One of the most environmentally friendly materials you could use in the construction of a deck or patio are wood and plastic composites. Not only are these materials highly green, but they’re also great building materials that are even more reliable than plastic or wood.
Why should you use wood and plastic composites?
==> Less Maintenance
Standard wood needs to be repainted and refinished every year or so. That takes a lot of manpower, as well as the use of many toxic chemicals. Wood and plastic composites bypass this need entirely.
These composites come pre-made in certain colors. The entirety of the material is this color, inside and out. That means you’ll never have to repaint the composite. The composites come in just about every imaginable color, so you can be sure you’ll find one to match your house.
==> Made from Recycled Materials
Over 50% of the wood and the plastic used in composites comes from recycled wood chips and recycled plastic materials.
Every time you buy a composite, you’re supporting several green companies that recycle all the various materials that go into the composites, in addition to the composite manufacturer.
==> No Rot, No Moisture, Fewer Pests
Composites also don’t have many of the traditional problems of wood.
For example, they won’t absorb moisture and mold. They won’t rot over time.
They’re more resistant to pests like termites. It’s very, very rare to see a pest infestation on wood plastic composites.
==> Less Pollution in Manufacturing
Surprisingly, the manufacturing process of creating treated wood is highly toxic. While treated, various chemicals like arsenic, chromium and copper are used to treat the wood.
This kind of chemical pollution harms the environment. On the other hand, wood plastic composites are manufactured in a very pollution-conscious environment.
==> Less Waste
When you use wood to build a deck or patio, there’s often a lot of waste. You have to cut the wood into the shapes you’re looking for, which means a lot of wood will be discarded and a lot of wood chips will be generated.
In addition, there was also waste at the factory when the wood was cut into the shapes that you bought them in. Since trees don’t come in planks, there’s a lot of the tree that simply goes unused.
Wood plastic composites aren’t cut into shapes but molded. That means they can be molded into just the perfect shape for your project, so there’s no need to waste materials by cutting.
If you want to reduce deforestation, increase our recycling, reduce our waste, and make your deck last longer while having to maintain your deck less, then wood-plastic composites maybe your material of choice.
