Alta Outdoor Living Warns of Dry Climate Cracking on Decks in Sedalia

How UV Exposure and Thermal Movement Cause Composite Deck Cracking in Sedalia, CO

Castle Rock, United States – March 3, 2026 / Alta Outdoor Living /

Alta Outdoor Living Warns of Dry Climate Cracking on Composite Decks in Sedalia

Sedalia, CO — Composite decking is widely regarded as one of the most durable and low-maintenance decking options available, and for good reason. But in a dry, high-altitude climate like Sedalia, CO, even composite materials face specific stress conditions that property owners need to understand. Alta Outdoor Living, a family owned outdoor construction company with over 30 years in business, more than 1,000 projects completed, and a portfolio of award-winning designs behind them, is sharing important guidance on composite deck cracking risks in Sedalia, CO and what property owners can do to protect their investment over the long term.

Why Dry Climates Create Specific Challenges for Composite Decking

Alta Outdoor Living explains that while composite decking is engineered to outperform natural wood in most environmental conditions, understanding how Sedalia’s high-altitude climate affects composite decks is critical because the dry climate introduces a specific set of stressors that differ significantly from the humidity and moisture challenges that drive composite deck problems in other parts of the country.

In dry, high-altitude environments, composite decking boards are subject to significant temperature swings between daytime highs and nighttime lows, particularly through the transitional seasons. These thermal swings cause the boards to expand and contract repeatedly in a relatively short time frame. Without proper installation gaps that account for this movement, boards can push against one another and develop surface stress that leads to cracking, buckling, or surface delamination over time. UV intensity at elevation compounds the issue by degrading the protective outer layer of composite boards faster than at lower altitudes, reducing the material’s ability to manage thermal movement as effectively as it did when new.

How Cracking Develops in Composite Boards in Sedalia, CO

Alta Outdoor Living identifies two primary cracking patterns that are most relevant to composite decks in the Sedalia, CO climate. Surface crazing, which appears as a network of fine cracks across the board face, typically results from prolonged UV exposure breaking down the cap layer of the composite board. Once that protective layer is compromised, the board’s core material is exposed to the same dry conditions and temperature cycling that caused the surface damage, and deterioration accelerates from that point forward.

End cracking is the second common pattern and occurs when boards are not cut and installed with adequate end gap allowances. In a dry climate where thermal contraction during cold nights is significant, boards that were installed without sufficient end clearance develop tension at the cut ends that the material cannot accommodate without cracking. This is an installation detail that matters enormously in the Sedalia, CO environment and one that Alta Outdoor Living addresses as a standard part of every composite deck build.

Product Selection Makes a Meaningful Difference

Alta Outdoor Living works with composite decking from Trex, TimberTech by Azek, Fiberon, Barrette Outdoor Living, and Deckorators, and advises Sedalia, CO property owners that product selection within the composite category carries real consequences for how a deck performs in a dry climate. Fully capped composite products, where a protective polymer shell completely encases the board core, offer significantly stronger UV and moisture resistance than partially capped or uncapped alternatives. In a high-UV environment like Sedalia, CO, the difference in cap quality between product lines translates directly into how long the board surface retains its protective integrity against the thermal cycling and sun exposure the local climate delivers consistently.

Alta Outdoor Living incorporates 3D deck modeling into every design consultation with our local team so that Sedalia, CO property owners can review the full scope of their deck system, including material selection and board layout, before construction begins, including material selection and board layout, before construction begins. Permit acquisition and full foundation installation using helical piers or traditional concrete footings are handled as part of every build, ensuring the complete structure is engineered correctly from the ground up.

Framing and Structural Considerations in Dry Climates

Alta Outdoor Living also highlights that the substructure beneath a composite deck plays a role in how surface boards perform through thermal cycling. The company builds with wood framing, steel framing from Fortress Building Products, and pressure treated LVL options including PWT lumber and KDAT lumber, providing a range of framing systems suited to the structural demands of Sedalia, CO builds. A framing system that maintains its dimensional stability through temperature swings supports the composite surface above it more consistently, reducing the board movement that contributes to joint and surface stress over time.

Get in Touch With Alta Outdoor Living

Alta Outdoor Living backs every composite deck project with a 5-year workmanship warranty and material warranties of up to 50 years. Financing is available for qualifying projects and free estimates are the starting point for every new build, deck remodeling, deck addition, or resurfacing project the company takes on.

Sedalia, CO property owners ready to build or upgrade a composite deck with a team that understands the demands of the local climate are encouraged to reach out directly and see how to get here. Call 630 669 8591 to schedule a consultation with a family owned company that has been delivering award-winning outdoor spaces for over 30 years.