The latest in composite decking

Iv au- ACCouNrs, 2014 promises l-Dto be a sood vear in outdoor living-a "ut"!ory ihat's projected to reach $5.7 billion in sales by 2016. Manufacturers of composite decking are taking note.

"Decks and porches are now considered true extensions of a home's living space," says Adam Zambanini, v.p. of marketing for Trex. "People are realizing that it's far more economical to expand their living space outside than to enlarge or renovate their home's interior."

Not surprisingly, Zambanini believes that composite decking will be the first choice for homeowners. To simplify the decision process, the company has reorganized its products into three distinct groups-Select, Enhanced and Transcend-allowing consumers to choose the product that best meets their outdoor living needs.

According to Zambanini, comPosite decking is also popular with consumers who care about sustainability and the environment.

"Composite decking provides the look and feel of real wood, but without the environmental impact, making it the ideal choice for today's eco-conscious consumers," says Zambanini. "Upkeep is hassle-free and requires no sanding, staining or painting. Food and drinks wash off easily with just soap and water."

Maintenance is even easier with today's new hard-shell technology, which minimizes upkeep and offers the look of wood that has been painted or stained. TimberTech's new Legacy Collection, the latest member of its Earthwood Evolutions line of fully capped composite decking, has the color and grain of fine hardwoods.

"This collection represents the most authentically unique styles in capped composite decking today," asserts Toby Bostwick, director of Product management at TimberTech Parent CPG Building Products. "It brings a richness and elegance reminiscent of the days of hand-crafted wood floor planks you would see in a fine home or charming historic barn."

Fiberon's newly introduced Good Life composite decking has a protective, three-sided capped surface that resists staining, fading, mold and mildew, while targeting value-con- scious consumers.

"The new Good Life line delivers exceptional performance and value, making it an economically viable alternative to a whole new segment of the home-owning population," says Doug Mancosh, president of Fiberon. ..Our channel partners will see a new wood-alternative customer walk through their doors now that a high-performance decking option is available at such a good price."

Another new entry in the field of capped composites is MoistureShield Pro capstock decking, recently introduced by AERT. "This new line will make it possible to reach even further into markets where capstock is becoming the preference," says Brent Gwatney, senior v.p. of sales and marketing for MoistureShield. "We want to fulfill all homeowners' decking preferences, whether it be with a natural wood-like composite or the benefits of a lower-maintenance cap."

The newest line of composite decking from Rhino Deck is called Armadillo Lite. The line is made from l00Vo postconsumer recycled material and has a uniquely fluted underside that makes it 20Vo lighter than comparabl. .orposite decking. A wrapped polyethylene coating protects against fading, weathering and staining.

TAMKO Building Products has a new option for its EverGrain and Envision decking: grooved boards. The compression-molded boards are easier to install and feature the natural look of wood, with no repeat grain patterns and a dramatic deep grain.

TruGrain decking from Westech Building Products represents a whole new category of composite decking. It is made of Resysta, which was developed in Germany and is made from rice husks, mineral oil, and salt.

"This is the very first product that looks like exotic or tropical hardwood, is l00%o recyclable, and is durable and long-lasting like foamed composites," says general manager Renee Havrilla. "Water-resistant surfaces with the look of wood are our future."

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A host of new lighting and railing products allow consumers to take an ordinary outdoor living space from commonplace to exhaordinary.

"Builders and homeowners are looking for enhancements that maximize the style and enjoyment of their outdoor spaces," says Chris Camfferman, senior product manager for Universal Forest Products, which produces the Deckorators line of deck accessories.

Its Classic and Estate balusters are come in textured white and gray, plus weathered brown, to complement the leading deck and railing colors. Two new aluminum baluster styles, the Twist and Ellipse, offer a variety of style options.

New solar post caps are crafted from pine and feature frosted glass and warm LED lights. Four styles can be chosen: Heritage, Archway and Hammered Metal, plus a caststone cover named Woodland Gray.

"The right lighting can take any outdoor space from invisible to inviting,'says Ronald W. Kaplan, chairman, president and c.e.o. of Trex. "The right products allow homeowners to create customized outdoor living spaces that are compatible and consistent in both look and performance."

The company's LED lighting products feature snap-in installation, use less energy than haditional lights, and are cool to the touch-making them safe for children and pets.

New LED rail light kits from Feeney function as an outdoor lighting accent and a visual aid for low-light areas. Two lengths are offerd (21' and 32") with either a 35- or 60-watt power kit. The lights recess into the underside of top and bottom rails of the company's DesignRail railing systems.

lluma LED lighting from i-lighting is designed to work with any form of outdoor railing system. Photocell technology senses ambient light and automatically turns lights on and off for both safety and security.

