Let’s talk about color.
These days’ houses basically come in two colors, grey and beige. There is plenty of variation in these basic pallets from black to white, brown, taupe, cream and light silver to deep charcoal. Vinyl decking for the most part only comes in these basic colors as well. The first decision customers usually make when deciding on a vinyl color is Grey or Beige? After that the next question is light or dark?
The light VS the dark
Personally I really like the darker vinyl colors. But they are not for everyone, let me explain. Decks that get a lot of sun are not great candidates for dark colored vinyl. Lighter colors in both the grey and beige families reflect more solar radiation, which offers a several benefits:
- Reduced heat absorption, keeping your deck cooler underfoot
- Slower color fading, maintaining the deck’s appearance for longer
- Decreased material degradation, extending the lifespan of your deck
This is particularly important for south-facing decks, which receive intense sun exposure. In these high-sun areas, opting for a lighter shade can prevent accelerated fading and wear.
If your deck does not get pounded by the sun all day, then you might be able to get away with a darker vinyl. Dark vinyl looks great and hides dirt better. When I help customers choose colors, I explain the balance of wanting light colors for UV reflection and dark colors hiding dirt.
Matching my siding
When I show customers physical samples the first thing they usually do is hold the material up against their siding looking for a match. This is a good idea, but I wouldn’t limit myself to “matching the siding”. I usually wouldn’t choose a grey vinyl to go with taupe siding but I wouldn’t get to caught up on trying to match the shade. Sometimes contrast looks great! A light vinyl and dark siding, or vice versa can look sharp. Also when people sit on their deck they are rarely looking at the house, they are looking into their back yard or at the view if they have one. Same goes for looking at the deck through the windows of the house, when you are looking out you are not looking at your siding most of the time.
Wood plank patterns, seam direction and recessed seams
The wood plank patterns are my favorite but some people can’t stand them. For some the faux look is a real turn off. I really like them for homes with ocean views, mountain views, acreages, and homes with other wood details. Although you can over do the wood!
When we install a wood plank pattern on a deck we like to run the material lengthwise. This is so the plank pattern runs across the full length of the deck, mimicking how a traditional wood deck would be built. This does run into a technical problem though. When we run the material lengthwise the seams in-between each piece of material goes against the slope of the deck. Water can pool behind the bump in the seam leaving a bit of standing water on your deck which will attract dirt and can result in premature fading. The way we deal with this by doing “recessed seams”. We router a channel in the plywood of the deck prior to installing the vinyl where the seams are going to sit. This eliminates the bump, preventing water pooling and obscuring the seam. This in combination with the natural lines the vinyl’s pattern makes the seams very difficult to see. That way we get our planks running in the right direction and we mitigate water pooling.
Conclusion:
When choosing your vinyl deck color, consider these key points:
- Think about sun exposure – lighter colors work better for sunny decks
- Balance aesthetics with practicality – darker colors hide dirt but absorb more heat
- Don’t stress too much about matching your siding exactly
- Consider wood plank patterns for certain home styles
- Think about seam direction and ask about recessed seams for a cleaner look
Remember, the right color choice can make your deck look great and last longer. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your friends, family or a pro for advice.
