Style4Home - Composite Decks Leave Lasting Impression

(ARA) - Matthew Grocki’s a handy guy, so he’s usually eager to tackle projects around his New Hampshire home; but he wasn’t looking forward to replacing his backyard deck this past spring. It was made of pressure-treated wood and after ten years of battling harsh winters, his deck was cracked and warped.

The thought of rebuilding his deck with the same materials and applying stain and sealant annually -- only to repeat the process down the road -- didn’t appeal to him. So Grocki investigated the ever-growing trend of composite decking. He was surprised to see that composite materials, made from recycled plastics and wood by-products, looked so much like wood. Plus, most composite materials are easy to saw, drill, cut and nail with standard woodworking tools.

After researching his options, Grocki rebuilt his 20-foot by 12-foot deck and two staircases with a composite deck and railing system in one weekend. Not only is Grocki pleased with his new deck, but he’s one of many people who’ve soured on the idea of using pressure-treated wood for their home improvement projects.

He isn’t alone.

Composite Decking Frees Up Your Time

According to a recent survey in Fine Homebuilding Magazine, the expected annual growth of composite decking from 2005 to 2009 is 23 percent while the expected growth of pressure-treated lumber during the same period is zero percent. The reason for composite decking’s surge in popularity varies, but one common theme keeps emerging: people want to make the most of their precious free time.

“Homeowners would rather spend their free time enjoying their deck instead of maintaining it,” says F. John Long, vice president of sales and marketing for GeoDeck, a leading composite decking and railing manufacturer. “It’s a quality-of-life issue and time is such a valued commodity these days.”

Composite Decking Costs Less Over Time

While composite decking is initially more expensive to install than wood, you’ll see significant savings in just a few years. “A wood deck that costs $3,500 to install, including materials and labor, actually costs $6,450,” points out Long. “You have to consider $200 for the sealant to be applied right after installation, $2,000 for the sealant over 10 years, plus $250 for potential material replacement due to weathering, and $500 for the labor to seal the deck over 10 years.”

The exact same deck built with composite materials costs only $5,000 -- just the initial installation cost, according to Long. And no staining or sealing is required.

Choose a Fade-Resistant Composite Decking Brand

Some composite decking brands, however, have experienced problems with their original colors fading over time. Brands that are impervious to fading exist; you just need to look for one that states that it is fade resistant.

According to its Web site, GeoDeck is blended with Biodac, a product made by the recovery of purified cellulose fibers and other minerals. Unlike wood flour or wood chips -- the materials used in most composite products -- Biodac does not contain high amounts of Lignins, a major contributor to fading.

The quality of composite decking products on the market -- coupled with the virtually maintenance-free aspect -- is helping it gain popularity with homeowners nationwide. And handy homeowners like Grocki are being converted one deck at a time.

“I’ll never build a deck out of wood again,” he says.

To learn more about the benefits of GeoDeck composite decking, or to request product information, visit http://www.geodeck.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content