Digger Specialties is offering a drink rail adapter kit that can support either a wood or composite deck board on topproviding a safe perch for beverages. The Westbury pre-drilled aluminum rail comes individually sleeved as a kit, with one rail and screws, for easy installation.

f, s sentNc ARRIvES after a rough winter in many regions lLof the country, homeowners are feverishly beginning to plan for their outdoor living spaces.

As a focal point of warm weather entertainment, an outdoor living space can become a luxurious retreat, given the right design, materials and amenities. Knowing how to approach customers to get them involved in the design process can spur their imagination, allowing projects to expand and get more creative. This boosts margins for dealers and contractors and provides exciting design possibilities for homeowners that they might not have imagined. Here are some ideas for expanding the vision and bringing together the dealer, contractor and homeowner as a collaborative team.

Use Low Maintenance Materials at the Start

Using low-maintenance materials can help the homeowner think bigger and out of the box from the get-go. Take the hassle of maintenance and frequent repair out of the equation, and the design possibilities become limitless.

"Using the newest low-maintenance deck and railing materials ensures the customer's investment will pay off with an outdoor space that exceeds their wildest dreams," says Steve Miller, v.p-sales, Holmes Lumber, Millersburg, OH, a division of Carter Lumber.

Mel Westerman of Cape Cod Lumber, Abington, Ma.' agrees, adding that the new capped composites offer an extra layer of protection to resist staining, fading and scratching, while cellular PVC decking offers the broadest color choices with stain- and scratch-resistance.

"Today's durable products give customers more freedom to be creative and put some artistry into their backyard projects," he said. "These decking options provide the perfect backdrop for elaborate outdoor kitchens and rooms that can redefine how the customer experiences outdoor living."

Sell the Outdoor Room as an Experience

Find out early on how many family members there are and how they plan to use the deck on a daily basis. Then let them imagine bringing all of the comforts and luxuries of the indoors to their outdoor space. "Approaching customers with the outdoor room concept instead of just the plain deck or patio helps them to think big, bold and beautiful"' notes Miller.

Jason Russell, Tacoma, Wa.-based president and owner of Dr. Decks, says he not only builds outdoor rooms, but wows customers with unique and individual features that surprise and delight them, like outdoor theaters, built-in bench sound systems, and electronic picnic tables that rise up at a touch of a button.

"My goal is to get their imaginations going on ways to enhance their outdoor experiences," he says. And, according to Russell, an important part of his artistically crafted decks is to use the best, most durable materials, such as composites and cellular PVC. "After a long winter, a beautiful deck is the customer's ticket to grabbing every possible second of outdoor enjoyment and that does not include giving up weekends doing maintenance."

Ramp Up the Style with Railings

Along with providing safety, railings and fancier infills can also influence the style ofthe final deck design. To enhance traditional railings, decorative in-fills, such as square or round metal balusters, offer a sleek stylish option.

When there are breathtaking, scenic views beyond the deck, several options to unclutter the view include cable railing and glass panels. Sleek, stainless steel cable railing provides an improved view and serves as a contemporary design element with very little maintenance. For the ultimate view of lush scenery, there are kits to integrate glass panels into the railing that become nearly invisible.

Amp Up the Lighting Options

To complete the outdoor space, deck lighting can extend the hours of enjoyment on the deck long after the sun goes down, as weli as serve as a design element. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects' 2014 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey, 98.3Vo of respondents rated lighting as a desirable element of their deck. Lighting innovations include post cap lights that generate a warm glow around the deck's railing, under-thehandrail lighting, subtle surface lights that install flush into the deck boards, and stair riser lights for improved safety.

Complete the Vision

Seeing a small swatch chart or deck sample doesn't really paint a picture of how that product or color is going to look on an entire deck. With online visualization tools, the collaboration team can experiment with different colors of decking and railing infill options. This helps cut through the mire of all the products and color choices out there.

"I think online color visualizers are a great way for homeowners to better envision the complete package and they are a great selling tool," says Russell. "It opens the door to every- thing from outdoor kitchens to fire pits to lighting options." He relies on advanced software as well as manufacturers' online design tools, including TimberTech's color visualizers and even an iPad app that makes collaboration easy.

By presenting the outdoor space as a total experience limited only by the imagination, dealers and contractors can help customers dream big with time-tested composite or cellular PVC decking, outdoor kitchens, electronics, decorative railings and deck lighting for a total investment that will reward them for many years to come.

- Carey WalLey is vp. of marketing for TimberTech and AZEK Building Products, divisions of CPG Building Products. Reach her via www.azek.com.