Consider Materials And Maintenance WhenBuilding A New Deck (NAPSA)—As deck season kicks in, many Americans are thinking about building a new deck or sprucing up an old one. If you are building, consider the type of deck and materials that will best suit your needs before heading off to the local home-improvement center. Everyone knows about wood decks, but more and more con- sumers these days are choosing composite materials for their aesthetic value, low maintenance and eco-friendly reputation. The Value of Composites It’s fun to think about color and other aesthetic issues, but don’t forget about maintenance. Proper maintenance of a wood deck means waterproofing every six months and staining the deck once a year to maintain the color and prevent fading. And even before you get to the staining phase, you must clean the deck with chemicals and a pressure washer. Sanding mayalso be necessary to achieve a smooth finish. In contrast, composite decks are resistant to cracking, warping and splintering. They do not need to be stained or waterproofed. Composite decks are made from a variety of materials. For example, LP WeatherBest, which is available in six different natureinspired colors, is made from wood flour mixed with high-density polyethylene plastic and then finished with a wood-textured grain to provide the look andfeel of wood. Cost In addition to maintenance, cost is another important consideration. Wood decking materials range from inexpensive cuts of lumberto long-lasting woods such as redwoodor cedar. Redwood and untreated cedar have the advantage of being resistant to insects and rot, but they aren’t impervious andstill require the regular Compared to wood, composite decking offers easy installation and reduced maintenance. maintenance associated with all wood decking products. Wood prices are generally lower than composite materials, but you need to factor in the extra expense and time associated with maintaining and repairing wood decks for an accurate cost comparison. While the initial price is higher with composite materials, you can actually save money over time through reduced maintenance. MaintenanceTips Once you've installed your new composite wood deck, keeping it looking clean and beautiful is easy: Wash down the deck with a garden hose on a regular basis. Pollutants you may not see— pollen, dust, dirt and other air- borne particles—will be washed away with regular spraying. Scrub off built-up dust and dirt with a common deck cleaner. * Deal with stains quickly. Don’t allow them to penetrate the deck’s surface or bake underthe sun. *Clean grease or oil stains with any common household degreaser. Also, keep a splatter guard underyour barbecuegrill. For more information on composite wood decks, installation and maintenance, visit www.Ilpcorp.com/weatherbest.
