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PVC decking

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<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content mw-content-ltr" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr">PVC decking is composed entirely of <a href="Polyvinyl_chloride" title="Polyvinyl chloride">polyvinyl chloride</a> (PVC) and contains no wood.<a href="#cite_note-RemodelingMagazine-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a> PVC decking is a more expensive option in the alternative decking industry, but it provides significant fade and stain resistance and lower maintenance requirements compared to other products, including real teak wood.<a href="#cite_note-RemodelingMagazine-1">[1]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>

The alternative yacht deck covering was developed by the Dunlop company, known in the automotive industry, in the second half of the 20th century. Its popularity began to rise in the early 2000s due to the relatively high price of wooden decking and the maintenance-free nature of synthetic teak. Moreover, manufacturers have developed increasingly realistic alternatives over the decades, which could be installed more quickly and cheaply, even retrofitted on a yacht deck.<a href="#cite_note-wood_vs-3">[3]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Production">Production</h2></div>

Early manufacturing processes for PVC decking faced high scrap rates, reportedly reaching up to 12%.<a href="#cite_note-wood_vs-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a> Advances in technology and recycling have reduced this to below 2% in many factories.Still, commercial production remains complex, with some manufacturers reporting up to one-eighth of boards being cosmetically imperfect and unsellable.<a href="#cite_note-Dura_teak-5">[5]</a>

Producing PVC decking is a relatively difficult process called co-extrusion. During production, various stabilizers and colorants are added to the PVC granules, which are melted by the extruder and shaped into teak planks through a specialized mold. In the process, the thermoplastic material is formed at high temperatures and then solidified in a cooling medium. The deck board core is coated and bound with an co-extruded protective cap layer, but the materials can be temperamental and hard to work with.<a href="#cite_note-:0-6">[6]</a> Commercial production is challenging, not only for this reason, but also because about one eighth of the deck boards produced are considered unsellable and therefore scrapped. The fragile nature of this production process requires careful ingredient mixing and precise execution.<a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a><a href="#cite_note-:0-6">[6]</a>

The extruded planks need to be manually processed, glued together, caulked, and then adhered to the deck. The high labor requirement makes the process relatively expensive. Due to the desire for realism, it can only be automated to a limited extent. However, this method provides the installer with great flexibility, as these coverings have properties that make them highly shapeable, formable, and bendable.

With the colors of the caulking, a great variety can be achieved. Some manufacturers offer caulking colors that can be selected from the <a href="RAL_colour_standard" title="RAL colour standard">RAL</a> color scale(a standardized European color matching system).

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Advantages">Advantages</h2></div>

PVC decking offers the most significant fade, stain, and mold resistance among decking products.<a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a> The products are marketed as low-maintenance and are typically easy to clean and maintain. PVC decking typically doesn't require staining, sanding, or painting. It is sometimes partially composed of recycled plastic material, making it an environmentally friendly, efficient use of resources.<a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a> While PVC decking is lighter than most wood-plastic composite boards, it can still be heavier than natural teak wood due to its dense polymer composition.<a href="#cite_note-RemodelingMagazine-1">[1]</a>

Additional benefits:

<ul><li>recyclable material</li>

<li>does not absorb red wine and other liquids</li>

<li>easy to clean</li>

<li>durable, maintains appearance for 8–10 years</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Disadvantages">Disadvantages</h2></div>

Compared to other synthetic decking products, PVC is the most expensive. The 100% PVC makeup of the board makes it costlier than the wood powder/plastic mix used in composite decking. This cost means that PVC will be a more expensive investment up front, although manufacturers claim that the long life and low maintenance requirements of the deck make it an economical decision in the long run. PVC lacks the realistic feel of wood. Although manufacturers form the product with a realistic wood grain or brushstroke, some contractors and homeowners simply do not like the artificial sheen of the product. PVC is also formulated to resist scratches, stains, and mold, but some wear will still show over the life of the product.

Additional disadvantages:

<ul><li>In the heat of summer, the products of certain manufacturers get very hot<a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></li>

<li>Installation requires expertise</li>

<li>Heavier than teak wood</li></ul>

<ul><li><a href="Composite_lumber" title="Composite lumber">Composite lumber</a></li>

<li><a href="Wood-plastic_composite" class="mw-redirect" title="Wood-plastic composite">Wood-plastic composite</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFZuckerman,_David2009" class="citation web cs1">Zuckerman, David (May 28, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.remodeling.hw.net/decks/pvc-decking-grows-in-popularity.aspx">"PVC Decking Still Popular"</a>. Remodeling Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2012.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.yokamats.com/info-detail/what-is-pvc-vinyl-flooring">"PVC Vinyl Flooring"</a>. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-01.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-wood_vs-3">^ <a href="#cite_ref-wood_vs_3-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-wood_vs_3-1">b</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://columbus-decks.com/2010/02/11/wood-plastic-composites-vs-pvc-decking/">"Wood Plastic Composites vs. PVC Decking"</a>. Columbus Decks. Retrieved 13 September 2013.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFEnergetics2002" class="citation web cs1">Energetics, Incorporated (2002-06-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/downloads/energy-and-environmental-profile-us-plastics-industry">"Energy and Environmental Profile of the U.S. Plastics Industry"</a>. U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved 2025-06-01. <q>Scrap rates in the PVC segment were once as high as 10-12% due to early processing inefficiencies.</q></cite>

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<li id="cite_note-Dura_teak-5"><a href="#cite_ref-Dura_teak_5-0">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://dura-teak.com/2025/01/10/teak_manufacturing_recycling/">"Dura teak recycling"</a>. Dura-teak. Retrieved 10 January 2025.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-:0-6">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_6-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_6-1">b</a> <cite id="CITEREFKazmer2012" class="citation web cs1">Kazmer, David O. (2012-06-14). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=mechanical_engin_faculty_pubs">"Plastics Manufacturing Processes"</a>. University of Massachusetts Amherst – ScholarWorks. Retrieved 2025-06-01. <q>Coextrusion requires precise control over viscosity, material compatibility, and die design to maintain layer integrity. The complexity of multilayer polymer flow often results in instability or defects if not carefully managed.</q></cite>

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<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFWebb" class="citation web cs1">Webb, Craig. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ecobuildingpulse.com/green-products/composite-or-pvc--which-one-is-best-.aspx">"Composite or PVC: Which One is Best?"</a>. EcoBuilding Pulse. Retrieved 13 September 2013.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-8"><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFMartin2010" class="citation web cs1">Martin, James W. (2010-03-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nist.gov/publications/weathering-polymers">"Weathering of Polymers"</a>. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved 2025-06-01. <q>The resistance of polymers to outdoor weathering, including UV degradation, varies by formulation; PVC is among the more weather-stable commodity plastics.</q></cite>

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<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFU.S._Environmental_Protection_Agency2016" class="citation web cs1">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2016-11-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-11/documents/2014_smmfactsheet_508.pdf">"Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2014 Fact Sheet"</a> (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2025-06-01. <q>Recycling of durable goods, including plastics like PVC, contributed to a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and overall waste generation.</q></cite>

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<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a> <cite id="CITEREFAkbari2011" class="citation web cs1">Akbari, Hashem (2011-07-01). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/51312.pdf">"Cool Roofs and Heat Islands"</a> (PDF). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Retrieved 2025-06-01. <q>Polymer surfaces such as PVC can reach high surface temperatures under direct sunlight, impacting material selection in hot climates.</q></cite>

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