How is composite decking actually made, and does that affect how it holds up in a wet climate?

Composite decking is manufactured from a blend of wood fiber and recycled plastic, usually with an outer plastic cap on higher-end products. That plastic content is what keeps the board from absorbing water the way solid wood does, which is a real advantage in a climate with as much sustained rainfall as the Skagit Valley.

What questions should I ask before hiring a contractor for a composite deck?

Ask how they handle ledger flashing and attachment to the house, what joist spacing they use for the specific composite product you're choosing, and whether they're pulling the required permit. A contractor who can answer those specifics without hesitation is usually one who's built more than a handful of decks in this climate.

Are all composite decking brands basically the same?

No — there's a real difference between older uncapped composite products and newer capped composite lines, particularly in moisture and stain resistance. Warranty length, board profile, and fastener compatibility also vary by manufacturer, so the brand and product line matter more than people assume.

What's the difference between hidden fasteners and face-screwed composite boards?

Hidden fastener systems clip boards from the side, leaving a clean surface with no visible screws, but they require tighter installation tolerances and specific board profiles. Face-screwed boards show the fastener heads but are more straightforward to install and easier to replace individually if a board is ever damaged.

Does Burlington's location away from the open coast mean salt air isn't a concern for deck hardware?

Burlington sits inland in the Skagit Valley, so it doesn't get the direct salt spray a waterfront property would, but the region's maritime weather still carries damp, mildly salt-influenced air through the valley during storms. It's still worth using stainless or coated fasteners rated for outdoor use rather than assuming distance from the water eliminates the concern entirely.

Composite Decking in Burlington | Skagit County Deck Builders

Composite Decking in Burlington: Built for This Climate, Not Just This Season

Burlington sits in the Skagit Valley, close enough to the Sound and the river bottomlands that homes here deal with a long wet season, heavy shade from mature trees, and the kind of humidity that never fully lets a deck dry out between storms. A deck that looks great going in during a dry August can start showing problems by the second or third winter if it wasn't built for what this area actually throws at it. Composite decking, installed correctly, is one of the more reliable answers to that problem — but "composite decking" covers a wide range of products and installation quality, and not all of it holds up the same way here.

This page covers what composite decking actually does well in Burlington's climate, what a correct installation involves, and what to check before you hire someone to build it.

Why Burlington's Weather Is Hard on Decking

Skagit County's climate isn't dramatic — it's persistent. That's what wears decks down.

Long wet season

Burlington gets an extended stretch of drizzle and steady rain rather than short heavy downpours. Wood decking absorbs that moisture slowly over months, swells, and eventually cups, splits, or opens up at the fastener holes. Boards that stay damp for days at a time are also prime territory for rot at the joints and where boards meet the frame.

Moss and algae growth

Low winter sun angles, shade from surrounding trees, and consistent moisture add up to a long moss season on north-facing and shaded decks. Moss holds water against the deck surface and makes boards slick — a real slip hazard on stairs and landings, not just a cosmetic issue.

Temperature swings and freeze-thaw

Skagit Valley winters bring occasional hard frosts after wet stretches. Water trapped in wood grain or in poorly sealed fastener holes can freeze, expand, and accelerate splitting. It's a slower version of what happens to roads and driveways every winter, just on a smaller scale.

Airborne moisture and salt influence

While Burlington itself is inland from the open coast, the region as a whole sits in a maritime air pattern — damp, salt-tinged air moves through the valley off the Sound, especially during storms. It's not the same direct salt exposure as a waterfront home, but it adds to the corrosion load on cheap fasteners and hardware over time.

What Composite Decking Actually Solves

Composite decking is made from a blend of wood fiber and plastic, which changes how the board behaves compared to solid wood.

It doesn't absorb water the way wood does, so it isn't prone to swelling, cupping, or splitting from moisture cycles.
It won't splinter, which matters for bare feet and kids on a deck that's wet more often than not.
It doesn't need staining or sealing on a yearly cycle — the color and surface texture are built into the board.
Capped composite boards resist mold and mildew staining better than wood or older uncapped composite products.
It holds up to the freeze-thaw pattern common here without the cracking wood eventually shows.

None of that makes composite maintenance-free. It still needs to be cleaned periodically, especially in shaded, moss-prone spots, and it still depends entirely on the substructure and installation underneath it — a composite deck built on a rotting or poorly ventilated frame will fail regardless of what the boards are made of.

