How long does a typical composite deck installation take?

Most standard-size residential decks take about one to two weeks from framing to finished railing, depending on size, site access, and how much substructure repair is needed if it's a replacement. Larger decks, multi-level designs, or unexpected framing rot can extend that timeline, and we'll walk you through a realistic schedule before work starts.

What should I ask a contractor before hiring them to build a deck in Kendall?

Confirm they hold current Washington contractor licensing and active insurance, and ask specifically what fastener grade they use and how they handle ledger board flashing where the deck meets the house. A contractor who answers those specifically, rather than in general terms about "decks," is a better sign than one who only quotes a price.

Are all composite decking brands built to the same standard?

No — composite decking varies significantly between manufacturers in plastic-to-wood-fiber ratio, cap quality, and how well the product is engineered to resist moisture and UV over time. Lower-quality or uncapped boards can stain, fade, or absorb moisture noticeably faster than a well-engineered capped product, especially in a wet, moss-prone climate. We only install composite lines we've seen hold up over years in this specific climate, not just in a manufacturer's brochure.

What's the actual difference between capped composite and PVC decking?

Capped composite has a wood-plastic composite core wrapped in a protective plastic shell, while PVC decking is fully cellular plastic with no wood fiber at all. PVC resists moisture absorption completely and some lines run cooler underfoot, but it generally costs more and can flex slightly more under heavy point loads than capped composite. Both hold up well against Kendall's marine air and rain; the right choice usually comes down to budget, shade exposure, and how the deck gets used.

Does a deck in Kendall really need different detailing than one built somewhere drier in the county?

Yes — Kendall's marine air accelerates corrosion on underspecified fasteners and hardware, and the area's long moss season and freeze-thaw cycling through winter put more sustained stress on framing, fastener grade, and board gapping than a drier inland site would see. We adjust fastener choice, ventilation, and drainage detailing to that exposure rather than using identical specs across every job in the county.

Composite Decking for Kendall Homes | Ferndale Siding Companies

Composite Decking Built for Kendall's Climate

A deck in Kendall spends its entire life outside, with no roof or wall assembly to shield it from what this part of Whatcom County throws at it. Salt-tinged marine air works on exposed fasteners and hardware year-round, driving rain gets pushed sideways and up under railings and between boards rather than falling straight down, and a long, damp moss season settles into shaded and north-facing sections of a deck for months at a stretch. Composite decking exists specifically to hold up better against that combination than wood does, but the category covers a wide range of product quality, and how well a given board performs depends as much on the installation underneath it as on the material itself.

This page covers what a Kendall deck actually needs from composite decking, what a correct installation involves in this climate, and how our process works from first site visit to final walkthrough.

What Kendall's Climate Does to a Deck

Salt-Tinged Marine Air

Marine air moving through this part of Whatcom County carries enough salt to accelerate corrosion in exposed metal — fasteners, brackets, railing hardware, post connectors — faster than it would in a dry inland climate. A corroding fastener loses holding strength well before it looks obviously bad, and on a structure people walk and stand on every day, that's a real concern, not a cosmetic one.

Driving Rain That Doesn't Fall Straight Down

Storms in this area rarely deliver rain straight down. Wind pushes it sideways and drives it up under railings, into ledger connections, and between deck boards that aren't gapped correctly for the way water actually moves here. A deck built for calm, dry conditions can shed water fine on a still day and still trap moisture the moment wind gets involved, and around Kendall, wind is involved often enough that it has to be part of the plan from the start.

A Moss Season That Runs Most of the Year

Mild temperatures and sustained dampness give moss a long growing season here, and a horizontal deck surface is one of the first places it takes hold — it holds water longer between rain events than a vertical wall does. Shaded decks and sections under tree cover are usually first to show it, and any decking material with even a little surface porosity gives moss something to grip and spread from.

Freeze-Thaw Through the Colder Months

Kendall sees more frequent hard frosts than milder spots closer to Bellingham Bay, and that adds a freeze-thaw dimension on top of everything else. Moisture that's worked its way into a porous or poorly sealed material and then freezes expands, which speeds up cracking and material failure in framing, fasteners, and any decking product that isn't built to shrug off repeated freeze cycles.

What "Composite Decking" Actually Covers

Composite decking is generally a blend of wood fiber and plastic, but the ratio, the plastic type, and how the board is finished vary significantly between manufacturers and product lines. Two distinctions matter most for a Kendall deck:

Capped vs. Uncapped

Capped composite boards have a plastic shell wrapped around a wood-plastic composite core, which protects that core from moisture absorption, staining, and UV fade. Uncapped composite is the older style of the product, with the wood-plastic blend exposed on every side, which means it can absorb moisture directly and is more prone to mold growth and surface wear over time. In a climate with this much sustained dampness and a long moss season, that difference shows up faster than it would somewhere drier, which is why we standardize on capped composite for decks in this area.

PVC as an Alternative

Some manufacturers also build fully cellular PVC decking, which contains no wood fiber at all. PVC resists moisture absorption completely, since there's no organic material for water to work into, but it typically costs more than composite and can flex a bit more under heavy point loads. We'll talk through whether capped composite or PVC makes more sense for a specific deck based on sun and shade exposure, budget, and how the space gets used.

