Decking composite boards can be painted, but not recommended. Most wood plastic composite decks can be painted and stained, except for capped composites. First of all, WPC decking has a good color fixation, fade resistance and no need to paint are the features of WPC decking, so you don’t have to worry about fading. Over time, the color of wood plastic composite decking exposed to UV rays and high temperatures for a long time may lighten.
If you want to change a decking color, it is possible. However, once you start painting your wood plastic composite decking, it means ongoing stain maintenance. And it may void the warranty on the flooring. The same applies to Unifloor decking composite boards.
Why can't capped composites be painted?
It can be painted or stained for most decking composite boards, except for the surface of coextruded composite decking, which does not accept paint, because the surface is different from other decks.
Capped composite decking belongs to “high-performance composites”. The structure of co-extruded composite decking has an additional layer of protection to ordinary wood-plastic decking. This protective layer is made of a PE sleeve. It is often called a “cap-stock”.
The manufacturer installs the surface of the cap through a technical process of co-extrusion. Most of the co-extruded composite decks come with a stain and fade resistance guarantee. You may refer to the following blog if you are concerned about whether composite board decking fades or not.
What do you need to pay attention to before painting?
1. You need to clean the deck first. You will need to remove all household and decorative items from the deck surface before cleaning begins. Thoroughly clean the deck and treat any areas that have mold growth. This is an important step to set the stage for color stability. Next, clean the deck with the recommended soapy water and allow it to dry.
2. Sand the surface of the material to be painted in the direction of the grain. Make sure to be gentle, remove the original color of the deck, keep the surface flat and avoid damage to the deck. Clean the surface again and allow it to dry.
3. Apply a coat of primer designed for outdoor decks and let it dry for two hours.
4. Then you are ready to apply the outdoor paint of your choice for the deck.
Note: Allow the first coat to dry fully before applying the second coat. Wait for a warm, dry day. The drier it is, the better. Humidity will slow down its drying rate.
Painting a WPC deck won’t affect its lifespan; it’s like having a brand new deck. However, be prepared to repaint it once in a few years. One of the values of composite decking is that it requires no maintenance. Once you start painting the deck, you will have to keep painting it to maintain the color, or if you want to repaint the deck. It will not last as long as the original surface of the composite.
Best paint for decking composite boards
The truth is that not all types of paint are suitable for wood-plastic composite decks. It is important to choose the right type of paint. So what type of paint is best for wood plastic composite decking? The answer is quality latex paint.
It is feasible to ask the manufacturer for advice before purchasing paint. Since repainting the boards will destroy the original surface structure of the deck, the maintenance requirements for the deck will change accordingly. Therefore, in most cases, this action will affect the deck’s warranty. However, it will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Decking composite boards in Unifloor
Unifloor is a one-stop decking composite boards manufacturer and supply chain. The composite decking is shipped directly from the factory at wholesale price. Please contact us for more information if you have any needs. You will find your decoration solutions here.
