Are composite decks hotter than wood?

This Is An Important Question Our Clients In Sarpy County Ask Before Choosing Decking

Composite deck with pool attached

You don’t want or deserve to be uncomfortable on your own deck! You should be able to enjoy it whether it’s the middle of the day or night.

In this post, you can discover if composite decking gets hot or not. You can also find out if it gets as hot as wood and what can cause composite to get hot or stay cool.

I Hate This Game

“The hot-deck-not-hot-deck game?” asks Robert.

Amber nods tearfully. “Yeah, I just played it and now my feet hurt. We have to do something about this. I heard about composite decking recently. Does composite decking get hot?”

Robert stands up. “I don’t know” -he starts running cold water into a small bin- “but we can look on Google to see if composite decking gets hotter than wood or not. We can also see how much a deck replacement costs.”

Amber smiles. “Yay! While I soak my feet in this ice water will you start looking?” Robert nods as Amber sits down, slipping her feet into the cold water. He gets his phone out and starts digging through Google.

Here’s what he finds and shares with Amber:

Does Composite Decking Get Hot?

Small composite deck with pergola

Composite decking can get hot. Composite decking can even get just as hot as a wood deck. It comes down to the colors you choose and the type of composite you want.

What Changes How Hot Composite Decks Can Get

Slightly raised composite deck

Color. Lighter color decks tend to stay cooler than darker color decks. Light colors reflect heat so they don’t get nearly as hot. Darker colors absorb heat, raising the temperature of whatever it’s on. Lacquer’s also a hotter color.

If you’re not sure which color is best, you can find colors advertised for their ability to get less hot.

Type of composite. Most brands have a flagship composite decking that’s made to be heat-resistant. They may get warm, but they shouldn’t get as hot as wood decks.

You May Also Like To Know

“Looks like we should switch to light-colored, heat-resistant composite decking,” points out Amber. Robert nods. “Before we commit, let’s see what else this blog can tell us about decks.”