Author: Stone Deck

We all want our homes to look their best and building a maintenance free deck is a great way to beautify your space and increase the value of your home. However, without a strong, supportive base or weather-resistant surface, you may find yourself with a sunken patio or deteriorating deck.

One of the best things about using the StoneDeks Silca System is that you can build your stone deck right on top of your existing deck frame and joists. Plus, it’s exceptionally strong, coming with Canadian engineering reports signed off for each province. The hexagonal underlayment is made from thick engineered polymer and provides support every two inches. Homeowners or contractors can create a stone, porcelain or paver deck without worrying about the heavy weight of stone pieces or pavers.

So, what exactly is the Silca System? Simply put, the Silca System is a way to create a stone deck or revitalize and rejuvenate your existing wood or composite deck, without any major demolition work. Manufactured from high-quality, recycled plastics, the Silca System is essentially an exoskeleton for your deck allowing you to transition from wood to stone or porcelain surfaces with ease. The key is the hexagonally shaped foundation of the grates, which help to evenly distribute the weight and balance surface materials simultaneously. Once this framework is in place, you can quickly and easily start installing your stone of choice overtop. Thanks to Silca System you have just transformed your deck from wood or composite to stone in a short amount of time.

Silca System was actually designed, tested and produced to change the impossible back into the possible. You can now build, with stone, pavers or porcelain, on elevated framed structures such as patios, balconies or rooftops. The relatively low cost of a Silca System fits easily within most budgets, helping to bridge the gap between a luxurious feel and modest overhead. And design options are literally limited only by your own imagination! You can now use pavers, stone and porcelain as the walking surface to literally every space imaginable: walkways, porches, decks, pool surrounds, balconies and many more!

Silca System makes finishing your elevated raised deck a breeze no matter what the height. Whether you want a beautiful deck off your first-floor kitchen or an elevated deck off your family room where you might have a basement entrance underneath, Silca System can handle the job.

No elevated deck would be complete without a stairway or two.  With Silca System you can match the beautiful deck with a stone staircase that accents your deck design. Creating a visually stunning stone staircase can seamlessly connect the rest of your hardscape and landscape design.

Wooden pool decks can take a ton of wear and tear.  With Silca System you can create a beautiful stone deck around your pool that looks amazing and is easy to maintain.

A gazebo can be a beautiful backyard centerpiece.  Now imagine a gorgeous stone design covering the entire base – both top and sides – thanks to Silca System.

Simply put, Silca System is a sub-flooring system that is installed on top of pre-existing or newly built wood or metal deck joists. Doing so allows your deck to support any type of stone or paver you’d like. Silca System can help you transform your wood or composite deck into a beautiful, durable and low-maintenance stone deck. Not only is it strong and beautiful but it’s also made with recycled materials proving to be environmentally friendly. Made in the USA, Silca System comes with a 20 year residential and 10 year commercial warranty. Check out the cost of a Silca system today and enjoy the Stone Deck Innovations

More and more people are realizing the joy of creating beautiful outdoor living spaces – not only for the benefit of adding to the value of your home, but to allow them to enjoy their own back yards! In North America alone there will be 6.5 million decks built this year. Plastic composite decking is expected to see the fastest growth of all decking materials increasing 4.5% a year through 2020. So, a Stone Deck Vs a Composite deck – how do they compare?

Composite decking boards are made of wood and plastic. The wood particles can be anything from sawdust, wood chips, or wood fiber pieces. The plastic components can be either virgin or recycled plastic materials. A stone deck paver is used widely in building and landscaping as it is highly prized for beauty, strength, and durability. Stone pavers are made of many materials including limestone, bluestone, basalt, sandstone, and granite.

Besides the obvious difference in materials when comparing a stone deck vs a composite deck there are some similarities.

The build concept and techniques for both a stone deck and a composite deck are similar. The framing structure for both can be either floated or with footings, depending on the soil conditions.  The footings can either be mechanical screw piles or concrete footings. The structure is then framed using pressure-treated lumber.  The framing of a stone deck vs a composite deck can be slightly different.  According to both manufacturers, using StoneDeks Silca Grate or Evolutiondeck’s Tiledeck you can use a standard 16” on center frame. Some composite boards need to be supported by 12” on center frame to prevent the boards from sagging in hot temperatures. Stone is not affected by heat and thanks to the supportive nature of the stone deck products, it will not shift.  Stone will also remain cooler than composite decking boards, but both products will heat up more if darker colours are selected.

From a routine maintenance perspective, a stone deck vs a composite deck, both are considered maintenance-free and will last you a long time. A stone deck simply needs a quick pressure wash to get rid of the grime from winter or when needed. Composite manufacturers, however, do not recommend the use of a pressure washer as this could damage the decking surface and will void the warranty should any condition caused by the pressure washing occur. 

Another factor to consider for Canadians is winter maintenance. With snow and ice build-up keeping your deck clear may be a bit of a challenge.  So how does a stone deck vs composite deck compare for winter maintenance? Some stone products and most composite products may be affected by salt, so the best option for removing snow and ice is a calcium chloride-based “ice melt” or rock salt. Look for the phrases “safe for concrete”, “safe for flagstone” and “will not kill grass”. Using plastic or metal shovels will not affect a stone deck and any non-slip grit that is applied will easily wash off in the spring. Ice melts with a colorant added, while convenient to see how much are where you’ve spread it – can stain the stone or composite decking.  Sand or grit, while it offers traction on slippery surfaces, should be avoided on composite decking as it can damage the surface. Metal shovels or sharp-edge tools are also not recommended for use on composite decking.

When comparing the cost of a stone deck vs a composite deck the pricing is fairly similar. Since both builds, in essence, are the same from the footings to the framing, the difference in pricing will be the cladding materials.  The price for composite decking and stone can vary greatly depending on the vendor.  Most big box stores can offer some great pricing on weekend or flyer specials – but be cautious! These great deals are usually limited in stock or are based on truckload specials, so if you run out or need more later in the season you may not be able to get the same colour or dye lots. If we look at regularly stocked and available items whether from a big box store, deck store or stone yard you will find that composite decking will run you between $10-25 per square foot, while stone will run $5-20 per square foot.

Whether you decide on a stone deck or composite deck, make sure to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options before deciding which one is right for you.

Welcome to deck innovations.