Jan. 09, 2019
Because WPC is made from real wood, you can expect WPC to exhibit many of the same properties as wood.
Color variation. Like real wood planks, each WPC composite board is unique, reflecting the natural variations of wood. Besides the raw material (wood fiber and plastic) will influence the color, the surface treatment also play an important part. When we use a new mold instead of a worn old one, the color of the finished composite decking board varies. Here we suggest it is better to order all the profiles at a time for one project. If you use two lots of profiles that produced at different time, you will find a bit color difference, which is acceptable for wpc products.
Natural weathering and color shifting. For the first few months following installation, WPC composite will naturally shift color as it begins to weather to a slightly lighter shade than the original color purchased. Like fine hardwood flooring, most color change will occur during the first three to six months. After this stage, WPC will weather consistently and beautifully, just like real wood.
Blooming. Also during the first few weeks after the composite material is exposed to the outdoors, WPC may experience a light brown-yellow color shift. This shift occurs because the natural wood fibers in WPC begin to oxidize or "bloom." Blooming is more common in the grey family of colors. The amount of time it takes for blooming to occur varies, depending on weather conditions and exposure to direct sunlight. However, this process rarely takes longer than four weeks, after which WPC returns to its natural weathering process. Inconsistent or uneven exposure to sun and elements will cause the deck to weather unevenly. Although this condition is temporary, you can prevent uneven exposure by not covering the deck with rugs or furniture during the first few weeks.
Staining, painting and waterproofing. Staining, painting, as well as applications of deck sealant or waterproofing are not necessary. If applied, these products will not properly bond to the surface of the product and will flake off. In fact, the use of stains or paint will void the warranty.
Scratching and denting. Just like fine hardwood flooring or genuine cedar decking, WPC will scratch and dent. Care should be taken during installation to minimize scratches and damage from tools and mishandling. After installation, avoid dragging furniture, outdoor grills or other sharp objects across the surface. Keep the surface free of debris that will promote scratching. Scratches that do appear will usually weather out over time and virtually disappear, due to the product's density and color-through formulation.
