Summer Is Coming - Is Your Deck Ready for the Heat?
There is nothing like enjoying a long summer afternoon on a quality deck‚ but if you have ever stepped outside in July and then retreated back through the sliding door because your deck was hotter than a frying pan‚ you already know that all deck boards are not created equal under the bright summer sun․
At Decksforlife, we field this question every spring from homeowners across Canada: "Which deck boards won't burn my feet?" This season, we want to give you a straight, research-backed answer - because a deck that's too hot to stand on is a deck you won't enjoy, no matter how beautiful it looks.
As professional deck builders with years of hands-on experience working with every major decking brand, we've put together this practical guide to help you understand how today's leading low-maintenance deck boards handle summer heat - and what you should keep in mind before you buy.
Why Deck Boards Get So Hot
The biggest factor affecting the temperature of your deck is sun exposure․ Even on a day when the air outside might be 90 degrees‚ a deck that's in sun can heat up between 130 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit - pretty far beyond the threshold of your bare feet․ Two factors determine how hot your particular boards will get: the material the boards are made from and the color you choose․
The heat conductivity and heat storage of the board depends on the material of the board․ The color of the board determines how much solar radiation it absorbs․ Dark colors absorb more than light colors (this is basic physics - why a black car in a parking lot bakes while a white car stays tolerable)․
So when you're choosing boards for a new deck or a remodel‚ both of these variables matter․ Let's walk through the brands that Decksforlife recommends most frequently as deck contractors, and how each performs in the heat.
AZEK PVC Decking - Fast to Cool, Slow to Warm
AZEK is 100% cellular PVC‚ with no wood fibers․ PVC decking is interesting from a chemistry perspective: PVC‚ by its makeup‚ has a cellular structure‚ trapping air in the board․ Air‚ a thermal insulator‚ is a poor conductor of heat․ This gives AZEK a distinct advantage - it cools down far faster than composite boards when shade arrives or when the temperature drops in the evening.
In side-by-side testing done by independent decking experts, AZEK PVC boards in light and medium colors registered surface temperatures measurably lower than competing composite products under the same conditions. Some homeowners in full-sun climates have reported walking barefoot on AZEK boards in colors like Weathered Teak even on very warm days - something that would be impossible on a dark composite board.
However, AZEK is not magic. In extreme heat, even a light-colored AZEK board will get hot. The key advantage is recovery time: remove the direct sunlight, and AZEK cools in minutes rather than the hours it can take a composite board to shed its stored heat. AZEK also carries one of the strongest warranties in the industry - 50 years for most products.
As deck contractors, we recommend AZEK for homeowners who want the coolest possible surface and are willing to invest in a premium product that will outlast the deck frame itself.
Trex Composite Decking - Industry Standard, Getting Smarter About Heat
Trex invented composite decking in 1996 and remains the highest-selling and most installed composite decking brand in North America․ Trex composite boards are manufactured using recycled wood fiber and polyethylene plastic‚ and capped with a layer designed to resist moisture‚ staining‚ and fading․
In general‚ composite boards‚ such as Trex‚ absorb more heat and lose it more slowly than PVC products․ A black Trex board can reach temperatures of almost 148 degrees Fahrenheit on an afternoon in summer․ Trex's premium Transcend and newer Lineage lines have made real progress here - both use reflective pigments in the cap layer that bounce back some solar energy, bringing their peak temperatures down compared to older or entry-level boards.
Trex offers their Sun Comfortable technology on select board lines, which is engineered specifically to reduce heat absorption. The best way to keep a Trex deck cool in the summer is to choose a board with this technology in a light earth-tone color․
Overall‚ Trex is one of the best deck companies for homeowners if you're looking for a trusted‚ easy-to-access brand that has a 25-year warranty․ Decksforlife has installed hundreds of Trex decks, and the product consistently performs well in our climate when the right color is chosen.
