With all the talk about green building and eco friendly construction these days, it makes sense that the trend should extend to the exterior of your home, into the great outdoors itself. There are a lot of companies advertising "green" deck building lately, but what exactly does that mean?
Many different deck building materials are being touted as a great "green" alternative, but which of them offers the highest sustainability potential and still creates a deck that is attractive and long lasting? Here are some of the most common options:
Wood
Of all the "green" materials that can be used to construct a deck, wood is the most logical choice. However, the key to an environmentally friendly deck is the choice of the wood used in the project. One of the most popular woods being used in green deck construction right now is a Brazilian wood called Ipe. It is extremely resilient, standing up to all manner of weather conditions and nuisances like termites and dry rot without having to be sealed with a commercial chemically based sealant. Ipe and other similar tropical woods do fade in hue after a while but usually to a silvery grey that can be quite attractive in itself.
To further ensure that your new deck is as eco friendly as possible, environmentalists recommend you ask your deck building contractor to seek out wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. FSC certification means that the consumer can be assured that the wood came from properly managed woodlands.
PVC and Plastic
Since there is very little in the way of organic components in PVC, the resulting deck will certainly be long lasting, stain resistant and very low maintenance. Although PVC decking can be found in what is advertised as a wood like finish it does still look plasticy, but for some homeowners that is not a real problem. On the downside for the environment, PVC and plastic are crafted using petroleum, a dwindling non-renewable resource.
Wood Composite
Composite decking materials are made from a combination of recycled plastic and various wood materials. The wood comes from sawdust or reclaimed timber so no trees are actually harmed during the creation process. The plastic component often comes from sources like grocery shopping bags, which would otherwise sit clogging up a landfill somewhere.
Composite decking is fairly hardy and is not prone to splintering or chipping like natural woods. Its only sustainability downfall is that wood composite does not degrade naturally and therefore it has no potential for recycling.
Aluminum
Aluminum decking is a hardy and eco friendly construction option and, unlike wood composites, aluminum can be broken down and recycled. Aluminum is very water resistant and since metal disperses heat such a deck is surprisingly cool to walk on, even on the hottest of days. The downside of course is the appearance, which can be a little too cold and clinical for many tastes.
