Eliminate the Summer Task You're Dreading the Most

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Eliminate the Summer Task You're Dreading the Most

(ARA) - Before you know it, summer will be here and there’ll be no more excuses for avoiding those outdoor projects you’ve been meaning to complete. Time to put weather stripping on the windows, clean out the gutters, reseal the driveway and restain the deck.
Because of all the prep work involved, and fine attention to detail, a lot of people are dreading the last two --- resealing the driveway and restaining the deck. Why not eliminate the more tedious of the tasks by taking a weekend to tear down your wooden deck and replacing it with one that will stand up to the elements better.

“People have gotten so tired of the maintenance associated with wooden decks, they’re switching to composite materials in record numbers,” says Mark Reum, CEO of Master Mark Plastics, the company that manufactures Rhino Deck brand composite decking. Among its many benefits, composite decking looks like wood but will never rot or splinter; it handles extreme temperatures better; is impervious to termites and never has to be treated or stained.

It is also slip resistant, making it a great material for around a swimming pool; and since it’s made of recycled materials, it’s environmentally friendly. Rhino Deck’s boards, for example, contain 50 percent recycled wood which is recovered from cabinet making, and 50 percent recycled plastic (comprised of post consumer bottles) blended with colorant and UV stabilizers. Colors available include acorn brown, barnwood gray, cedar brown, and redwood. “From a short distance, you’d swear any one of them was stained wood,” says Reum.

Not only is the material popular among contractors working on home remodels, new home builders are choosing to put it in instead of wood because of its durability. Builders say the material is easier to install than wooden decking. Since the boards are sold in two-foot and four-foot increments, very little sawing is necessary, and they can be put together with standard wood working tools. The manufacturer of Rhino Deck also offers matching railings, trellis, and fencing for a complete outdoor look.

Once installed, the only maintenance a composite deck will need is to be pressure washed two or three times a year to avoid natural build-up that could cause mold or mildew. Composite decking materials -- planks, railing systems, fascia, etc. -- cost 20 to 30 percent more than pre-treated pinewood, but Reum points out that in the long run, the investment pays off because you no longer have the cost of yearly staining or replacing rotting or splitting boards.

You’re also likely to get most of the money back when you decide to sell your house. According to Remodeling Magazine, you can expect to recover 87 percent of your investment at the time of resale after adding a deck.

For more information about composite decking, visit www.rhinodeck.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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