If you have a raised deck, composite deck skirting is the surefire way to lend a clean and practical finish to your outdoor living space.
Choosing composite deck skirting for your deck comes with several aesthetic and performance benefits, including:
- Promoting your deck’s health: Deck skirting minimizes the likelihood that animals, mold, or moisture will gather below your deck surface and harm your deck’s substructure.
- Polishing your design: Skirting unifies the overall look and feel of your outdoor living space.
What Is Deck Skirting?
Traditionally, deck skirting is made up of the boards that run perpendicular to the deck surface and the ground. Alternative options, like cellular PVC wraps, are also available.
Deck skirting is related to, but distinct from, deck fascia boards. Deck fascia covers the wood perimeter joist of the deck frame and is sometimes called a “rim joist cover.”
Why Choose Composite Deck Skirting Instead of Wood Skirting
The answer is simple: because composite decking is superior to wood. Opting for TimberTech composite decking over wood translates to:
- Leading design: Take your pick from nature-inspired colors, realistic grain patterns and innovative options like Multi-Width Decking.
- Improved long-term value: Traditional pressure-treated wood skirting will need staining, cleaning, and replacement. TimberTech composite deck skirting cuts those associated maintenance costs.
- Unrivaled performance: Our decking comes backed by industry-leading warranties.
Pressure-Treated Lumber
TimberTech Composite Decking
A new joist may be slightly narrower/ shorter than existing joists. Add a moisture-resistant shim to raise it to correct height.
What to Know Before Installing Composite Deck Skirting
Before you would install composite deck skirting, you will want to make sure your deck substructure is healthy, and your deck joists are properly blocked and spaced.
Check Your Deck
Follow these tips to make sure your deck is ready for skirting installation.
- Check for soft spots, broken pieces, splits, cracks, or damage to the wood from moisture or the elements.
- Look for high / low / uneven joists using a tight string line. Joists must be level and in plane for a flat surface.
- Use a water management system such as a drip cap or flashing wherever framing meets the home to move moisture away from the home and deck.
For more composite decking installation tips and best practices, explore the Deck Building Resource Center.
Composite Deck Skirting: Inspiration & Ideas
Just as you can get creative with your deck surface design, you can also bring your unique style to your composite deck skirting ideas.
Choose Contrasting Fascia
Fascia, while not itself part of deck skirting, is still an important factor to keep in mind when determining your overall deck design. The fascia and skirting will meet at the edge of the deck to form a clean, continuous look.
If you want to harness modern deck design trends, go for a picture frame pattern. Choose fascia deck boards in a different color from your skirting and deck surface to showcase the clean lines of your composite deck — plus, bring design-right dimensionality to your backyard.
Polish Your Look With PVC
For a crisp finish that matches the trim on your home, you can also use PVC wraps as skirting. Like composite deck skirting, the cellular PVC of AZEK® Trim offers a clean look and serious resistance to fading, staining, moisture, or mildew.
Ready to find the right skirting for your deck project? Work with a TimberTech-registered contractor to begin bringing your ideal deck to life.
Bring the Beauty of TimberTech to Your Backyard
Work with one of our registered contractors for a build that transforms your outdoor living space.
