Branson Composite Decking Built on a Frame That Can Hold It
Low Maintenance Is Actually a Real Thing.
Big Chief Exteriors installs Branson composite decking including Fiberon decking. You'll never stain it again, which is the whole point. You will still wash it, and we'll tell you the rest of the truth before you buy.
What We Build With
The Brochure Says Never. Your Neighbor Says Otherwise.
Composite decking gets sold on one promise, which is that you'll never work on your deck again. That promise is about eighty percent true and the missing twenty percent is what makes people grumpy three years in. You genuinely never stain it, never seal it, and never spend a July weekend on your knees with a brush. But leaves left in a corner all fall will still leave a tannin mark. Grease from a grill still stains if it sits. Shaded decks under heavy tree cover still grow a film that needs washed off. Nobody mentions any of that in the showroom, so when it happens folks feel like they got sold a story.
The other thing that catches people is the frame underneath. Composite boards are heavier than wood and they flex more between supports, so they need joists spaced tighter than a wood deck does, and tighter still if the boards run at an angle. A great many older decks around here were framed for wood at wider spacing. Lay Branson composite decking straight across that frame and it'll feel soft underfoot and read wavy in low sun within a couple of seasons. The boards didn't fail. They were set on a structure that was never built for them, and by then the fix means pulling everything back up.
“Before Vela, approvals felt vague. Now there’s a clear moment when everything is agreed on, and I can move forward with confidence.”
Maria L.
Travel Advisor
These guys were amazing! I own several homes and rarely do I see service of this caliber. The bid was very honest and reasonable. We decided to move forward and within a few days there were at our house working from dawn until dusk. The job site was always clean and the men were always very respectful and kind. It’s companies and men like this that made America great. You should look no further than Big Chief Exteriors.
Tracey Stroh
Branson, Missouri
I'm Tyler. The Boards Are the Last Decision, Not the First.
I'm Tyler Arnold. When somebody calls about composite, the first thing we do is get under the deck with a tape measure, because joist spacing decides whether this project works. Composite generally wants joists at sixteen inches on center for boards running straight across, and closer to twelve inches when the boards run at an angle, which is a popular look and a real budget item people don't see coming. If your existing frame is at twenty-four inches, we're either adding joists or we're having a different conversation. That's not us finding extra work. It's the difference between a deck that feels solid in ten years and one that feels spongy next summer.
Two more things worth knowing before you pick a color. Composite expands and contracts along its length with temperature, more than wood does, so butt joints and the ends against a wall need gapped according to what the temperature was on install day. Crowd those gaps and boards buckle in August. And heat is real. Dark composite in full sun on a lake-facing deck gets hot enough that barefoot kids will notice, so if your deck runs from a pool or a hot tub, we'll steer you lighter. None of that makes composite a bad choice. It makes it a choice worth making with your eyes open.
Tyler Arnold
Three Promises Under the Boards You'll Never Stain
The Fix It or Refund It Guarantee
If boards cup, buckle, come loose, or the deck feels soft because of how we built or spaced it, we're back out to fix it fast. No prorating. No trip charges. Nobody pointing at the decking manufacturer. And if we can't make it right, you get your money back. Every single cent. On composite, most complaints trace back to framing and gapping, which are our decisions and not the board's, so this is us standing behind the part that actually goes wrong.
The $250 Price Match Guarantee
Bring us a written bid from another licensed and insured company using the same decking line and grade, the same joist spacing, the same fastening system, and the same warranty. We'll match it and hand you $250 in cash for finding a competitor we hadn't heard about. Compare joist spacing first. A bid that leaves your frame at twenty-four inches will always look cheaper and shouldn't.
The Cleanup Guarantee
Composite cuts leave a fine dust that clings to siding and settles in the grass, plus offcuts and clips that hide everywhere. Our crews are paid on cleanup. We cut away from the house, collect the dust rather than blowing it into your beds, magnet the yard for fasteners, and wash down the patio and drive before we pull out.
“Before Vela, approvals felt vague. Now there’s a clear moment when everything is agreed on, and I can move forward with confidence.”
Maria L.
Travel Advisor
Gorden MacPhail
Cape Fair, Missouri
“Professionalism was evident throughout the entire process from initial estimate to project completion. We were so pleased with the deck restoration we had them back for our gutter replacement. We really appreciated the communication with Tyler explaining the process in detail. Best part was price was reasonable. Definitely a 5- star company!! Will do business again.”
What Neighbors Say About Their Branson Composite Decking
The Composite Work We Do
The material, and the line we install most of it in.
Composite Decking
Boards made from wood fiber and recycled plastic, in capped and uncapped versions. Capped boards carry a bonded polymer shell on the outside that resists fading, staining, and mold far better than the older uncapped product people remember from twenty years ago. Composite comes in a wide range of colors and grain patterns, installs with hidden fastener systems so there are no screw heads in the surface, and never needs stained or sealed. It costs more up front than pressure treated wood and asks for almost nothing after.
Fiberon Decking
One of the composite lines we install and a solid choice for homes around here. Fiberon decking offers several product tiers at different price points, with capped surfaces, matching railing systems, and color ranges that run from light grays to deeper woodgrains. Like every manufacturer, the tier matters as much as the brand name, since warranty terms and fade and stain coverage change between series. We'll bring samples out and show you where each one sits.
“Before Vela, approvals felt vague. Now there’s a clear moment when everything is agreed on, and I can move forward with confidence.”
