Every deck project begins with a vision: morning coffee in the sun, a dinner that lingers into dusk, a place where bare feet don’t flinch and furniture slides without snagging. The material you choose drives how that vision holds up over the next 10, 15, or 30 years. When homeowners call a deck builder in Lake Norman, Cornelius, or Mooresville to talk through options, the conversation often narrows quickly to two contenders: composite and PVC. Both promise low maintenance compared to wood. Both carry long warranties from brand-name manufacturers. Yet they differ in how they age, how they feel underfoot, what they cost long term, and how they behave in our Carolina heat and humidity.
I’ve built, rebuilt, and maintained decks through enough summers and storm seasons around the lake to have seen what goes right and where problems hide. Here’s a practical, field-tested comparison of composite and PVC that goes beyond brochure language and hits on the edge cases that matter.
What “composite” and “PVC” really mean
Composite decking blends wood fibers with recycled plastics, then caps the boards with a protective shell. Manufacturers vary the recipe: some use higher-density cores, others tweak the cap thickness or texture. The wood fiber inside composite gives it a familiar heft and stiffness. The cap resists staining and fading far better than the first generation of composites from two decades ago.
PVC decking is cellular polyvinyl chloride through and through, typically with an acrylic or PVC cap. There’s no wood fiber inside. That makes it lighter, more dimensionally stable, and near-impervious to moisture. The density is engineered to accept fasteners and resist dents. The better PVC boards offer realistic grain and color variegation, a far cry from the chalky plastic look people remember from old plastic decks.
If you prefer plain talk: composite still has a bit of “wood’s soul” inside, while PVC is an engineered marine-grade plastic designed for constant exposure. That difference shows up in expansion and contraction, heat, sound, and how each material handles abuse.
Durability in real life, not the lab
In the field around Lake Norman, we see a few patterns. Composite’s wood-fiber core can soak up water through cut ends or deep scratches if the cap is breached. That rarely causes structural failure, but it can lead to swelling at end cuts or under snow-and-melt cycles farther north. Here in the Piedmont, the bigger risks are shade-driven mildew and debris trapped between deck boards. With good spacing and regular rinsing, composite holds up well for 15 to 25 years. Most major brands back their product with 25-year residential fade and stain warranties, and some cap that with structural coverage.
PVC boards shrug off moisture. I’ve pulled up PVC decking after 10 years over a shaded cove and found the joists needing attention while the boards looked ready for a second life. The material resists mold because there is no organic content to feed from. The potential downside is thermal movement. Long runs of PVC need precise gapping and hidden fasteners designed for expansion. On a west-facing deck that bakes from lunch to sunset, PVC boards expand and contract more than composite, especially in darker colors. That’s not a failure, but if the installer ignores gapping specifications or mixes fastener types, you can see creeping misalignment over seasons.
Surface wear tells another story. Both materials resist splintering. Composite caps vary in hardness, and I’ve seen grill feet or dragged planters leave glossy burnish marks on certain finishes. PVC tends to regain its look after a gentle clean or a heat gun pass on scuffs, a trick that works because of the thermoplastic nature of the cap. A careful hand is crucial, but it’s a useful fix after a big party or moving day.
Heat and comfort underfoot
If your deck soaks up afternoon sun, the heat question isn’t academic. Most darker boards, composite or PVC, get hot enough in July to make barefoot kids dance. Light colors help. Texture and gloss also play a role. A lighter, matte-finish PVC board can be noticeably cooler than a dark, high-gloss composite. The size of the heat delta on a 95-degree day can be 10 to 15 degrees at surface level, enough to change comfort. I bring a laser thermometer to summer consultations and shoot sample boards on site so homeowners can feel the difference.
Another comfort factor is sound. PVC has a slightly hollow ring when you walk in hard shoes, more noticeable on framed spans at 16 inches on center. Composite feels more muted, closer to wood. Upgrading joist spacing to 12 inches on center, or adding a high-density underlayment strip, tightens up the stride and quiets PVC decks significantly. That detail becomes important near a patio enclosure where echo can amplify.
Slip resistance when life gets wet
Decks near water, or under the drip line of a patio enclosure, face wet footing more often than front porches. Both composite and PVC come with slip-resistant textures, and some lines are certified with wet-pendulum or dynamic coefficient ratings. In the field, micro-texture and directionality of the grain matter more than a checkmark on a spec sheet. Shoes grab better on deeper, multi-directional embossing. Bare feet prefer a fine linear texture.
