3 Best Decking Materials For Hot Weather

Decking materials, chosen carefully, ensure summer comfort, not a heat-filled snare! When it comes to summertime, nothing beats the peace and relaxation of lounging on your deck. But when the temperature rises, not all decking materials are created equal. Choosing the right material for a deck is a crucial decision for residents of hot weather regions.

This choice can mean the difference between a comfortable outdoor oasis and a blisteringly hot surface that’s barely usable. Fortunately, there are decking materials specifically designed not to retain heat, providing a cooler surface even in the peak of summer. And the best part is that here at Brazilian Lumber, we have THE PERFECT options for you.

Table of Contents

1. Best Decking Materials For Hot Weather: Hardwoods

Hardwoods are an exceptional choice for decking in hot weather, primarily due to their inherent resistance to heat absorption. Their natural characteristics allow them to stay cool to the touch even in the most scorching temperatures, ensuring a comfortable surface for you to enjoy all summer long.

In addition to their cool nature, hardwoods offer remarkable durability, able to withstand intense, relentless sunshine without warping or fading. These dense woods are also naturally resistant to scratching and splintering, ensuring a smooth and safe decking surface. Couple this with their natural water resistance, and you have a decking material designed to survive and thrive in hot climates.

In this category, we have the best of the best decking material. Our tropical hardwoods are the premium choice you were looking for. Choose from our Ipe, Cumaru, Garapa, Jatoba or Tigerwood, and be amazed at the results.

2. Best Decking Materials For Hot Weather: Composites

Composite decking materials are a stellar choice for hot weather climates, thanks to their specially engineered qualities. Manufactured from a blend of wood and plastic, these materials are designed to resist heat absorption, keeping the deck surface cool even under the harshest sun. The durability of composites is another huge plus; they are crafted to endure the elements, ensuring a long-lasting deck despite constant exposure to intense sunlight.

The maintenance requirements are also minimal, making them an easy-care choice for busy homeowners. Furthermore, composites are water-resistant and do not scratch or splinter, providing a consistently safe, comfortable surface for summertime relaxation. Their versatility in design and color adds the final touch to their appeal, allowing customers to achieve the desired design while enjoying the cool comfort of their deck.

At Brazilian Lumber, we offer various amazing composite options, but in this article, we want to make Moisture Shield the spotlight of this category. Using advanced technology, this brand recently developed a composite decking designed to beat the heat.

This technology improvement absorbs up to 35% of the heat to stay cooler under the hot summer sun. This brand, from which we are authorized distributors, is the first one offering this heat-resistant composite decking innovation that can help you create more comfortable outdoor environments all season long.

3. Best Decking Materials For Hot Weather: PVC

PVC is also a good alternative when choosing the proper material for decking when summer feels eternal. These decking boards are made of synthetic decking materials, without wood shavings or by-products. Its boards are made of recycled polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.

It’s immune to the harmful effects of moisture, resisting mold, rot, and water damage like a true champion. The sun’s scorching rays? No problem! PVC doesn’t warp, fade, or crack under heat. With PVC decking, there’s no need for a rigorous maintenance schedule – a simple sweep and occasional wash keep it looking as good as new. Plus, its palette of colors and finishes lets you transform your outdoor space into anything from a chic, modern lounge to a vibrant, playful retreat.

We are authorized distributors of a few fantastic PVC brands, but to provide just one example, let’s talk about TimberTech. This brand offers advanced PVC decking specially designed to remain cool to the touch, even when exposed to direct sunlight. It incorporates cutting-edge materials science within its core and cap, granting it superior heat resistance compared to other composite decking products.

As you can see, in terms of durability, maintenance, and not heat retention, hardwoods, composites, and PVC options are pretty much alike. At Brazilian Lumber, we offer the best from all these decking materials for stunning decking projects. Ipe, Cumaru, or any of our composites or PVC alternatives truly know how to transform common spaces into extraordinary places. Here are some of their most impressive features.