Maria L.
Travel Advisor
“Very open and honest. Encouraged me to get other bids as well. They were not only the best-priced but also the most organized and open about our plans and options to take. The workers were clean and quick and did everything they could to protect the property. Tyler even came out himself to magnet the driveway so we wouldn’t drive over nails each night bc I have an EV that charges in the garage. Excellent experience! Big Chief definitely goes above and beyond.”
Gwen Pead
Branson, Missouri
Counties Where We Build With Composite
We work out of 117 Calvin Drive in Branson and cover a wide stretch of the Ozarks. Sun, shade, and how often you're actually at the house all change what we'd recommend.
Taney County
Learn MoreBranson, Hollister, Forsyth, Rockaway Beach, Kirbyville, and Merriam Woods. Taney County composite decking near Table Rock and Lake Taneycomo is popular with second home and rental owners for one obvious reason. Nobody wants to drive down twice a decade to stain a deck. Heavy tree cover does mean shaded boards need washing now and then, so plan on a rinse rather than nothing at all.
Stone County
Learn MoreKimberling City, Reeds Spring, Branson West, Galena, Crane, and Blue Eye. Stone County composite decking on open lake and ridge lots takes full sun, which makes color choice a comfort decision rather than a style one. Darker boards get hot barefoot on an unshaded deck, and big temperature swings up there make correct end gapping matter more than most places.
Barry County
Learn MoreCassville, Monett, Purdy, Shell Knob, Exeter, and Wheaton. Our Barry County composite decking work often covers larger decks and porches on farm and lake property, where square footage makes the cost difference against wood add up quickly. We'll price both honestly so you can see what the upgrade actually runs on your size of deck.
Christian County
Learn MoreNixa, Ozark, Sparta, Clever, and Highlandville. Christian County composite decking is mostly re-decking projects, where the 1990s treated boards are shot but the frame is sound. That's the ideal composite job, provided the joist spacing works, and checking that is the first thing we do rather than the last.
Lawrence County
Learn MoreAurora, Mt. Vernon, Marionville, Pierce City, and Verona. Lawrence County patio enclosures Aurora, Mt. Vernon, Marionville, Pierce City, and Verona. Lawrence County composite decking out in the open country deals with sun, wind, and hard temperature swings between seasons. Composite handles all three without splitting or cracking the way wood does, which is a real advantage on an exposed lot with no shade anywhere near it.in the open country deal with sun and wind together. A screened porch with a solid roof does more for comfort here than screen alone, since shade is the thing in short supply on an open lot.
Maranda Carter
Branson, Missouri
“This local company did things right! My new roof and gutters are perfect! Tyler went above and beyond with help on the insurance claim, explaining everything and was here from start to finish! I would definitely recommend Big Chief Exteriors to anyone!”
Composite Questions People Ask Us
Is composite decking really maintenance free?
It's stain free and seal free, which is most of what people hate about wood decks. It isn't wash free. Expect to rinse or soft wash it once or twice a year, sweep leaves out of corners before they sit all winter, and clean up grease near the grill before it soaks in. That's a fraction of the work of a wood deck, and it isn't zero.
What's capped versus uncapped, and does composite still fade?
Uncapped composite is the older product, and yes, it faded, stained, and grew mold. Capped composite has a bonded polymer shell around the outside that handles all three far better, and it's what nearly everybody sells now. If somebody warns you that composite fades badly, they're describing product from twenty years ago. Some gentle color settling in the first season is normal on any board.
How much more does composite cost than wood?
The boards cost meaningfully more than pressure treated, and the gap narrows once you count what you'd spend staining a wood deck every two or three years for the next twenty. There's also range within composite itself, from entry level capped boards up to premium lines. We'll price composite and wood side by side on your actual deck rather than quoting a rule of thumb.
Does composite decking get hot?
Yes, especially darker colors in full sun, and it can run hotter than wood on the same afternoon. Lighter colors help a great deal. Shade helps more. If your deck serves a pool or a hot tub, or you've got kids running around barefoot all summer, we'll point you toward the lighter end of the color range and it'll still look sharp.
Can you put composite over my existing deck frame?
Sometimes, and it depends entirely on the joist spacing and the condition of the framing. Composite wants tighter spacing than wood, generally sixteen inches on center for straight boards and closer to twelve for angled layouts. If your frame is at twenty-four, we can add joists to bring it into range. What we won't do is lay boards on spacing that's too wide and let you find out later.
Does composite scratch?
It can. Dragging metal furniture across it, a snow shovel with a metal edge, or a dropped tool can leave marks, and unlike wood you can't sand a scratch out. Furniture pads and a plastic-edged shovel handle most of it. Capped boards resist scratching better than older product, though nothing on the market is truly scratch proof no matter how the brochure reads.
What does the warranty actually cover?
Read for three things. How long the fade and stain coverage runs, whether it's transferable if you sell, and whether labor is included or only the material. Most composite warranties cover the boards and not the cost of pulling up and reinstalling them, which is a real difference in year twelve. We'll hand you the specific terms for whatever we quote rather than a summary.
Which composite brand should I get?
We install Fiberon and other major lines, and honestly the tier matters more than the logo. An upper tier from one manufacturer will outperform an entry tier from another. What we'd steer you on is capped over uncapped, a color suited to your sun exposure, and a warranty you've actually read. Bring us a bid from anywhere and we'll tell you plainly how it compares.