IN DEPTH: Decks

Bamking also has entered the market with bamboo-based deck board, made with pure Moso bamboo and low-emission adhesives. The product has been sold in America for two years, but it’s been available in Europe for 10 years and in China for 20 years. “It is gaining traction, so our awareness is growing,” says Joe Chicoskie, marketing manager. “We have to get the word out and convince people that bamboo decks are for real. It’s not as expensive as hardwoods; it has a mid-range cost that competes with those products. The new niche it creates is an exotic, green, mid-range product.”

Hardwoods too are finding a stronger market as customers look for something distinctive. Bob Hafner, president of Tiger Deck, says its Tigerwood product is being used for decks, porches and other backyard structures, as well as for applications such as rainscreens and other light-commercial applications. “There’s good volume being created there and great potential for it.”

Redwood also is growing in regional markets, says Humboldt’s Hewitt. “People like the beauty of redwood and the rich color it offers. Contractors know it’s easy to use and work with, and it’s easy to adapt for other purposes, like trellises or shade structures or planter boxes.”

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Wood’s maintenance aspects don’t scare away customers, she says. “There is some maintenance needed with redwood, but that doesn’t dissuade those who are interested in having it. They understand that need. If you care about a product, you have to take care of it, just as you do a car or your home’s exterior. Younger customers especially value natural products more today.”

Wood Still Dominates
Pressure-treated wood still makes up about two-thirds of the market due to low cost along with other benefits. “Everyone wants low maintenance, but some will choose wood due to the price,” says Fiberon’s Kello. They also want products that they are confident in using. “With growing awareness of the different use categories dependent upon the location of pressure-treated wood, customers are looking for a product that is durable and not limited in where it can be used,” says Julianna Rumbaugh, marketing communications manager for Arch Wood Protection, a division of Lonza. “Dealers view it as beneficial to offer one product that can be used in many areas of a project rather than two different types of treated wood.”

Wolmanized-Residential-Outdoor-WoodTreated with a copper-based preservative and an efficacious fungicide, Wolmanized Residential Outdoor Wood from Arch Wood Protection can be used for decks and other applications. It features BARamine technology, which is said to provide a broader range of resistance, including defense against some copper-tolerant fungi and better preservation penetration.

Adds Viance’s Kollwitz, “The key complaint consumers had about pressure-treated wood was its maintenance and weathered appearance after a few years. Wood is still the best choice for outdoor building, and with the newer advanced preservative formulations, they can also have high-performing wood protection that minimizes weathering defects and keeps outdoor wood looking good for a long time.”

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Knowing the product is critical, says Rumbaugh. “When choosing wood, we emphasize that builders and contractors choose the wood that is suitable for their project. If they are building a deck that’s low to the ground or prone to frequent sprinkler wetting, Ground Contact treated wood is likely the best choice. It’s important to be educated on the recent standards changes passed by the AWPA and ICC-ES regarding the use of treated wood.”

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