Wood

What Makes our Hardwood Eco-Friendly?

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It’s not enough to say that you’re product is eco-friendly. People want, and deserve, proof. However, it is getting harder for all of us to cut through the marketing hype to see products for what they really are, not what you are told they are. So….with that said, what does that have to do with decking?

We received a phone call the other day from someone who was fed lies. They were told by someone trying to sell them thousands of dollars in composite decking that “anyone who buys hardwood decking from countries like Brazil are helping kill off the rain forest. ” This person was shopping around and asked us point blank, “How can I be sure that the hardwood you sell is really eco-friendly?”

At Advantage, we LOVE getting questions like this. Here’s our response:

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Pool Decking Options

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If you’re looking for pool decking, hardwoods offer excellent benefits that will keep you, your guests, and children safe. Many times, people who settle for plastic decking have to pay extra attention to the decking that surrounds their pool. It’s not hard to imagine that wet plastic composite decking could act more like a “slip …

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Brazilian Cumaru – Comparable to Teak, with Better Qualities

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Brazilian Cumaru Hardwood Decking
Cumaru provides the perfect foundation to your outdoor deck.

Cumaru is a Brazilian hardwood with more benefits than Teak.

Cumaru:

  • Is more affordable than teak, ipe, and synthetic plastic decking
  • Gives you more color variety than teak and ipe with a mix of reddish brown and golden hues
  • Is an excellent all-weather hardwood that can last well over 50 years
  • Does not need constant, if any, maintenance at all
  • Offers great slip resistance and won’t heat up like plastic composite decking
  • Is as durable as it is beautiful

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Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru – Ipe’s Little Brother Grows Up!

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Brazilian Teak
Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru is one of nature's most durable and beautiful decking materials.

Not many people know this, but Brazilian Teak aka Cumaru has very similar properties to ipe. With a Janka hardness rating of 3540, Brazilian Teak is almost as strong as ipe and is a lot more affordable, too!

By far, the biggest reason why Cumaru is gaining in popularity is the cost.

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Green Decking Options – 5 Things You Need to Know

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Tigerwood is a green decking option.
A Tigerwood deck highlights how wood decking is beautiful, versatile, & eco-friendly.

These days, being green and using eco-friendly products is more than a trend. Our whole economy is starting to recognize and value materials and items that have been manufactured and/or promote a healthy, green, and eco-savvy lifestyle. Even the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has shown us that there can be a heavy price to pay when we rely too much on environmentally problematic and damaging resources and materials.

What does this have to do with wood decking?

Well, there is a huge marketing push led by composite decking companies to cast all wood decking as non-eco-friendly. These companies want you to believe that all wood decking comes from illegal logging and that it decimates the world’s forests. Here’s the truth, as an FSC certified lumber supplier, the wood decking that we sell here at Advantage comes from eco-friendly forestry practices.

Here are 5 things you need to know about Green Decking:

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5 Simple Ways to Save When You Buy Decking

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How to Buy Wood Decking
The research this homeowner did prior to buying Ipe has paid off.

It’s almost Summer and thousands of homeowners across the country are getting ready to start working on their deck. Some will be remodeling and many will be building a deck for the first time. But, before hammer goes to nail, the question you must answer is, “What kind of material is best for decking?”

Should you go with real wood decking, or composite “wood” decking? Regular readers of this blog already know the limitations and problems that plague composite deck materials. Let’s face it; if plastic decking were so good, wood decking would be obsolete. But, because of the documented issues that both composite and PVC decking face, many people are opting for real wood deck materials.

So, let’s say that you chose to buy wood decking. What material should you choose, and what pitfalls are to be avoided when buying decking?

Here are 5 Ways to Save Money When You Buy Decking:

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