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Plastic or Synthetic Wood for Decks

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

June 29, 2000

Q. We read an article you wrote on recycled materials for decks and were wondering about using plastic wood. What are the differences in synthetic wood and plastic wood? We are looking to build a deck over our existing concrete patio. What's the best material to use?

-Susan Scharf, Flushing

A. There are some significant differences between the recycled materials. First, plastic wood is 100-percent recycled plastic. Synthetic wood is a mixture of real wood fibers and plastic fillers. Plastic wood is maintenance free and some companies offer a 25-year warranty. It can be used for decks, bulkheads, docks, retaining walls, traffic sound barriers and even industrial flooring. It can't be painted or stained, but it comes in several colors that run throughout the product. Plastic wood is a durable, dependable product -- it won't absorb water and resists weathering and insects -- but it looks and wears more like vinyl siding than real wood.

Synthetic wood, on the other hand, is much more like real wood in appearance and performance. It can be sanded and painted or stained. It expands and contracts with changing temperatures. It also weathers slightly and tends to be more slip resistant than plastic wood. It absorbs very little water, and, like plastic wood, won't be a buffet table for insects. However, synthetic wood is not designed to replace wood in structural applications. That means you'll need pressure-treated wood for load-bearing members such as joists, posts, beams and stringers.

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In the long run, you're going to have to decide what type of deck you want. If you want it to look and act more like real wood, then you probably want to use a synthetic lumber.

Both products are excellent, but they are different. Before you make your decision, here are some leading manufacturers of plastic and simulated wood. You'll find tons of information on their Web sites, including photographs of specific applications.

PLASTIC WOOD

American Ecoboard, Inc.; Farmingdale, 631-753- 5151 or 800-567-9851; www.americanecoboard.com.

Phoenix Recycled Plastics; (makers of Foreverdeck and Foreverdock); 301 Randolf St. Ambler, Pa. 19002; 610-940-1590; www.plasticlumberyard.com.

SIMULATED WOOD

U.S. Plastic Lumber; (manufacturers of SmartDeck); 2600 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Ill. 60608; 888-733-2546; www.smartdeck.com.

Trex Company, LLC; (manufacturers of Trex Easy-Care Decking); 20 South Cameron Street, Winchester, Va. 22601; 800-742-1035; www.trex.com.

TimberTech Limited; (TimberTech Engineered Decking System); P.O. Box 182880, Columbus, Ohio, 43218; www.TimberTech.com.