Allison Walker, Your Home

Something you had for breakfast could be in someone's deck.

That is because a decking company is using yogurt cups and other recycled plastics in its material.

But, as News 13's Allison Walker explains, installing a mostly recycled deck won't cut you a deal upfront.

Craig Sherrette's deck looks like wood, but it's not. Nearly half of it is wood, but the rest is plastic.

Most of the wood is from stuff already used, and the plastic is recycled too.

"The plastics are high-density polyethlene, which comes from yogurt cups, plastic drinking cups, that type of thing, all ground up, that is put into a mixture," Sherrette said.
 
The makers of the fiberon composite decking said that about two-thirds of it is made from recycled materials. Plus, they say, the color you choose will stay that way for about 20 years.

Sherrette, of Fiberon Composites, said a deck made of the material won't rot or splinter.
    
"The initial cost when you buy it is probably going to be maybe 20 to 30 percent more than  typical pressure-treated wood, but over the lifespan, without all the maintenance costs, without replacing the deck, you're going to have the cost a lot lower," Sherette said.

News 13 caught up with a custom builder shopping around at the International Builders Show in Orlando. Renee Stone said her deck in Celebration is all wood.

"It bleaches out. And I guess the finishing gets eaten away by the elements," Stone said.

But wood deck designs are versatile.

Shaping synthetic or composite material is more difficult, and when you chose a color, you're stuck with it. It is something Stone doesn't mind, but she said it is something to consider when dealing with her customers.

"As a designer, I do want something that will hold my color. I hate having to have to touch up the homes," Stone said.

To see more Your Home stories, go to News 13 On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 313.

 
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