Composite & PVC Decks in Gorham, Maine

Gorham's wooded lots are hard on wood decking. Shade from pines and hardwoods keeps boards damp, falling needles and leaves hold moisture against the surface, and mildew and rot follow. Capped composite and cellular PVC boards resist moisture and mildew far better, and they do not need staining or sealing, which spares a homeowner the annual chore of washing and refinishing a pressure-treated deck.

Freeze-thaw cycles are another reason to choose composite here. Wood decking absorbs water, freezes, checks and cups, while capped boards keep their shape through a Maine winter. Composite does expand and contract with temperature, so manufacturer gapping and joist spacing must be followed, especially for diagonal or picture-frame patterns. Plastic snow shovels are the right tool on these surfaces. Darker colors get hot in full July sun, so lighter shades work better on open south-facing decks. Hidden fasteners leave a clean surface with no screw heads. The frame underneath is still pressure-treated lumber on frost-proof footings. Cardinal builds with Trex-style composite and PVC boards and matching railing systems.

Gorham counts about 6,800 housing units in the 2020 to 2024 Census estimates, with a median year built of 1988. Roughly a third of homes, about 33 percent, were built in 2000 or later, and about 29 percent date from the 1980s and 1990s, so most of the town's houses are under 45 years old. The older layer is substantial: about 14 percent of homes predate 1940 and about 21 percent predate 1960, including the wooden 19th-century houses of the Gorham Village historic district. Another 17 percent or so went up between 1960 and 1979. About 80 percent of homes are single-family detached and about 82 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied. The estimates show essentially no seasonal housing, so nearly every house here is lived in year-round.

Permits in Gorham are handled by the Code Division of the town's Community Development department, and applications are now filed online through the SmartGov system. The town lists a Building Permit for Minor Projects that covers decks, sheds and pools, so a new deck or a deck replacement is permitted before construction; ask the Code Division whether a roofing, siding or window job needs one. Lots along the Presumpscot and other rivers fall under shoreland zoning and need a Shoreland Zoning Permit for work in that zone. Gorham also has a Historic Preservation Commission, which issues Historic Preservation Certificates for designated historic properties and districts.

Gorham is an inland town, about 200 feet above sea level, drained by the Presumpscot, Stroudwater and Little rivers, and out of reach of the salt spray that wears on coastal houses. What it does get is a full southern Maine winter. The Portland International Jetport, the nearest long-term weather station, averages close to 69 inches of snow a year, with seasons ranging from far lighter to far heavier. Nor'easters bring high winds and storms that often exceed a foot of snow, and roofs carry that load for weeks at a time. Spring and fall bring repeated freezing and thawing, which drives water into siding joints, window sills and roof edges, and heaves deck footings that were set too shallow.

Composite and PVC decking do not need staining, do not splinter, and resist rot, which is why they have become the default for new decks in Maine. Composite boards blend wood fiber and plastic under a protective cap; PVC boards are all synthetic and lighter. The North Deering farmhouse on this site got a rebuilt deck with AZEK composite decking. The framing underneath is still wood, so it is built to last as long as the boards on top.

• Layout, size and board color are chosen with the owner at the estimate visit.
• Footings and framing are built to code, with joist spacing that suits the board manufacturer's span rules.
• Joist tape or flashing protects the tops of joists and the ledger.
• Boards go down with hidden fasteners or color-matched screws and the expansion gaps the product requires.
• Matching railings, stair treads, fascia and landings finish the deck.

• You are done staining and sealing a wood deck every year or two
• The deck is in shade or near water where wood stays damp
• You want a deck that stays barefoot-friendly with no splinters

• Composite versus PVC, and the product line
• Deck size, height and shape
• Railing system and stairs
• Hidden-fastener versus face-screw installation
• Footing and framing conditions

Every job is priced from a free on-site visit. Typical ranges for the trade are on our deck building page, and the details of this service are on the composite and PVC decks overview.

Back to the Gorham exterior services overview, or see every town on our Cumberland County service areas page.