Are you planning to redo your patio this summer and you are undecided about the floor covering? Would you like to benefit from the advantages of composite or PVC, but have you often heard that it becomes much hotter than wood in the sun ? There is a lot of conflicting information out there regarding the warmth of composite. Some are true, some are false, but in general, much depends on the context and conditions of each situation. However, it is true to say that composite gets a little warmer than wood of an equivalent color in the sun, but there are important nuances. In order to enlighten you, we have put together some useful information on the subject . You will then be able to choose your floor covering with full knowledge of the facts!

Photo: Composite patio.

1. A composite floor will always be warmer than wood , since the thermo-conductivity of plastic (contained in the shell which covers the composite boards) is higher than that of wood, therefore it is a better conductor of heat.

2. A PVC floor will become cooler than an equivalent colored composite floor . The density of the material being lower, it retains less heat.

3. Light colors absorb less heat than dark ones . We can note a difference of approximately 13 degrees for two composite boards from the same company, one being light and the other dark.

4. Your composite patio floor becomes 15 to 30 degrees warmer than the surrounding air on a sunny day. Note that a stained wood floor, in the same color shade as the composite, will experience slightly lower, but similar results .

5. When the composite is in the shade or when there are significant cloudy periods, the temperature can drop by 3 to 7 degrees compared to fully sunny surfaces.

6. The time of day has a big role to play . When the sun is at its zenith the angle of the sun differs from when it is late in the afternoon. We can then note a reduction in the heat of the composite of approximately 11 degrees between these two moments.

Even knowing these facts, people mostly choose composite because of its great qualities . It is a maintenance-free material, guaranteed for years. It is more expensive to purchase, but the cost of maintaining a finished wooden patio will quickly exceed this price difference. In addition, it is an ecological material made from sawdust and recycled plastic.