With wood becoming a scarce resource, alternative wood products are an excellent replacement when looking at building a deck or patio.  Recycled plastic and composite lumber are not only good for the planet but also offer features you just can’t get with wood. 

Recycled plastic lumber, as its name implies, is generally made from 100% recovered recycled plastic consisting of post-consumer waste including milk, soda and laundry bottles, plastic bags, and shrink wrap.  Be sure to look for the amount of recycled content as some are made from virgin plastics and contain no post-consumer waste.  Composite lumber is a combination of reclaimed wood (sawdust) and resin reclaimed from plastic bags.  There are three types of lumber including hollow, solid and structural where solid and structural would be used to build decks.

There are several features that make plastic lumber a better alternative to wood.  First, it comes in a wide array of colors and grain finishes that does not require painting, staining or sealing on an annual basis as wood does so maintenance is a breeze. 

Its life span is indefinite as it does not succumb to the elements – water, sun, bugs.  You never need to worry about it splintering, cracking or rotting. 

Lastly, the price is right.  Recycled plastic and composite lumber is comparable in price to wood especially when you take into consideration the cost to annually stain, paint and seal wood. 

And best of all, by using this alternative wood product, you are helping the environment.  To review a list of plastic lumber products by type and percentage of plastic used check out Healthy Building Network’s handy chart.  


Sources:
Build It Green at http://www.builditgreen.org/webfm_send/104
Green Home Guide at http://www.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/entry/1341/C282/