PVC’s cap is consistent across the board. Composite can vary where the cap meets the core at edges or on scalloped-bottom profiles. For stairs, I lean toward the grippiest texture available in the chosen line, and I recommend nosing that contrasts just enough in color to cue the eye without looking like caution tape. If you want high confidence on a lakeside dock or a pool surround, PVC with a matte, coarse texture usually wins.
Moisture, mildew, and shade exposure
Shaded decks collect pollen, leaf tannins, and soot from nearby roads. That film feeds mildew on any surface if it isn’t rinsed periodically. On composite, the cap keeps growth largely on the surface, but the wood dust inside can darken around cut ends and screw penetrations if water sits. With PVC, mildew clings but doesn’t dig in. A bucket of warm water with dish soap and a soft brush clears it. Sodium percarbonate cleaners raise embedded stains on both materials, but PVC rebounds faster with less elbow grease.
Edge cases show the difference. In deep shade under a dense canopy, the underside of composite boards sometimes welcomes algae where air doesn’t circulate. An open-skirt design and 2 inches of clearance under boards help. With PVC, I still encourage airflow, but I worry less about hidden growth.
Aesthetics that hold up over time
Ten years ago, PVC often looked too uniform. Today, high-end lines mimic cathedrals and cross-cut grain with convincing variation. Composite still holds the crown for warm, wood-like tone in mid-grade price points. If you want a deck that looks like freshly oiled ipe without the upkeep, top-tier PVC and deck contractors in lake norman composite both offer “tropical” collections with streaking and depth.
Fade resistance has improved dramatically in both categories. Expect some shift in https://www.youtube.com/@lakeshoredeckbuilder the first 90 days as pigments equilibrate, then relative stability. Boards with darker streaks can mask scratches better than monotone planks. For homeowners who rearrange furniture often or have dogs that run the rail lines, a variegated color hides sin better than a solid field.
Border boards and picture framing elevate any deck’s look. PVC trims bend more easily for curves with a heat blanket, enabling sweeping steps or inlays. Composite can also curve, but it needs more heat and patience, and it holds the bend slightly less reliably over time. If you dream of radius edges and gentle arcs, PVC gives the installer more control.
Structural considerations and installation nuance
A deck stands or fails based on its frame, not its skin. That said, the decking material interacts with structure in meaningful ways. Composite is heavier. If you’re resurfacing an older frame, check beam deflection, post spacing, ledger condition, and fastener corrosion. I’ve refused to skin questionable frames with new boards because the bounce tells you what the eye cannot. PVC’s lighter weight helps the installer and lowers overall dead load, but it demands tighter fastening protocols. Follow manufacturer gapping instructions carefully, especially on lengths over 16 feet.
Hidden fasteners create clean fields, but not all clips are equal. Some clamp too tightly and hamper expansion, especially on PVC. Others leave boards that chatter in the wind. I keep a short list of clip systems that have behaved well through winter-summer cycles in the Lake Norman microclimate. For stairs, I often switch to color-matched screws for a locked-in feel. It’s less glamorous than all-hidden hardware, but it keeps treads whisper-quiet and rock solid.
When a homeowner asks a deck builder in Cornelius to add a patio enclosure on top of a new deck, I plan loads with the enclosure’s posts landing on beams, not floating over deck boards. PVC’s compressive strength handles incidental point loads fine, but any roof or heavy screen system belongs on structure. If that enclosure will fully shade the deck, I consider color shift and algae pressure as part of material choice. In that scenario, PVC’s moisture indifference is a strong asset.
Maintenance rhythms and real costs
Both materials are miles easier to care for than wood. You can skip yearly staining and sanding. Still, they are not maintenance-free. Plan for two washes per year, in spring and again in late summer after pollen season. A gentle rinse, soft brush, and mild cleaner protect the finish. Avoid acetone, strong solvents, or stiff wire brushes that can burnish or scuff caps.
Stains from mustard, grease, or sunscreen lift more easily on PVC, especially within the first few hours. Composite resists most spills, but oil-based stains can ghost if they sit through heat. Keep a deck mat under a ceramic grill, not a rubber-backed one. Rubber can discolor certain caps when heat and UV meet. Furniture feet should be smooth nylon or felt, never raw metal. These are small habits that add years of showroom look.
Cost comparisons must include fasteners, trim, fascia, and waste. Composite typically lands 10 to 20 percent cheaper than comparable PVC on materials. Labor can be close, unless the project involves curves or specific attachment methods that favor one material. Over 20 years, the difference often narrows. PVC’s resistance to moisture and staining can reduce spot-repair calls, while composite’s lower upfront cost keeps the initial budget comfortable. Warranty fine print matters. Read fade, stain, and labor coverage terms, and note any conditions about maintenance and allowed cleaners.
