Why Use Plastic Lumber for Deck Building

Households looking for a cost-effective decking material should consider choosing plastic lumber. Since genuine hardwood is scarce due to strict logging regulations, even in authorized forests, expect the materials to be expensive, and the construction may cost more. Therefore, with plastic lumber, the entire construction project may cost less.

Other than a lower cost, there are several other benefits in building a deck made of plastic lumber which a household can enjoy. It’s important to note that the finished product is not purely plastic but a composite of wood fiber and plastic. The strength of this product, however, is far greater than its traditional counterparts, which makes it a good option for deck building.

The most common type of plastic used for manufacturing plastic lumber is foamed high-density polyethylene. This plastic is known to have very low stiffness and flexural strength. For other building applications, this may sound like bad news as high flexural strength is an essential property, especially when dealing with compression. For deck building, however, this is efficient as very little compression from loading may be involved.

Aside from strength and durability, plastic lumber is also known to resist insect infestation and decay due to moisture. Unlike real wood that still requires a special coating to prevent mold and mildew from growing on its surface, plastic lumber is definitely insusceptible. Thus, it’s not surprising that many modern home builders recommend such material for an array of building projects.

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Why Use Plastic Lumber on Your Home

Let’s face it: when it comes to the improvement of our home’s outdoor space, we want to use materials that can make our property look good and can also last a long time. Unfortunately, some materials can only do either one. 

 

For outdoor furniture or fixtures, using wood is normally the choice because it looks good but the material can only last a couple of years. On the other hand, there are some plastic products which are serviceable for several years, yet may not go well with the home’s overall style. Coupled with harmful chemicals that are found in some plastics, it is quite understandable why wood is still the choice for many homeowners.

The home improvement sector continues to develop ways to give us a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly way to improve our homes. One solution they have come up with is the “plastic lumber”. Composed of recycled High-density polyethylene (HDPE), some additives, and fiberglass, plastic lumber mimics the look and feel of natural wood, however, plastic lumber is more durable and has a longer service life than plastic.

Using plastic lumber on decks, fences and other improvements is beneficial in many ways. It helps you avoid maintenance and replacement costs associated with wooden materials. Plastic lumber does not rot, crack, or peel, and takes a long time to fade. From a health standpoint, it’s advantageous too because hazardous mold cannot grow on it and is created without any hazardous chemicals that can seep into the ground.

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Plastic Lumber: Luxury for Tight Budgets

You love the appeal of wood. You love the way it looks on the floor and on your furniture. However, there is one small problem that prevents you from turning your entire house into a wooden paradise: the price of wood is continuing to spike, and there aren’t that many wallets (including yours) that can afford such a luxurious material.

Fortunately, there is a solution for homeowners who want to obtain the luxurious look of wood yet keep it within the tight parameters of their budgets. Plastic lumber is emerging as a great alternative for a lot of households.

One of the reasons why plastic lumber is a good choice to make can be attributed to the fact that it is extremely durable. It won’t be affected by insect and water damage. This lumber alternative also does not rot, so replacement will never be an issue and pockets will be happy with a solid purchase.

Secondly, plastic lumber is environmentally friendly. Plastic lumber is produced from recycled materials, which makes it a green product. Thirdly, plastic lumber can come in different colors and can take the form of a natural matte finish with a small amount of waste paper. Ultimately, plastic lumber is the perfect alternative for those who want luxury on a tight budget. 

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Benefits of Using Eco-friendly Plastic Lumber

Wood is considered a staple construction material. Over the years, homeowners and builders prefer wood among other materials in the market since it is naturally beautiful and versatile. This is particularly true for outdoor home use such as the patio or the deck. However, wood also requires a lot of maintenance as it is prone to rotting, cracking, and splitting.

One alternative to wood that has recently been gaining popularity, particularly in outdoor uses, is durable plastic lumber.

Eco-friendly

Plastic lumber, aka plastic wood, is made from recycled plastic materials such as HDPE and PVC. Everyday plastic waste products like empty soda bottles and milk jugs, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, are used to produce plastic lumber. The finished lumber, in turn, can also be recycled for other future uses, making it a highly eco-friendly product.

Versatility

Eco-friendly plastic wood is available in different colors and can even be manufactured in different textures to imitate the look of several wood types, such as mahogany, redwood and cedar. There is also good news to homeowners who like to dabble in carpentry—just like natural wood, plastic wood can be sanded, sawed, and fastened with nails or screws. Unlike rigid natural wood, however, heated plastic wood can also be bent, twisted, and fashioned into various shapes, making it an ideal material for DIY craft and carpentry work.

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Types of Plastic Lumber

Plastic lumber is also known as composite lumber, because it is made with various substances that improves upon the material’s strength and durability. This material often uses recycled plastic components, making for an environment friendly building material. Moreover, it can withstand wet weather more readily and efficiently than ordinary lumber.

Single Polymer

As the name implies, single polymer plastic wood is made up of just one type of plastic. The material commonly uses recycled high density polyethylene or HDPE, which is also used to make detergent bottles and plastic bags. Thanks to its composition, single polymer plastic is more consistent than other plastic lumber materials.

Bio-Composite

Essentially, the components of bio-composite plastic lumber include shredded wood, flax, straw, rice hulls, and similar materials, which are embedded in a thermoplastic matrix. However, as these materials have short fibers, bio-composite materials tend to weaker than wood. This is why bio-composite plastic lumber must have about 50% or less of these short fiber materials to be considered plastic wood.

Fiberglass Reinforced

Fiberglass is an excellent building material as it can significantly improve the strength of the material it’s added to without significantly increasing its weight. Hence, fiberglass-reinforced wood sees plenty of use in tall buildings, marine equipment and structures, and even massive load bearing structures, thanks to its outstanding properties.

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