we use many more resins and reinforcements, each adding unique and desirable properties to the final FRP product.
Just so you know: Pultrusion is a process for converting reinforced fibers and resin into fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP). The resulting FRP is tough, light, and extremely versatile.
Tencom has offered unrivaled custom FRP composite solutions to clients across industries for the past 5 decades. Our range of superior pultruded products includes fiberglass-reinforced tubes, composite rods, tool handles, conductor rods, duct rods, custom profiles, and plant & tree stakes.
Our design and engineering team can help select materials that meet your specific requirements, including weight, strength, flexibility, density, firmness, and tensile strength. For more information or queries on FRP products and solutions, feel free to Contact Us today, and we will be more than willing to assist.