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Composite Deck Installation in Meridian

Capped composite and PVC decking, the material most Meridian homeowners pick for a west-facing yard.

Composite decking is a wood flour and polymer board with a hard polymer cap on the exposed faces. It does not need staining, it does not splinter, and the cap is what resists the fading and chalking that a Treasure Valley summer inflicts on an unprotected surface. Boise averages a July high near 93 degrees, and a south or west facing Meridian back yard at 2,600 feet of elevation takes a long, dry, high-sun season every year. That is the argument for composite here, and it is the reason it now outsells wood on new builds in this valley. The trade is up front cost: composite typically runs 40 to 70 percent more than pressure treated lumber installed, and joist spacing usually has to tighten to 12 inches on center on a diagonal layout.

What the scope covers

  • Capped composite and capped PVC boards from the mainstream systems, installed to the manufacturer span table
  • Hidden fastener clip systems, or face screws with color matched plugs where the layout calls for it
  • Joist spacing set from the board manufacturer instruction, not from a wood decking habit
  • Picture frame borders and mitered corners where the layout suits them
  • Fascia and riser boards color matched to the field
  • Matching composite, aluminum, or cable rail systems
  • Manufacturer warranty documents handed over at completion

Reading further

The Meridian deck guide covers the whole process end to end. For numbers, work through the cost estimator or the Treasure Valley cost guide. Terms you have not run into before are in the deck glossary.

Questions about composite decks

How much more does composite decking cost than wood in the Treasure Valley?

Installed, composite typically runs 40 to 70 percent more than pressure treated lumber for the same deck. On a 400 square foot deck that is roughly the difference between a $16,000 build and a $30,000 one, before rail. Two things narrow the gap over time. The first is finish: pressure treated and cedar need cleaning and re-coating every two to four years in this climate, and composite does not. The second is framing, which is identical either way, so the premium only applies to the boards, the fasteners, and the fascia, not to the half of the deck that is under your feet but out of sight.

Does composite decking get hot in an Idaho summer?

Yes, and color matters more than brand. Dark boards in full afternoon sun in a Meridian back yard get uncomfortable barefoot on a 95 degree July day, and so does dark wood. Lighter greys and tans run noticeably cooler. Some PVC boards are engineered for lower heat gain than standard capped composite. If the deck faces west with no shade, either pick a lighter color or plan for a cover, which is the reason covered decks and pergolas are such a common pairing in this valley.

What joist spacing does composite decking need?

Most capped composite calls for 16 inches on center for a perpendicular board layout and 12 inches on center for a 45 degree diagonal layout, with stair treads tighter still. PVC and some lightweight composites have their own tables. This matters when a deck is being re-boarded over an existing frame: a 1990s frame built at 24 inches on center for 2x6 wood decking will not carry composite without new joists sistered between the old ones. The manufacturer instruction is the governing document, and it is what the inspector checks against.

Can composite go over my existing deck frame?

Sometimes. The frame has to be sound, the joists have to be at the spacing the board manufacturer requires, and the ledger and flashing have to be correct. On decks built in the early Meridian subdivisions, the frame is often fine but spaced for wood, so the honest answer is usually that the frame needs work first. A builder who quotes a re-board without pulling a few boards to look at the ledger and joist tops has not seen enough of the deck to price it.

How long do composite decks last?

Capped composite systems generally carry 25 to 50 year limited warranties on the boards, with separate and usually shorter terms for fade and stain. Those are manufacturer warranties, and they pass through to the homeowner with the paperwork. The frame underneath is pressure treated lumber, and it is the frame, not the boards, that sets the real service life of the deck. This is why a composite surface over a poorly flashed ledger is a bad trade: the expensive part outlives the cheap part that fails.

From the Field Notes

More on composite decks in the valley

Putting a Hot Tub on a Deck in Idaho

A filled hot tub with people in it is a load that sits outside every prescriptive deck framing table. What that means for framing, footings and the quote.

Getting a Deck Past a Meridian Architectural Committee

Most Meridian subdivisions have an architectural committee, and the city itself says to check with yours. What they want to see and how to stay on schedule.

Deck or Paver Patio for a Flat Meridian Yard?

On level Meridian ground a paver patio is often cheaper and lower maintenance, and a deck is still sometimes right. How the two compare on cost, upkeep and use.

Related Scopes

Things that get priced at the same time

Deck scopes overlap. Rail and stairs are part of nearly every build, cover is the most common addition, and framing for a future cover while the deck is open costs a fraction of retrofitting it later.

New Deck Construction

Ground-up deck builds off the back of the house, footings through rail, typical 1 to 3 weeks on site

Cedar and Wood Decks

Western red cedar and pressure treated builds, the lower entry price and the warmer surface underfoot

Covered Decks and Pergolas

Roofed deck extensions, pergolas, and shade structures for a west-facing Treasure Valley back yard

Deck Repair and Refinishing

Board replacement, ledger and flashing repair, structural fixes, and full strip and re-coat

Thinking about a deck this season?

Call (208) 314-4914 or use the quote form for a free written price on any deck project in the Treasure Valley.

Call (208) 314-4914 Get a free quote