Deck Out Your Outdoors with Green Home Improvements
Warm weather is here and everything is going green, including home improvement. Increasingly, environmentally conscious citizens are looking for "green" home improvements that will enhance the enjoyment of their outdoor spaces with minimal environmental impact.This year, composite decks - long lauded for their durability and beauty - are also finding favor with homeowners seeking green improvements.
"Look for composite decking products that offer the look of natural wood in low-maintenance materials made from recycled wood fiber and plastics like grocery bags, milk jugs and detergent bottles," says Joe Brooks of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, manufacturer of MoistureShield Decking. "Recycling these products keeps them out of landfills and reduces their environmental footprint. Plus, they are inherently resistant to moisture and insect damage."
Beyond the good feelings you get from selecting an earth-friendly decking product, Brooks points to other advantages for homeowners looking to "green" their backyard.
Increased Home Value
When considering a composite deck, it is important to look at your overall investment rather than just the initial cost. "Remodeling" magazine's 2007 Cost vs. Value Report reported that homeowners could recover 77.6 percent of a composite deck's cost in resale value. In addition, potential home buyers are looking to buy green homes for the increased resale value. The 2007 McGraw-Hill Construction SmartMarket Report on Attitudes and Preferences for Remodeling and Buying Green Homes found that 73 percent of people surveyed listed potential higher resale value as one of the top four reasons to buy a green home.
Low Maintenance
Less time maintaining your deck means more time to enjoy it. Unlike traditional wood decking, composite decking does not need staining, painting or sealing to maintain its natural beauty. The plastic fibers help protect the deck against termites, rot and harsh environmental conditions. While little maintenance is needed, a composite deck still requires periodic cleaning as with any flooring surface exposed to normal use and the outside elements.
Safety and Durability
Although your composite deck may look and even feel like wood, it will not crack, warp, splinter or create slivers like a traditional wood deck. Instead, a composite deck offers a solid, slip-resistant surface that is comfortable and easy on bare feet.
Aesthetics
A composite deck will enhance virtually any backyard due to the wide variety of choices available. Manufacturers like A.E.R.T. offer an assortment of colors and textures, which allow homeowners to mix and match as needed to create a stunning deck to complement their home.
Tax Incentives
Because of the composition, many composite decking products meet or exceed the requirements for landscape decking published in the LEED for home standards. The U.S. Green Building Council (USBGC) offers the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System to promote the design and construction of high performance green homes. Through this system, local, state and federal governments may offer tax breaks and other incentives for building LEED homes or adding green features to your home.
When looking to "green" your back yard this spring, consider these advantages and make a composite deck the centerpiece of your green outdoor living space. To learn more about composite decks, visit www.moistureshield.com
Courtesy of ARAcontent
