Recently, my spouse and I had a composite deck installed by a contractor in the Pacific Northwest. We're currently at odds about the quality of the work, specifically concerning some noticeable 'mushrooming' around the screws, which is when the material bulges up around the screw heads. One of us thinks this looks unprofessional and could indicate poor installation techniques or the wrong type of screws used, while the other believes it's typical for this kind of work. The contractor is scheduled to come back soon to replace the stairs, and we're debating whether we should ask them to address the mushrooming issues as well. To provide some context, this deck is built with mid-range composite material, and the project was completed just a week ago. I'll share photos later, but for those experienced with composite decking, is this level of mushrooming expected, or does it suggest a problem with the installation? Would you push for corrections?
3 Answers
I’ve installed a few composite decks and personally, I’d go back and tap on those mushrooms with a hammer to fix them. If you use the proper composite screws, the installation should be smooth with no mushrooming. It sounds like your contractor might have used the wrong screws or an odd pattern. Definitely bring this up!
First off, it really depends on the brand and color of the decking! If the contractor had options available for a hidden fastener that matched your color but didn’t discuss it, then they definitely could have messed up. If you agreed on this install method, then that might be the best you can expect. But definitely check out this brand before finalizing anything!
Absolutely! Hidden fasteners are usually expected to prevent mushrooming, so it’s worth discussing with your contractor.
From what I’ve seen, that doesn't look right at all. I suggest you dig into the manufacturer's installation guidelines. They often have detailed recommendations on how to avoid issues like this, and if the contractor isn’t following them, that’s a definite red flag. You deserve better installation!
That’s good advice! Also, if they're coming back soon, this is your chance to get those issues fixed before the project wraps up.