TimberTech Composite and PVC Decking - Built-In Heat Resistance
TimberTech is now a sister company of AZEK and produces both composite and full PVC decking․ This allows homeowners to choose between two considerably different technologies‚ from the same manufacturer․
TimberTech's Advanced PVC line is engineered specifically for heat performance. TimberTech claims that their Advanced PVC decking stays up to 30 degrees cooler under the sun than their competitors' composite decking․ If you're looking to build a deck that faces south or west and would be exposed to hours of afternoon sun‚ the TimberTech PVC products may be a good option․
Their composite lines - including the TimberTech Legacy and Edge collections - perform similarly to Trex composites in heat tests, which means they will get warm in direct sun. The advantage here is the quality of the cap layer, which helps with long-term color stability and scratch resistance.
As regular installers of TimberTech composite and PVC decking‚ Decksforlife's deck builders often recommend the PVC line of decking for south-facing decks‚ poolside decks‚ and decks where walking barefoot is an important feature Fiberon Composite and PVC Decking - A Strong Performer Worth Considering
Not as widely known as Trex or AZEK‚ Fiberon provides deck contractors with a proven performer at a competitive price․ Fiberon also offers capped composite boards and PVC boards as part of the Paramount PVC and Promenade PVC product lines․
On the composite side, Fiberon's boards heat up at rates similar to other composite products. Their PVC lines - like the Paramount - behave more like AZEK in terms of heat retention and recovery speed. Independent testing has shown that Fiberon's lighter-colored boards, particularly in their composite lines, stay within a manageable temperature range for most climates.
One thing we consistently tell homeowners is that Fiberon is a strong value option. If budget is a real consideration but you don't want to sacrifice too much on heat performance, a light-colored Fiberon composite is worth a serious look. Decksforlife is happy to walk you through Fiberon options as part of your deck design consultation.
The Color Rule That Every Homeowner Needs to Know
No matter which brand you go with‚ color is one of the most important factors in achieving optimal summer deck comfort․ Dark shades like deep espresso browns‚ charcoal grays and dark mahogany tones will absorb more heat than their lighter counterparts․ That is not a small difference․ In full afternoon sun, a dark composite board can be 30 to 40 degrees hotter than a lighter board from the same product line.
Earth-tone colors - think weathered teak, sandy beige, warm gray, light cedar, and similar natural mid-tones - are consistently the cooler choice. In addition‚ they are closer to the temperature levels that bare feet can tolerate‚ while appearing more natural in Canadian landscapes‚ garden beds‚ and around home and business exteriors․
If you prefer the dark‚ rich tone of wood‚ consider applying a darker board for the picture frame outer edge of the deck and a lighter board for the walking surface․ This will give you the desired look‚ while not producing an uninviting surface for sandals or bare feet across your entire deck․
Building Smarter With Decksforlife
At Decksforlife, we are not here to sell you the most expensive product on the market. We are here to help you build a deck that works for your home‚ your family‚ and your climate - one that you will actually use for the next 25 to 50 years․
At A & J Certified Deck Builders & Deck Contractors in Canada‚ we know the summers are getting hotter and we understand how very uncomfortable it can be when your dream deck turns into a nightmare in July․ That's why we do our best to help you avoid regrets‚ before the concrete is poured․
Whether you're debating AZEK vs․ Trex‚ trying to decide if TimberTech PVC is worth it‚ or you've only recently started considering your options for a new deck this summer‚ our team can guide you through the decision process and help you reach a conclusion․ We carry and install all of the major brands‚ and we will give you an honest comparison based on your specific deck layout‚ sun exposure and budget․
Deck companies are notoriously fly by night but Decksforlife is known for doing the job right the first time․ If you want a maintenance-free deck that stays as cool as possible on the hottest summer days, start the conversation with us at https://decksforlife.ca/.
Media Contact
Company Name: Decksforlife
Contact Person: Iaroslav Streapan
Email: Send Email
Phone: (647) 701-3206
Address:3150 Dufferin Street Suite 1007
City: North York
State: ON
Country: Canada
Website: https://decksforlife.ca/