Environmental notes that actually matter
Both composite and PVC often include recycled content. Composite leans heavily on recycled plastics and reclaimed wood fiber. PVC may use virgin resin in the cap for color stability, with recycled core content varying by brand. The longer the deck’s service life, the better the environmental math looks for either choice. End-of-life recycling is still a weak point, particularly for capped products. A few manufacturers are piloting take-back programs, but they are limited regionally.
If sustainability tops your list, ask the brand representative two practical questions: what percentage of post-consumer content is in the core, and are there documented take-back or reuse pathways within 200 miles? In our area, trucking boards to far-off recyclers can erase the green advantage. The most sustainable deck is one you build once, maintain well, and avoid replacing prematurely.
Where each material shines around Lake Norman
Microclimate and use profile push the decision. On a north-facing deck shaded by tall pines, with a patio enclosure that keeps the space damp after storms, PVC behaves like it was born for the task. It resists algae, shrugs off standing water, and cleans up quickly after pollen season. On a wide, open deck in Mooresville that doubles as a party space, composite brings a quiet, solid footfall and wood-like warmth that many families prefer. If kids roll scooters across it or the dog treats it like a racetrack, look for a composite line with a harder cap and variegated color.
Docks and lakefront walkways often favor PVC for its moisture immunity and lighter weight. Roof decks and hot south-facing exposures reward careful color choice more than material type. Pick a lighter tone, pair it with a shade sail or pergola, and you’ve solved 80 percent of the heat issue. On covered porches and under a full patio enclosure, the material is protected from UV, so aesthetics and slip feel under dusty shoes matter more than fade warranties.
The money talk: budgets, phases, and value
Homeowners often come to a deck builder in Mooresville with a clear budget ceiling. When that happens, I’d rather do a great composite deck with a couple of premium details than a compromised PVC deck. Picture-framed borders, a flight of wide stairs, and properly flashed ledgers deliver daily satisfaction. Conversely, if the budget stretches and the design calls for curved steps, built-in benches, and a long life at the water’s edge, PVC earns its premium.
Phasing works too. You can build the structure for a future patio enclosure now, with blocking and beam sizing that anticipates posts, then skin the deck in the material that matches current budget and future plans. Running conduit for lighting and outlets during framing costs a fraction of retrofitting later, regardless of material. Smart planning beats any board spec sheet.
Mistakes I try to help clients avoid
- Choosing a dark board for a west-facing deck without standing on a heated sample at midday. Ignoring the manufacturer’s fastener system and mixing clips that fight thermal movement. Skimping on joist spacing under PVC to save a few dollars, then noticing a trampoline feel on hot days. Forgetting that fascia expands differently than field boards, which leads to waves along the rim. Placing a rubber-backed mat under a grill and branding the cap with a ghost pattern that never fully lifts.
Those lessons cost far more to correct after the fact than to prevent with a few minutes of forethought.
Working with a local pro who knows the lake
A seasoned deck builder or patio enclosure specialist who works daily in Lake Norman’s swing of humidity and heat brings practical bias, and that is a good thing. I keep a mental map of problem shade lines behind certain orientations, which composite colors scuff less under lake sand, and which PVC textures bite better on wet mornings. A deck builder in Cornelius will often steer you toward products that survived last summer’s storms with minimal movement. A deck builder in Lake Norman who has pulled up five-year-old boards can tell you which fasteners backed out and which held tight. Those field notes protect your investment more than any marketing claim.
If you’re interviewing contractors, ask them which brands they’ve stopped using and why. Ask how they handle expansion gaps on long runs, what joist tape they prefer to keep frames dry, and how they frame under picture-frame borders to avoid squeaks. Their answers will tell you if you’re buying a product or a system. You want the system.
A practical way to decide for your home
Lay three or four full-length boards, composite and PVC, on your site for a sunny day. Walk them at noon and again at dusk. Slide a chair across them. Drip a little cooking oil on a sample and see how it cleans. Listen to the footfall. Your feet and ears won’t lie. Share what you notice with your builder, then match the choice to your priorities: comfort, look, maintenance tolerance, and budget.
For many families, composite offers the best blend of cost, warmth, and quiet solidity. For others, especially near water or heavy shade, PVC’s moisture indifference and easy cleanup justify its premium. Both can deliver a beautiful, long-lasting deck when installed with care. The right pick is the one that fits how you live, where you live, and who will build it.
If you want a walkthrough tailored to your site, a local deck builder in Lake Norman can bring samples, run through options, and sketch out details that make a daily difference. The material matters, but the craft, the layout, and an honest conversation about trade-offs matter more. That’s how you get a deck that earns every morning coffee and every late-night story for the long haul.