rs target budgets

vested and manufactured in the U.S. A factory-applied, zero-VOC sealant and UV inhibitor preserves the natural color of the modified wood.

"There's never been a better mix of decking product choices for homeowners to choose from," said Long. "Our newest product, PureWood Select, fits the bill for smaller-sized decks where price seems to be the driver for product selection. For covered porches, we have classic tongue-andgroove patterns for walls, floors and ceilings."

Another economical, low-maintenance choice is ReliaBoard composite decking from TimberTech. The square-edged 5/4 plank is made with recycled wood and a mixture of virgin and post-consumer, recycled highdensity polyethylene.

"Instead of spending money each a new deck or update an old one.

Deckorators powder-coated aluminum railing system with two styles of post caps, which can finish a new deck or porch-or brighten up a tired one.

"Outdoor living is an ever-increasing category for many dealers," agreed Ron Long, president of Bay Tree Technologies. "With more people staying in their current homes longer, remodeling or replacing the deck seems to be on more to-do lists."

The company produces PureWood thermally modified wood products, including decking, porch flooring, and privacy fencing. All are grown, har- year on painting, staining or sealing, value-conscious homeowners can make a one-time investment in lowmaintenance decking," advised Carey Walley, director of marketing at TimberTech.

For smaller outdoor spaces where conventional deck installations may not be an option, EcoShield Deck Tiles can provide an easy-to-use, costeffective solution, said Brent Gwatney, v.p. of sales and marketing at MoistureShield. The company is a division of Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (A.E.R.T.), which makes composite wood decking and accessories.

The l2"x12" deck tiles can be installed on almost any hard, level surface-including bare ground, gravel, concrete, brick or tile-by either contractors or homeowners. Gwatney said, "Homeowners can also unsnap and reposition the tiles to change the look, or take them when they move."

As always, low maintenance is a major consideration, according to Chris Beyer, v.p. of marketing at Fiberon, which manufactures a wide variety of PVC and composite decking, railing, and fencing products.

"The less upkeep required to enjoy their outdoor oasis, the better," he said. "Homeowners are investing in posite, the products have a white PVC finish that resists cracking and flaking. The system also features hidden rail brackets that preserve the beauty of decks, porches, balconies, and stairs.

"Once they get that low-maintenance benefit, they want it all over the yard, so this trend can translate into more business for dealers and their contractors," said Mike Gori, product manager-decking, AZEK Building Products, which has produced a wide range of cellular PVC deck, porch and trim products for more than 25 years.

Many of AZEK's dealers have noticed a trend toward smaller projects, but also a willingness by homeowners to spend more on quality fire-resistant composite deck, dock and fence products that contain more than 60%o per-consumer recycled materials, including mineral ash and urethanes. materials, especially if they are also low maintenance. outdoor living areas, adding and updating decks, to enhance the value and enjoyment of their outdoor living space."

"LifeTime Lumber is one of the few companies whose products have the versatility to offer this number of design options to the homeowner," said president Jim Mahler. "Now, pergolas and privacy fences can be matched with other outdoor applications for the outdoor living space."

"It seems that customers last year were going cheaper overall," said Steve Alexander, who owns Kansas City Deck Supply, Kansas City, Mo. "Surprisingly, even though the projects are not as big this year, they are trending toward higher-end materials."

He believes that "homeowners are more educated on the differences between wood, composites, and cellular PVC. The front of the house is the first thing you see, so homeowners want more curb appeal-whether they are staying or looking to sell."

Both dealers and homeowners should be encouraged by recent surveys indicating that outdoor improvements are a good investment. Depending on where they live, homeowners can recoup 60-7OVo of the cost of a composite deck and 7O-80Vo of a wood deck if they sell their homes.

"In some areas," noted Fox, "outdoor living improvements have matched or exceeded popular kitchen or bathroom projects, which typically cost more."

The company's newest offering, the Inspirations Railing System, was designed to give homeowners customizable options and make assembly quicker and easier for contractors. Constructed of high impact PVC comBuildhrg-Produdsom

Stu Oldfield, president of Northville Lumber, Northville, Mi., agreed. "Once maintenance is not an issue, architectural details and amenities make sense for so many projects," he said. "A lot of the backyard amenities are driven by homeowners who do their research and are very savvy about performance characteristics."

Deck pergolas and privacy fences for outdoor rooms are the newest entries from LifeTime Lumber, which manufactures low-maintenance and

By Diana Hanson North American Deck & Railing Association