Hilton SanDestin Resort Expands Outdoor Space with Composite Decking

After a fire ravaged the outdoor space at the Hilton SanDestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Destin, Fla., the resort looked to composite decking to create an expansive new 17,000-square-foot multi-purpose deck. The new deck leaves the beautiful Gulf Coast views unobstructed for hotel guests to enjoy while preserving beachfront habitat.

The hotel expanded its deck by 15,000 square feet and specified composite decking.

The fire started on the hotel’s beachfront area in October 2010. It ignited an adjacent deck, destroying most of the hotel’s deck structure and outdoor restaurant. In response to the fire, Hilton SanDestin’s management and construction team sought to rebuild a new and improved outdoor experience. One of the design objectives was to create more deck space along the beachfront while allowing habitat for nesting sea turtles and providing a less obstructed view of the coastline.

To achieve this goal, the team chose to move the location of the restaurant closer to the hotel and add a 15,000-square-foot deck expansion in its plans. The new deck would tie in the remaining 2,000-square-foot deck and be built in compliance with Walton County’s Wildlife Lighting Ordinance, which seeks to minimize disturbances to nesting sea turtles, their hatchlings and other coastal wildlife.

After careful consideration in choosing a new decking material, including flammability concerns, appearance, availability and performance in the coastal environment, the hotel’s management, design and construction teams chose MoistureShield composite decking.

The Hilton SanDestin was drawn to composite decking for its durability, attractive appearance and barefoot-friendly nature. “MoistureShield does not require sealing or staining, it holds up well over time in our coastal climate and conditions, and it provides a splinter-free surface with a wood-like appearance,” says Bob Earwood, vice president of Construction & Development for Sandcastle Resorts and Hotels. “We chose MoistureShield decking in Cape Cod Gray because it met our specific needs and expectations. The fact that MoistureShield is made of 95 percent total recycled content was certainly an added bonus.”

Cape Cod Gray decking from MoistureShield

Destin was voted one of Good Morning America’s “10 Most Beautiful Places in America,” and ranked as a Trip Advisor “Top 25 U.S. Destination” in 2011. As a premier destination for leisure and group gatherings, the Hilton SanDestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa is the largest full-service beachfront resort hotel on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Hilton SanDestin’s new composite deck provides a spot for enjoying the stunning views of Florida’s Gulf Coast and emerald green water.

MoistureShield composite decking combines the design flexibility and appearance of wood with the durability and weather-resistance of plastic. The result is a high-performance decking material with strength and color retention designed to last in any installation, whether it’s on or in the ground or water. MoistureShield composite decking is available in eight colors, multiple sizes and grooved or un-grooved boards to accommodate different fastening options. Matching railing systems can be ordered in any of the eight colors.