Demand for decking continues to build

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

Envision Building Products now offers the Pro Plug Hidden Fastening System for use with all fullprofile deck boards and colors. Made by Starborn, Pro Plug allows installers to face-fasten deck boards while eliminating visible screw heads and holes. When used in combination with Envision’s EverClip Hidden Fastener, the Pro Plug System is an ideal solution for achieving a fully hidden and securely fastened deck. The Pro Plug System consists of three components: epoxy-coated carbon steel screws or stainless steel screws; a patented PVC/Composite tool that attaches to a standard drill/driver to drive screws to the correct depth without overdriving or stripping the screw; and plugs made with Envision’s decking material for a perfect match to the deck boards. Drive the screw in a straight and stable fashion with a standard drill until the Auto-Stop mechanism fully engages, then insert the plug into the hole above the fastener and tap into place with a smooth face hammer. The result is a seamless surface for a smooth appearance and feel. Envisiondecking.com Westbury VertiCable Aluminum Railing from DSI makes any deck or porch beautiful, and it comes with a lifetime limited warranty. Featuring thin vertical stainlesssteel cables rather than larger bulky infills, VertiCable railing is stylishly designed to provide unobstructed clear views from any deck or porch making it ideal for residential and multi-family installations. Westbury VertiCable railing comes in pre-assembled sections for fast installation. Available in an industry-leading 12 standard colors and textures, VertiCable railing is powder coated with DSI’s 10-step powder coating process to provide low maintenance and long-term durability. The components are lightweight and engineered for easy installation. VertiCable railing can be installed in up to 60% less time than horizontal cable railing systems. Westbury VertiCable railing offers major installation advantages over competitive horizontal cable railing systems. Diggerspecialties.com

Fiberon has launched Promenade premium PVC decking. Featuring enhanced streaking, premium embossing and a next-generation surface coating designed for superior weather resistance, Promenade PVC decking is now available to order. Promenade PVC decking is covered by a lifetime limited performance warranty and a 50-year stain and fade warranty. It offers an on-trend aesthetic with the benefits of premium PVC, including enhanced durability. Promenade deck boards are lightweight and easy to handle, with a slip-resistant texture that makes them ideal for waterside applications. Both grooved- and square-edge options feature four-sided capping with streaking on the unembossed underside. Fiberondecking.com

Trex has expanded its reach with the launch of a new professionally focused website. Trex.com/Professionals provides new digital content dedicated to satisfying the information and material needs of the AEC (architect, engineer, contractor) community. The new site targets landscape and building architects, along with designers, engineers and commercial contractors and offers a dedicated digital resource hub where they can access pertinent information about Trex’s product offerings, which include decking, railing, cladding, fascia, outdoor lighting, pergola, deck drainage, outdoor kitchen components, fire & water features, outdoor furniture and related accessories. The site also features content that educates, engages, and empowers professionals with the product confidence needed to specify Trex products for their project portfolios. Trex.com/Professionals