Resin in the sun: should you use composite lumber for your next deck spec? - doctor spec - deck design

Residential Architect, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Nigel F. Maynard

Meanwhile, one stumbling block is the initial cost of the material--something everyone's sensitive to. Architect Gail Lindsey says that when she speced Trex in her own house years ago, the product was quite expensive. Although across the industry the price has come down, composites still cost about 15 percent to 20 percent more than treated Southern yellow pine, according to Bizzarri. However, the product makes up for this cost difference in about five years, manufacturers say. Lindsey agrees. The architect installed two decks at her house about seven years ago--one composite and another with treated lumber--and in that time the traditional lumber deck has cost her more money.

Of course for some clients, nothing but the real thing will do--no matter what cost or effort is required. Some people, says architect Reed Axelrod, just don't want their feet touching a synthetic deck. These clients, he says, would rather pay more for cedar or redwood--hearty species that are durable and require only a coating of sealer from time to time.

Although they will always look to you for suggestions and expertise, only your clients can decide whether composites will suit their aesthetic sensibilities and financial bottom line. Still, it's up to you to let them know they have the choice. Composites offer an affordable alternative to cedar or mahogany, a maintenance-free substitute for softwoods, and an ecologically sensitive means of preserving our resources. Maybe if you spec it, everyone will see green.