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“Green” Decks for Home Improvement
from:Building a deck can be a confusing home improvement project. Many of today’s homeowners seek to improve the aesthetics of their home and property, without damaging the environment or losing the beauty of the natural landscape. Building a “green” deck in your yard is one home improvement project you don’t want to overlook in your research.
Decks are most often made of maintenance free materials and composite wood decking materials have taken on a new life in today’s world of maintenance-free. But seeking a maintenance-free decking material can be a major contributor to pollution and destruction of the environment. Without knowing it, many people opt for maintenance free while overlooking the effects on the environment.
Wood composites are usually composed of waste fiber from lumber milling, polyethylene (HDPE) from plastic grocery bags and other types of plastic containers, and waste products from agricultural processes. Although that sounds like a good use of recycled materials, it is not necessarily true. The issue with waste fiber and other types of recycled materials for composite wood products is that they take thousands of years to break down – if they EVER break down.
Composite woods have the recycled materials encased in plastic, such as Trex or Nexwood. Since they are encased in plastic which is not biodegradable, the products don’t decompose well once their useful life is exhausted. The landfills become inundated with massive composite wood products that will simply sit for many years to come. Once assimilated, it is impossible to separate the natural wood and biodegradable materials from the other elements of the composites.
You may save yourself hours of work cleaning and preparing your deck each year, but think about the negative effects on the environment for your children, grandchildren, and other generations to follow. As responsible citizens and caretakers of the earth, everyone should be more concerned about the future of decisions they make today. That includes decisions about the use of composite woods simply for immediate convenience sake versus the health of the world.
Instead of relying on these composite materials, think about building your new deck or enhancing an existing deck by using solid wood decking boards. Redwood has long been a favorite for builders and homeowners looking for a beautiful wood that will last for years when properly cared for and maintained. Redwood is a good solid hardwood that has beautiful natural grains and appearance. It also has natural insect resistance and decay properties.
Other potential natural woods for decking and home improvement include cedar, mahogany, and iron wood (IPE), although you should check on pricing in your particular geographic region. Some are more expensive than others. All of these products can be stained in a multitude of color choices.
IPE is a highly durable wood product that can be quite expensive to install, but that lasts for decades. Mahogany is also very dense making it long-lasting and it has an incredibly beautiful appearance. It is insect, wear, and decay resistant when properly cared for, but much like IPE, it can be expensive.
Before you begin your deck plans with composite woods, make sure you understand what you are getting. Even though they may appear to be good for the environment today because they include recycled materials, that does not mean that they are a long-term solution for a “green” home improvement project.
A deck can be a valuable addition to your home. Make the most of the products you use and choose products that have long-lasting value and that will not cause harm to the environment for future generations.
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