Use Sustainable Materials
One of the biggest choices builders must make when designing their outdoor deck is the materials they’ll use for the construction. This choice is also essential when trying to build an eco-friendly outdoor deck using environmentally friendly materials.
While many homeowners may dream of a pristine, natural wood deck, composite lumber offers more benefits to the homeowner and the environment. Plastic lumber is better than preserved wood because it requires fewer chemical treatments for maintenance and comes from consumer waste products, like milk jugs. So plastic lumber preserves natural wood for our forests and removes harmful waste from our landfills.
Does Plastic Lumber Last Longer Than Wood?
Some people think of plastic lumber and construction materials and worry about their longevity, but plastic wood is much more durable than its organic counterpart. Since it’s waterproof and insect-proof, plastic lumber can endure whatever nature and the weather throw at it for decades.
Plastic lumber has a much longer lifespan than organic wood—normally at least 25 years and up to 50 years in some cases. On the other hand, a natural wood deck can last only 10 or 12 years with extensive repairs and maintenance.
Choose Local Suppliers
Another way to make your new outdoor deck project more eco-conscious is to use only local suppliers for whatever material you choose. If you choose a supplier out of town or out of state, planes, trains, and trucks have to transport it to your location—burning fuel and increasing carbon emissions.
Shopping locally is good for your community’s economy and preserves our environment by limiting lengthy transportation services.
Make the Design Eco-Conscious
When designing your new outdoor deck, keeping the surrounding environment in mind is crucial. Ideally, your deck thrives with the environment without disrupting it.
Avoid excessive digging when you can, and choose a spot protected from the sun with shade. Also, avoid cutting down any trees when you can and design around them—making the tree a natural design focal point of your new deck!
We hope our tips help make your new outdoor deck a success for your home and the environment!
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File# 54059534 Backyard Deck By Ruth P. Peterkin
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