Composite Decking Boards for floors?

[Southern by choice]

I am building a structure for our goats and dogs, well actually Straw Hats goats and dog. The structure will be solid and wood but I plan on building it to where I can take down all four walls with simply removing 12 bolts, lift floor boards, and move the base. One section will be 8x8. Second section also 8x8, 2 walls no floor, attached to the side of the first building.

I was thinking of using composite deck boards for the floor of the first building. I was thinking they would hold up better than wood to the urine of the goats.

Does anyone have any experience with this or any opinions on the product itself. I like the fact that I can remove the boards and thoroughly clean them. They are expensive though and so I want to make sure it's worth it.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Wish I knew :/ It might be better since they are less porous and have some kind of a plastic resin thing going on. Wonder if you could just replace one board for now and see how it does before spending on a whole floor of it.

 

[Goatherd]

I have this composite "wood" that you are asking about. I have a small porch made out of it but have never used it for the animals housing.

It is a great product. It is expensive. It is durable. Keeps it's color. SLIPPERY AS ALL GET OUT! That's the only bad thing I have to say about it. When it is wet from rain or snow, depending upon what shoes I am wearing, I slip and slide!

I don't know if all composite boards are like this, but mine are. They've been installed for about 4 years so possibly they have improved them?

You would have to have some kind of traction for the goats, I would assume, in the form of bedding or possibly rubber mats. Urine would certainly be easy to wash away on this type of surface.

 

[Alice Acres]

I don't personally have it, but my client I do nursing care for has a deck made out of it. It is 17 years old and still looks perfect. It is somewhat slippery when wet. But then, so is wood!

 

[SheepGirl]

We have composite decking for our deck. I have taken my sheep up on the deck to weigh them on a solid surface & also to take pictures. (They've never lived on it.) The only thing I've noticed is that it is slippery for hooves whether it's wet or not.

 

[Southern by choice]

thank you all for your input!

I found out not all composites are equal, so to speak. The one thing I found disturbing is that it is prone to mold. Temp sensitive, sometimes warping occurs. I think high end wood decking is what I'll stick with since they will be removable through a slat/slide in system. The boards will have plenty of straw too. I'm sure once the novelty of something new wears off, the dogs and goats probably won't use it anyway. They rarely go in a shelter. Big dopes!

 

[SheepGirl]

thank you all for your input!

I found out not all composites are equal, so to speak. The one thing I found disturbing is that it is prone to mold. Temp sensitive, sometimes warping occurs. I think high end wood decking is what I'll stick with since they will be removable through a slat/slide in system. The boards will have plenty of straw too. I'm sure once the novelty of something new wears off, the dogs and goats probably won't use it anyway. They rarely go in a shelter. Big dopes!

IDK how much money my parents spent on our deck (it was a 'surprise' that my mom had built for my dad when he was in Iraq 10 yrs ago--he had wanted one bad and when he came home it was here), BUT we do pressure-wash it 1-3x/yr because it does mold and it is warped. It didn't use to be this obvious but it is now, only when you are sitting inside our house...when you're outside sitting on the deck or from underneath, you can't tell. I hope it doesn't get any worse!