Many benefits are available in the use of recycled plastic decking, including low maintenance and the length of time that they retain their original look. The downfall would be in the initial price, but the cost savings over the life expectancy of the recycled plastic decking will be realized.

A variety of colors and styles are available in recycled plastic decking – posts and railings are made to match. Another consideration in choosing colors is knowledge that there’s a good possibility the colors will fade over time. The fading is usually uniform so the deck will remain close to the same color over the entire surface, but will look slightly different than when it was first installed.

Recycled plastic decking comes in a softer type of plastic, polyethylene made of softer recycled plastics, polypropylene made of harder recycled plastics, and composite, which has wood fibers mixed in with the plastic during manufacturing. They also provide a softer walking surface if your deck is going to cover a large area.

Decking is Easier on Your Legs

While wood has a tendency to give when walking on it, recycled plastic decking will feel softer on your feet as you walk, while still maintaining the strength you want. Walking on recycled plastic decking for any period of time will not cause the feeling of fatigue in your feet and calves as wood does.

An advantage of recycled plastic decking made with a wood fiber filler is the small wood fibers have a tendency to come to the surface when the deck gets wet, giving it a “sticky” feeling, which lessens the opportunity for becoming slippery. This can be huge benefit if the deck is around a swimming pool or there are running children playing on it after a rain.

Usually a good cleaning with a power washer a few times a year is all the maintenance that will be required for recycled plastic decking. And should a board become damaged replacement is a lot easier than wood where there’s always the risk of damaging another board while replacing one.

Textures and colors are as varied as the imagination and recycled plastic decking is available to fit into the décor of your existing home. Plus it may give you a good feeling to know all those plastic milk jugs and pop bottles are able to be transformed into something appealing and useful instead of winding up in a landfill.