Trex Decking: Outdoor

2012年6月25日星期一

Trex Composite Decking Brings Beautiful Durability to Your Outdoor Living

Tired of the artificial look of many alternative wood decks on the market? Well, why not try natural-looking Trex composite decking?

For centuries, wood has been the favored decking material across the globe. Nowadays, though, manufacturing wooden decks has a big dilemma: destruction of hundreds of acres of forests. Because of the numerous negative effects of deforestation, many homeowners nowadays are looking for alternative decking materials.

For years, vinyl decking has been the top alternative decking material. Manufacturers advertise vinyl decking as an inexpensive solution for homeowners who are reluctant to use wood decking. And it is really true. Compared to hard wood, vinyl decking is inexpensive.

But there is one really huge downside with vinyl: appearance. Sure, a vinyl deck is very affordable, but it is not really aesthetically appealing. Manufacturers have yet to refine the art of making vinyl decks that appear real and elegant. Just take a look at vinyl decking at any local home improvement store, and you will see that it really does look kind of artificial. It pales in comparison with real wood decking in terms of appearance.

Fortunately, there is the Trex Company. One of the largest makers of wood-alternative decking in the country, Trex provides nature-loving homeowners the best decking material on the market. With Trex composite decking, homeowners will get that natural elegance that is usually offered only by real wood.

Made from recycled plastic and waste wood, Trex composite decking is one of the most eco-friendly alternative decking materials for homeowners across the US. Unlike vinyl decking, Trex composite decking has that wood-like elegance that many homeowners desire.

And that is not the end of it. There are other rewarding benefits that you can get with Trex composite decking. One very huge advantage of Trex decking is that it can offer homeowners more options on enhancing the look of their decks. Why is that so? Well, this decking can be molded and shaped to fit personalized needs--and that comes without much hassle or expense.

Another great thing with Trex decking is that it can be kept in good condition with minimal maintenance. Unlike pure wood decking, you do not need to apply water-proofing sealants to it: This Trex material is built to be water and moisture resistant.

There will be no need for you to purchase special cleaning equipment or chemicals. You can just use basic cleaning materials to maintain the integrity of your Trex composite deck. All you need to do is regularly clean it with soap and water.

What about treatment for termite and fungal damage? Well, that is not necessary with Trex composite decking. Although it is partly made from wood, Trex has designed special manufacturing techniques that make their finished composite decking unappealing for termites and fungi.

But will your Trex deck last long? The answer to that is a big YES. Trex products are designed to resist the elements. However cold or hot the weather gets, rest assured that this decking will not crack or splinter. And that comes without application of special sealants or other coatings.

Durable, low maintenance, and natural-looking, Trex composite decking simply has the perfect qualities that homeowners want with alternative decking. Get Trex decking and give yourself a wonderful deck, and at the same time, help preserve the well-being of our environment.

Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. Please visit his latest website about decks and backyards at Vinyl Decking, with information on finding the best Trex Composite Decking and other backyard ideas and discussions that any outdoor enthusiast would be interested in.

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2012年6月20日星期三

Outdoor Living Spaces For Owners Of Phoenix Real Estate

You have asked a Scottsdale realtor to work with you in order to find prime Scottsdale, AZ real estate. Whether you are new to the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, or currently live in the area and are simply moving into a new home, one of the best features that attracts homeowners to Phoenix and Scottsdale is the fantastic weather. With an average temperature of 74 degrees and over 300 sunny days per year, these cities are made for outdoor living. Be sure to explore your options for outdoor living spaces that can make your home not only more usable but also more fun.

If your home is situated on a sloped site, you might consider the addition of a deck as part of an outdoor living space. A deck can be a compact feature, or it can wrap all the way around your home. It makes a great place to relax with the addition of some beautiful garden furniture, and a delightful environment in which to have meals. Decks can be made out of wood, stone, brick, and green options such Trex. You will want to select a product that will be attractive with your home and will be safe to use any time of the year, if your deck is open to the elements.

Many Phoenix new homes offer a pool, and it can make for a great outdoor feature to offer a cabana or a gazebo nearby. This will be a place that offers cool shade on hot days, and will give you an area for stowing towels and other items that you will find handy nearby your swimming pool. Cabanas can be quite festive when festooned with beautiful weather-resilient fabrics. A gazebo offers the perfect structure upon which to train flowering vines to add to the ambiance of your outdoor living space.

Many homes come with porches. These offer a wonderful blank palate for gorgeous and comfortable sturdy furniture, and for you to add your own special touches through the decorations you choose to include. You might select an outdoor chandelier, perhaps using candles, so that your space becomes usable in the evenings after dark. Why not add a hammock for lazy afternoons spent napping or reading? An outdoor fireplace adds a tempting glow to your outdoor area, allowing you to enjoy it even in cooler months.

