PRODUCTS
Decking demand builds in 2021 and beyond By Andy Carlo While Americans are returning slowly to offices and cubicles, many others continue to work from home. And while home, their spending more time outdoors, and more money on outdoor living spaces. The decking sector remains hot — especially from a remodeling standpoint. “Homeowners are staying in their homes longer and investing in their homes. Remodeling professionals are booked well into 2022,” says Jase DeBoer, senior marketing manager at Deckorators. Demand for low-maintenance, high-quality decking and railing products exploded in 2020 and that demand has remained strong in 2021 heading into 2022. “Where demand in 2020 was heavily DIY, many homeowners are re-engaging with restaurants and vacations,” DeBoer notes. “And that steady DIY demand is shifting towards building professionals going into 2022.” Decking, railing, and accessory manufacturers have been making investments to increase production as well. Trex CEO Bryan Fairbanks recently noted that the completion of a $200 million capacity expansion program in May enabled the Trex Residential division to convert significant customer demand into a 43% increase in sales. Meanwhile, new products continue to lift the category. Here’s what’s new in decking, railing, and accessories in 2021:
Deckorators has added two new vertical-grain color options to the popular line of Vista wood composite decking (WPC), which offers the appearance of exotic hardwoods without the maintenance. Silverwood (light gray) and Dunewood (medium brown) join Driftwood (gray) and Ironwood (brown) to give builders and their clients more color pairing possibilities. All four Vista colors are available in 5½-inch width and 12-, 16-, and 20-foot solid- and grooved-edge options.Vista is backed by a 25-year structural, 25-year stain-and-fade, and 25-year removal-and-replacement limited warranty. Deckorators.com
FastenMaster has partnered with leading deck manufacturers to offer Cortex Decking Plugs in collated strips. The collated strips of Cortex Decking Plugs come in a wide range of deck colors from AZEK, Trex, and Wolf. The wood ‘grain’ on the collated plugs comes pre-aligned allowing the installer to save valuable time on the jobsite. The hidden fastening system was developed by FastenMaster and designed for use with composite, capstock, and PVC decking boards, as well as PVC trim. Collated Cortex Plugs are packaged in three sizes to accommodate 100 lineal feet of decking, as well as 100- and 300-square foot decks. Each package includes Cortex Screws, Cortex Plugs, and Setting Tools, and assumes two fasteners per board installed 16-inches on center. Cortex Plugs are made from the same material as the deck and come with a warranty for the life of the project. FastenMaster.com
Fortress Building Products has extended its line of railing solutions to commercial building professionals with the Al¹³ PLUS aluminum railing system. Formerly known as Al¹³, the system features code-driven enhancements and an innovative bracket system that addresses common challenges on large-scale commercial projects. Al¹³ PLUS joins Fortress Building Products’ current residential aluminum railing offering, Al¹³ HOME, and is available across its North American dealer network. Featuring an additional IBC code-compliant railing post, Al¹³ PLUS accommodates 8-foot spans and fascia mount installations. The system’s prewelded assembly reduces installation time and provides superior performance in strength and safety, while its premium powder coating supports corrosion resistance to ensure lasting style and minimal maintenance. Fortessbp.com
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SEPTEMBER 2021 HARDWARE + BUILDING SUPPLY DEALER
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