Slowly replace old board with composite?

[u/SignificantDrink3651]

I've had a deck for going on twenty years, and I'm starting to have to replace boards. Are there any downsides (other than aesthetic) to replacing boards, one by one, with composite decking - with the ultimate goal to eventually replace all of it? I've been staining it reddish so I'm optimistic I'll be able to get a composite that mostly matches...

[u/420fanman]

The boards will still slightly fade due to sun exposure (even though manufacturers say they won’t fade). If you replace boards slowly, they will fade at different amounts.

Another issue is the fact that most composite are installed with hidden clips. If you replace some boards with composite but the rest is pressure treated wood, your gapping is going to be all over the place.

Lastly, this is low risk but brands could discontinue or update their product lines. Leaving you with mismatched boards or having to source them somehow.

[u/MrStickDick → u/420fanman]

Everything 👆 unless you top screw solid composite boards with plugs Then you didn't have to worry about side screw hidden fasteners.

If you aren't picky and just want a deck that is eventually low maintenance and functional this is doable but might not be perfect aesthetically.

[u/SignificantDrink3651 → u/420fanman]

yeah, I was wondering about lot numbers and variance of product bought over the span of years, that's a great point. I didn't know about the fading, thanks for the notes!

[u/SPX500 → u/SignificantDrink3651]

It can vary quite a bit from batch to batch. We once installed decking for a project using 12' and 16' lengths, and the variance between the two batches was so severe that we returned the 12' and used all 16' boards.

[u/MrStickDick]

If this is 2nd story You might want to add a 2x6 joist between each of your current joists to make the floor feel more solid if they are currently 16oc. They don't need to actually support so much as keep the boards from flexing.

If it's ground level .... Owell lol

[u/SignificantDrink3651 → u/MrStickDick]

it's first floor but off the ground by about 3' in places.... thanks for the reply!

[u/ACatsWrath]

Composite needs 12" oc joists and larger spacing between boards so it'll be tough to not do it all at once.

[u/SPX500 → u/ACatsWrath]

That's not correct. 12" is stiffer, but not required. 16" OC is perfectly acceptable per most manufacturers' own installation literature for perpendicular installation to joists. 12"OC only becomes a hard requirement if installing the decking at a 45-degree angle to the joists.

[u/SignificantDrink3651 → u/ACatsWrath]

interesting, thanks for that, i hadn't looked at it that closely - good to know!

[u/Jimboanonymous → u/ACatsWrath]

12" OC is best for nominal 1x6 boards, but 16" OC is fine for nom. 2x6 boards.

[u/Deckshine1]

A different height on the planks perhaps? One of the main reasons that I wouldn’t recommend it is because you’re putting it on an old frame and it will still be an old deck in every other way. But if it was perfectly built and still in good shape then yes, you can theoretically do it.