Sometimes Composite Decking doesn’t live up to expectations. Composite Failures are more common than you expect.

Composite failures tends to repeat itself every few years: new product generations launch, and the same failure modes resurface — capped boards swelling at the ends and tearing the vinyl cap, warranty claims that go nowhere once a manufacturer changes hands or shuts down. Unstable cores, new ideas, often the same results. 

We’ve had clients send us photos of composite decking failures after spending thousands of dollars, only to be told a claim number exists but there’s no budget behind it to honor the warranty. That’s the real risk with composite: it’s not just the material performance, it’s whether the company backing the warranty will still exist — under the same name — by the time you need it.

If you’re considering composite decking, do the research on the manufacturer’s financial stability and warranty history, not just the finish and color options.

For a straightforward breakdown of composite vs. wood decking, see our composite decking page.