- 10 April, 2003 -

For many homeowners, spring cleaning may include sprucing up a wooden deck. Yet, the to-do list could keep them busy until the fall - power washing, waterproofing, sealing, staining, painting and replacing boards. Now an increasing number of home owners are actually spending time enjoying their deck as well as the golf course, the park, or going on vacation. Why? Because they're building with low-maintenance decking materials - the fastest growing segment of today's deck-building business. "A properly maintained wood deck will last longer than most people own their homes," says Rick Provost, president of Archadeck . "But who wants to clean and treat it every few years?" Provost says customers are increasingly choosing alternative decking materials for a variety of reasons, besides being virtually maintenance-free. "Homeowners like the fact that it won't splinter or warp, and environmentally conscious customers appreciate that it's made from recycled materials. And, some people just prefer the way it looks." Three popular low-maintenance decking choices are ChoiceDek, WeatherBest and Trex. All are made from recycled wood and plastic. Resistant to termites, rotting, warping, splitting and splintering, they require no preservatives or coatings. Several styles are available, including varieties that are easy to mistake for 100 percent wood. All styles cut, drill and install like wood. Low-maintenance decking materials typically cost 30 to 50 percent more than treated wood. Much of this cost depends on whether the deck is 100 percent low-maintenance materials, or a combination of low-maintenance with wood railing. The extra cost of this material can usually be recouped in about five years because no sealing or staining is required. Low-maintenance decking presents most of the same opportunities for design and construction as pressure-treated wood, allowing customers to take full advantage of the custom-design expertise of Archadeck. "We have been designing and building with low-maintenance materials for years," says Provost. "Our designers and installers have experience with the products, and our work is fully guaranteed by the National Warranty Corporation." About Archadeck Founded in 1980 in Richmond, Va., Archadeck was ranked #1 in Decks & Porches by Qualified Remodeler magazine (Sept. 2001), and has designed and built more than 50,000 projects across America, including decks, screened porches, sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, arbors, and many other outdoor structures. Archadeck offers the strongest warranty in the decking industry.

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