Patios can also provide excellent outdoor living spaces, which can also be placed near landscaping and flower beds, so that you can enjoy them in comfort. Patios can be outfitted with a barbecue and even outdoor refrigeration and running water for a fun cooking experience. Imagine containers full of billowing plants placed attractively around your patio.

Outdoor living spaces extend the boundaries beyond your rooms indoors to allow you to enjoy all of your new Phoenix property.

Wayne Hemrick is a well known Phoenix real estate agent who has over 20 years experience as a Phoenix realtor. Wayne enjoys publishing articles to help you to find the best phoenix real estate listings in the area.

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2012年6月10日星期日

Outdoor Decks - Choosing The Right Materials

The materials and finishes that we use on the interior of our homes require cleaning and occasional maintenance; we dust, we vacuum, we mop-n-glo to keep them looking good and long lasting. Without too much effort we can stay ahead of the wear and tear from our kids and our pets.

Materials on the outside, however take a daily beating from the sun, wind, rain, temperature changes, and other environmental elements (in addition to kids and dogs). Those materials need a great deal more care and maintenance but that can be reduced somewhat by selecting the proper materials to suit your goals.

Outdoor decks are subject to a great deal of abuse - the deck surface is especially susceptible to sun and rain. Wood is the most popular surface for decks, but it's also the quickest to wear out. Fortunately there are a variety of deck surface products available that allow you to choose between appearance, cost, and the effort needed to keep your deck looking great for many years.

Natural Wood Decking

Natural wood is the obvious first choice for decking. It's sturdy, attractive, easy to work with, and it comes in a wide variety of types with different qualities and costs.

Pressure-treated wood decking is far and away the most popular decking surface in use today. Most PT lumber is made from Southern Yellow Pine, impregnated with ACQ, a chemical that increases the wood's resistance to rot and insect damage. But treated lumber is often poorer quality material so the wood shrinks, cracks, and splits more easily.

A better choice for "real" wood decks is one of the many woods that have a natural resistance to rot and insect damage. These woods include Western Red Cedar, Redwood, and some species of tropical hardwoods. While these better quality decking materials last longer and look better they also cost more. One of the very best natural deck surfaces is a group of South American hardwoods called Ipe ("Ipe" is Portuguese for hardwood). These are extremely dense, tight-grained woods, dark in color and virtually free from knots. Ipe is very hard, heavy, and difficult to work with but is also very beautiful and is nearly indestructible. Expect to pay top dollar for Ipe materials and the labor to install it.

The use of any type of natural wood decking comes with some negative environmental impact. When pressure-treated decking is disposed of, the chemicals used to treat the wood may leach into groundwater; burning it puts these same chemicals into the air. And while the new ACQ treatment is less toxic than the previous CCA (which contains arsenic) the long-term effects of the chemical aren't fully known.

Much of the tropical hardwood used for decking material is plantation-grown, but some isn't and at the retail level it's nearly impossible to tell the difference. Most folks don't want their decks built at the expense of an acre of rainforest.

Wood Composite Decking

Wood Composite decking has become very popular recently due to its longevity and environmentally friendly characteristics. It's a pretty good imitation of natural wood in workability and appearance.

Sold under names like Trex, Correctdeck, and Timbertech, composite decking boards are made from recycled plastic (usually grocery bags or milk jugs) and ground-up waste wood. It can be cut and attached like real wood and requires almost no maintenance. Composite decking mimics the look of natural wood but varies in appearance and performance depending upon the manufacturer and the ratio of plastic to wood in the mix, usually about 50-60% wood products.

Although composite decking can't be stained or painted like natural wood, many manufacturers produce boards in several colors. Since the color is throughout the material, chips and scrapes don't require restaining to maintain a consistent appearance. And because of the high wood content, the uncolored composite boards weather to a pleasing silver-gray.

As with any decking surface, the method of securing composite decking to the framing can improve or reduce the appearance of the deck. Poor installation can even affect the structural integrity of the boards. Ideally, all decking boards should be installed with concealed fasteners - more effort and expense, but the result is a better looking and longer lasting deck.

There are a few other choices in decking - Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) for example, but they look much less like "traditional" decking than natural wood or wood composite. All-plastic and aluminum decking products also require the use of a large number of end caps, specialized fasteners, and other proprietary parts and pieces that can detract from the overall appearance of the deck.

Your choice of decking depends upon the desired appearance, budget, and your tolerance for the required maintenance of different materials. A good balance of those characteristics should result in a deck surface that the whole family will enjoy for many years - kids, dogs, and all.

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans

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2012年5月30日星期三