Composite vs. Wood vs. PVC: How They Compare in This Climate

Factor	Pressure-Treated Wood	Composite	PVC (Cellular)
Moisture response	Absorbs, swells, needs annual sealing	Minimal absorption, stable in wet conditions	Fully water-resistant, no absorption
Moss and mildew resistance	Poor without regular cleaning/sealing	Good, especially capped boards	Very good, smooth non-porous surface
Upfront cost	Lowest	Mid-range	Highest
Long-term maintenance	Annual cleaning, staining, fastener checks	Periodic washing, minimal upkeep	Minimal, occasional washing
Feel underfoot / appearance	Natural wood look, warmer in sun	Wood-grain textures, wide color range	Can look more plastic, though newer lines vary
Typical lifespan here	10-15 years with upkeep	25-30+ years	25-30+ years

Wood costs less to install but costs more in labor and product over time — sanding, staining, replacing individual boards. Composite is usually the practical middle ground for Burlington homeowners who want a deck that holds up to the wet season without a yearly maintenance ritual. PVC is worth considering for waterfront-adjacent or heavily shaded properties where moisture exposure is severe, but it's a bigger upfront investment.

What a Correct Composite Deck Installation Involves

The boards get the attention, but the frame underneath is what determines whether the deck lasts. This is where a lot of problems on older or poorly built decks in this area actually start.

Substructure and ventilation

Joists need to be sized and spaced to the composite manufacturer's specification — composite boards typically require tighter joist spacing than wood, especially on diagonal patterns or stairs. Ground-level decks need enough clearance underneath for air to move, or the joists and blocking sit in damp, stagnant air all winter, which is exactly the environment that rots framing regardless of what's on top of it.

Ledger attachment and flashing

Where the deck attaches to the house is the single most common point of failure on any deck, wood or composite. Correct flashing keeps water from working its way behind the ledger board and into the house framing — this is a code and structural issue, not a cosmetic one, and it's worth confirming explicitly with any contractor bidding the job.

Fasteners and hardware

Given the moisture and mild salt influence in the air here, hardware matters more than people expect. Stainless or coated fasteners rated for the specific composite product resist corrosion and staining far better than generic exterior screws. Hidden fastener systems, when compatible with the board profile, also reduce the number of penetration points where water can find its way into the substructure.

Drainage and grading

Composite boards need a slight slope away from the house and gaps that allow water to pass through rather than pool. On lower decks, that includes checking that the ground or patio surface underneath drains and doesn't hold standing water against the joists.

How We Approach a Composite Deck Build in Burlington

On-site assessment — we look at sun exposure, shade patterns, existing drainage, and the condition of any existing structure before quoting anything.
Framing plan — joist layout, spacing, and ledger connection are specified to match the composite product being installed, not a generic wood-deck template.
Flashing and waterproofing — ledger flashing and any house-side connections are detailed before the first board goes down.
Installation — boards, fasteners, and trim are installed to manufacturer spec, with attention to expansion gaps and proper fastening for our temperature range.
Final walkthrough — we go over care basics and what to expect through the wet season before we consider the job done.

Moss and Long-Term Care Checklist

A well-built composite deck in Burlington still benefits from a little seasonal attention, particularly on shaded sections:

Sweep leaves and debris off the deck regularly through fall — trapped organic matter feeds moss and holds moisture against the boards.
Rinse or wash the surface a couple of times a year with a composite-safe cleaner, especially shaded or north-facing areas.
Keep gutters and downspouts near the deck clear so runoff isn't dumping directly onto the surface.
Check that gaps between boards stay clear of debris so water keeps draining through as designed.
Trim back overhanging branches where practical to reduce shade and leaf litter on persistently mossy sections.
Inspect fasteners and railing connections annually, particularly after a hard winter.

Choosing the Right Composite Product

Not all composite decking is built the same, and the differences matter more in a wet climate than in a dry one.

Capped vs. uncapped composite

Capped composite boards have a plastic shell around the wood-fiber core, which significantly improves moisture and stain resistance compared to older uncapped composite products. In a climate with Burlington's rain and moss exposure, capped boards are almost always the better long-term choice, even at a higher upfront cost.

Color and heat considerations

Darker composite colors handle our overcast climate well since heat buildup is less of a concern here than in sunnier regions, but darker boards can also show water spotting and pollen differently than lighter tones. We factor sun exposure and personal preference into color recommendations rather than defaulting to one shade.

Board profile

Grooved-edge boards paired with hidden fastener systems give a cleaner look and fewer surface penetrations, but they require tighter tolerance during installation. Face-screwed boards are more forgiving to install and repair but show fastener heads on the surface.

Why Hiring a Crew That Already Works Burlington Matters

A lot of composite deck problems we get called to look at weren't caused by the material — they were caused by a framing detail, a fastener choice, or a drainage decision that didn't account for how wet this area actually gets. A crew that regularly works Skagit County homes already knows the local permitting expectations, the ledger and flashing details that hold up through our wet season, and how shaded, moss-prone lots need to be handled differently from a sunny open lot. That local experience shows up years later, not on install day, in whether the deck is still solid and dry-framed the next time you're out there in February.

If you're weighing composite decking for a Burlington property, we're glad to walk the site, talk through the material and framing options that make sense for your specific yard, and put together a straightforward, no-pressure estimate — just fill out the form below.