Composite Decking Compared to the Alternatives

Material	Handling Salt Air & Moisture	Moss Resistance	Upkeep
Capped composite	Strong — cap layer resists moisture, staining, and corrosion at fastener points	Good on most product lines	Occasional washing; no sealing or staining
Cellular PVC	Excellent — no wood fiber to absorb moisture at all	Strong, smooth non-porous surface	Occasional washing
Uncapped composite	Moderate — some moisture absorption at exposed fiber	Fair; more prone to buildup over time	Periodic cleaning
Cedar	Moderate — natural resistance, but needs regular sealing to hold up	Fair when sealed and maintained on schedule	Regular oiling or sealing
Pressure-treated wood	Weak against sustained marine moisture and freeze-thaw over time	Poor without regular treatment	Regular sealing or staining

For most Kendall homeowners, capped composite strikes the right balance between upfront cost and long-term performance given the moss, moisture, and freeze-thaw cycling this area sees. PVC is worth the added cost on decks with heavy shade, close proximity to standing moisture, or very high-use surfaces where the extra moisture resistance pays for itself over time.

What a Correct Composite Deck Build Involves Here

The decking boards get most of a homeowner's attention, but in Kendall's climate, the substructure and fastening details underneath are what actually determine how long the deck lasts. A build done right for this area includes:

Framing material rated for sustained moisture exposure — pressure-treated lumber sized correctly for the span and load, or an alternative substructure where site conditions call for it
Stainless steel or coated coastal-grade fasteners throughout, not standard-grade hardware that starts corroding in marine air within a few seasons
Hidden fastener systems on the deck surface where the product allows, which cut down on exposed metal and leave a cleaner walking surface
Correct board gapping for expansion, contraction, and drainage — composite moves with temperature the same way any material does, just on a different schedule than wood
Proper ledger board flashing where the deck ties into the house, since that connection point is one of the more common places moisture works its way into the wall behind it
Joist spacing matched to the specific composite product's span rating rather than a generic wood-framing layout
Railing and post attachment sized for the site's actual wind exposure, especially on elevated decks or more open lots
Ventilation and grading underneath the deck so moisture doesn't sit against the framing between storms

Skip any one of those steps and the deck usually still looks fine on day one. The problems tend to show up a season or two later, as a soft joist, a loosening railing post, or fastener corrosion staining the boards around it.

How Our Process Works

Site visit: We look at existing structure condition if it's a replacement, drainage and grade around the deck area, sun and shade exposure through the day, and how the site sits relative to wind and prevailing weather.
Material walkthrough: We talk through composite product options that fit the budget and how the space will actually be used, whether that's a quiet spot off the back door or a larger deck built for entertaining.
Permitting: Deck permitting in Kendall generally follows Whatcom County's standard setback, structural, and elevation requirements, and we handle that as part of the job rather than leaving it for the homeowner to sort out.
Substructure first: Framing and fastening decisions get made for the site's actual exposure before a single decking board goes down.
Decking, railing, and trim: The composite surface, railing system, and any stairs or fascia work follow, with board gapping and fastening detailed to the specific product's requirements.
Final walkthrough: We cover what the specific material you chose actually needs going forward, which for most modern composite is minimal, but not nothing.

What Composite Decking Still Needs From You

Composite decking is low-maintenance compared to wood, not maintenance-free. A little routine care goes a long way toward getting the full life out of it in this climate:

Rinse or wash the deck surface periodically to clear salt residue, pollen, and organic buildup before it works into the cap layer
Keep gaps between boards clear of leaves and debris so water and airflow can move through the way the design intends
Check railing posts and hardware once a year for early corrosion or loosening, especially heading into the wet season
Trim back overhanging branches or plants that hold moisture against the deck or block sun and airflow across the surface
Address any soft framing or standing water underneath right away — that's a structural issue, not a cosmetic one, and it doesn't improve on its own

Deck Readiness Checklist

Decking surface checked for soft spots, staining, or fastener corrosion
Railing posts and hardware inspected for loosening or early rust
Shaded and north-facing sections checked for moss buildup or persistent dark staining
Ledger board connection to the house inspected for trapped moisture
Framing underneath checked for soft spots, standing water, or inadequate ventilation
Board gapping confirmed as adequate for drainage rather than tight and trapping water

Cost Factors for a Composite Deck in Kendall

Factor	What It Affects	Why It Matters Here
Tear-off vs. new build	Labor scope and substructure access	Tear-off reveals hidden moisture or rot damage common under older decking in this climate
Substructure condition	Repair costs before decking goes on	Long-term trapped moisture can rot framing and ledger connections
Fastener grade	Material and labor cost	Coastal-grade fasteners cost more than standard hardware but hold up far longer in marine air
Decking tier	Upfront material cost	Capped composite and PVC cost more than uncapped composite or wood, but need far less upkeep over time
Site access and grade	Labor time and equipment needs	Sloped or wooded lots common around Kendall can add staging time compared to a flat, open lot

Exact costs depend on the specific property, its structure, and its exposure, which is why we walk the site in person before giving a real number instead of quoting off a generic price sheet.

Why Hiring a Crew That Already Works Kendall Matters

A crew that mostly builds decks elsewhere can still install composite decking competently, but a Kendall deck deals with variables that don't come up the same way everywhere in Whatcom County — corrosion-grade fastener requirements from sustained marine air exposure, moss pressure that runs longer here than in drier parts of the state, and freeze-thaw cycling through the colder months on top of everything else. Working this area regularly means we're not guessing at those requirements or learning them on your project. We've seen which composite lines actually hold up against Kendall's specific combination of salt air, driving rain, and moss, and which fastener grades and framing details are worth the extra time rather than an upsell.

That familiarity also shows up in smaller judgment calls — how to orient a deck for the shade and wind a particular lot actually sees, and being straightforward about what a deck here realistically needs to last versus what's just an extra line item.

Get a Straight Answer About Your Deck

Whether you're replacing a tired wood deck, building new, or just want an honest read on what composite decking would take on your Kendall property, we're happy to walk the site with you and lay out the options plainly. Reach out below for a free, no-pressure estimate.

Composite Decking for Kendall Homes