Ideally, the composite decking you choose will look good, and remain solid and safe for many years. Consumer Reports’ performance tests evaluate these factors.
We use specialized instruments to test each decking sample for resistance to flexing. That ensures that boards won’t bow or bend if you’re entertaining a crowd or if you park a heavy grill in a particular spot all summer long.
Next, we size up which materials resist staining from spilled ketchup, mustard, and other common items you might use while eating outside. We also evaluate each sample’s slip resistance, which is particularly important if you’re installing a deck near a pool.
We drop weights of various sizes on the surface of each board to see which samples dent on impact. And we send more than a dozen samples of each material to two areas with extreme climates: hot and dry Arizona, and Florida, where the humidity presents a different challenge to certain materials.
We assess those samples yearly for three years, evaluating their appearance and retesting for all the attributes above, to see how age and exposure to the elements affect overall performance.
