Composite Decks
Composite boards on a code-built frame, with screws and hardware chosen for salt air.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you want built and which town you're in. We'll call to set up a free on-site quote.
Composite or wood is the main question people ask here, and each side gives something up. Composite boards cost more up front, skip the staining and sealing, and don't splinter. They also get hot in full sun, and the darker the color, the hotter they feel. They can still grow mold when dirt and pollen collect on them. The frame under a composite deck is usually still wood, so the framing details matter just as much. Near salt water, Trex calls for stainless steel screws.
What's included
- On-site look and a written quote, with a wood price alongside if you want to compare
- Board samples so you can see colors in your light
- A code-built frame, with joists spaced to the board maker's chart
- Composite boards gapped per the maker for drainage and expansion
- Stainless steel screws near salt water
- Hidden or face fasteners matched to the board line
- Railings and stairs, with open space under the deck for airflow
The process
- Look and quote. We measure, check how far you are from salt water, and walk through board lines and colors. You get a written quote.
- Permit. We submit the drawings and get the permit.
- Footings and frame. Footings are inspected before concrete, then the frame goes up with joists spaced for your boards.
- Boards. We lay the boards with the gaps and fasteners the maker calls for.
- Rails, stairs, and final. Railings, stairs, cleanup, and the final inspection.
What affects the price
- Board line. Entry-level composite costs less than premium lines or PVC.
- Size and height. Same as any deck: more area and more height cost more.
- Fasteners. Stainless steel screws and hidden clips cost more than standard screws.
- Railing system. Composite, aluminum, and wood railings vary a lot in price.
- Pattern. Diagonal or picture-frame boards need closer joists and more cutting.
Questions homeowners ask
- Composite or wood: which is better in Charleston?
- It depends on what you'd rather pay for. Wood costs less up front. National guides put pressure-treated boards at about $2 to $5 a square foot in materials, against about $12 to $22 for composite. Composite skips the staining and sanding. It gets hotter in full sun, and it still needs cleaning. Near salt water, the screws and hardware matter for either one.
- Does composite get moldy here?
- It can. Trex says its boards aren't food for mold, but dirt and pollen on the surface are, and mold needs moisture to grow. It doesn't hurt the boards structurally. Trex recommends cleaning twice a year, for example in spring and fall.
- How hot does composite get?
- Hot enough that Trex warns against long skin contact on hot, sunny days. Darker colors feel hotter. If the deck sits in full sun, a lighter color or some shade helps.
- Do I need stainless steel screws?
- Near salt water, yes. Trex calls for its recommended stainless steel screws in any area near saltwater. Simpson Strong-Tie rates Type 316 stainless as more corrosion-resistant than Type 304 in salty coastal air. Salt spray drops off sharply between 300 and 3,000 feet from the shoreline, so we ask how close you are.
Weighing composite against wood? Call (854) 777-0103 or send the form for a free quote on both.