No heat retention
Durability
Low Maintenance
Water resistance
Do not scratch or splinter
Aesthetic Versatility

Hardwoods, Composites, and PVC Do Not Get Hot Underfoot

The primary concern for decking in hot weather is heat retention. Decking materials that retain heat will become uncomfortably hot to walk on. Hardwoods, composites, and PVC alternatives are superior in this regard. Hardwoods, such as Ipe, Cumaru, and Teak, naturally stay cooler because they don’t hold as much heat. Similarly, composites, being a mix of wood and plastic, are engineered to resist heat absorption. Their heat dissipation qualities ensure that your deck will stay cool to the touch even on the hottest days, so don’t worry about burning your feet. PVC alternatives also have a suitable composition for no retaining heat.

When it comes to synthetic deckings, color plays a significant role in the heat absorption of composites. Darker colors tend to absorb more heat compared to lighter colors. However, this distinction is less pronounced in polyvinyl decks because the heat is not fully absorbed. While there is a slight variation in the peak temperature between darker and lighter-color PVC products, it is not as prominent as in decking materials.

1. Durability

Decks are an investment, and you want your investment to last. Durability is a significant factor, and hardwoods, composites, and PVC deckings excel in this area. Hardwoods are naturally dense and resistant to wear and tear. At the same time, composites and PVC alternatives are designed to withstand the elements, providing a long-lasting solution.

2. These Decking Materials Are Low Maintenance

Minimal maintenance is another key advantage of these decking materials. Hardwoods require occasional oiling to maintain their color but otherwise require little upkeep. Composites and PVC deckings, on the other hand, require virtually no maintenance beyond regular cleaning.

3. Water Resistance

Water resistance is an essential characteristic of decking in hot climates. Hot weather often means dry conditions, but when it does rain, you don’t want your deck to suffer. Hardwoods have natural oils that repel water, and composites and PVC alternatives are manufactured to be water-resistant, preventing moisture absorption and related damage.

4. Do not scratch or splinter

Nothing spoils the enjoyment of a beautiful deck faster than a painful splinter. Hardwoods, due to their density, and composites & PVC alternatives, due to their manufacturing process, resist scratching and splintering, ensuring a smooth and safe surface.

5. Aesthetic Versatility

Besides a strong structure, a stunning appearance is important when building a project. Luckily, our decking material alternatives offer a wide range of aesthetic options to meet any design preference.

Hardwoods offer a classic, timeless look with rich colors and natural grains. Each piece of wood has unique patterns, meaning every deck will look different. With hardwoods, you can achieve a range of styles, from rustic to elegant.

Likewise, composites and PVC alternatives also offer incredible versatility. Decking materials can be manufactured to look like wood or even stone. Plus, they come in a wide range of colors and finishes, allowing you to customize the look of your deck to match your home and personal style.

Choose Sustainable Decking Materials

Today, many homeowners are more conscious than ever about the environmental impact of their choices. In terms of decking materials, both hardwoods and composites have environmentally friendly features worth considering.

Many types of hardwood used for decking come from sustainably managed forests. This means that for each tree cut down, another is planted in its place, ensuring our planet’s forests’ continued health and alive. Furthermore, because hardwoods are natural and long-lasting, they don’t contribute to landfill waste as quickly as other materials might.

This is an essential characteristic of most of our tropical hardwoods, as they are sourced from a sustainable harvesting process and are certified.

Additionally, composites are made from recycled wood fibers and plastics, reducing the demand for new timber and keeping plastic waste out of our landfills. Moreover, composite decks have a long lifespan, minimizing their environmental footprint.

Conclusion

Summertime is for relaxing, not for dealing with a scorching hot deck or worrying about maintenance and damage. With hardwood, composite, or PVC decking, you can enjoy a fresh, comfortable deck, even in the peak of summer. These decking materials stay cooler under the sun and offer durability, low maintenance, water resistance, and a smooth, splinter-free surface.

Creating the perfect deck for summertime is not just about aesthetics; it’s about choosing materials to make your outdoor living space enjoyable and comfortable, no matter how high the temperature soars. So, whether you’re planning a new deck or considering a renovation, remember to keep it cool with the right decking material. Keep in mind that the best summer stories are told on a cool, comfortable deck. Make your deck the place to be this summer!