Ten years ago, the average American homeowner would have never considered building a deck out of anything other than wood. Today, alternative decking materials are taking a larger share of the market. The growing trend that started on the coast has now made its way to the heart of the country.

"Every year, more of our customers choose low-maintenance decking materials, which are made from recycled wood and plastic," says Ed Repak, Director of Construction & Drafting with Archadeck, the nation’s largest deck builder. "At the same time, plenty of customers still prefer traditional wood, for a variety of reasons.

"When choosing a decking material, says Repak, homeowners should consider four key factors.

Cost - A deck built with low-maintenance decking materials typically costs 30 to 50 percent more than treated wood. Repak explains, "Much of this cost depends on whether the deck is 100 percent low-maintenance materials, or a combination of low-maintenance with wood railing. However, due to the fact that you never have to seal or stain a low-maintenance deck, you usually recoup the cost within about five years."

Maintenance - Some homeowners think nothing of power washing, waterproofing, sealing, staining, painting and replacing boards on their deck. "For them, wood offers the best value," says Repak. "On the other hand, if you’re the type who puts off home improvement projects for months or years, you’ll have to pay someone else to maintain your wood deck every couple of years, or you’ll be replacing the wood prematurely when it deteriorates from lack of care. In that case, low-maintenance materials may offer a better value."

Aesthetics - Low-maintenance decking materials have come a long way since the early days. Today’s composites are available in a range of colors to complement the siding on almost any home, and many styles are easy to mistake for 100% wood. For some purists, however, only the "real thing" will do. As a compromise, says Repak, "many of our customers use low-maintenance materials for the deck but stick with real wood for the railings."

Installation - While low-maintenance decking materials cut, drill and install like real wood, most manufacturers recommend that contractors receive training before building decks with low-maintenance materials. "Some styles will expand more than others under certain weather conditions, so it’s important to know how tightly the boards should be laid," explains Repak. Furthermore, he says, "An expert can explain the advantages and disadvantages of the huge number of options that are currently on the market."

Founded in 1980 in Richmond, Va., Archadeck is ranked as the top deck and porch builder in the United States by Qualified Remodeler magazine (Sept. 2003), and has designed and built more than 50,000 projects across North America, including decks, screened porches, sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, arbors, and many other outdoor structures. Archadeck offers the strongest warranty in the decking industry.

Archadeck, based in Richmond, Virginia, has been ranked sixth on the Qualified Remodeler Top 500 Nationals List. The Top 500 is published annually to recognize remodeling firms for outstanding success in terms of sales volume. Archadeck is the sole deck company on the Nationals List.

Founded in 1980, Archadeck has built more than 50,000 projects across the country and is the nation’s largest deck builder, with offices in 30 states, plus Canada, the UK and Japan. The company has been featured in numerous national magazines, including Additions & Decks, Gardens, Decks & Patios, HOME, and Decks & Backyard Projects. In addition, Archadeck has been featured in a deck and porch segment on HGTV (Home & Garden TV).

"We’re very pleased to be so highly ranked on the Nationals List," said Richard Provost, President/CEO of U.S. Structures, the franchisor of Archadeck. "We certainly feel that the ranking speaks to the quality and uniqueness of our product and that our customers really do appreciate our professionalism and design capabilities. Being ranked sixth overall is also testimony to the growth in popularity of decks as valuable extensions to the home," said Mr. Provost.

The 26th annual Top 500 Nationals List is featured in the September 2003 issue of Qualified Remodeler and on the magazine’s web site: www.qualifiedremodeler.com. Data for firms listed on the Top 500 is provided by the companies and verified by accounting firms, certified public accountants, banks and suppliers. "The 10 companies on the Top 500 Nationals List had a total volume of nearly $1 billion, easily making the 2003 list the largest ever," said Roger Stanley, Editor-in-Chief of Qualified Remodeler.

Memories of hot sun, harassing insects and unexpected rain showers are enough to keep most families from eating outdoors during the summer. But an increasing number of homeowners are now dining al fresco on their screened porches.

"With a screened porch, you can enjoy the fresh air, avoid the hot sun and it’s a great way to escape pesky bugs," says Ed Repak, Construction & Drafting Director for Archadeck. "Today’s screened porches are viewed more as an additional room rather than just a porch."

Archadeck specializes in building screened porches that blend with the original structure and details of your home. In addition to matching the existing roof line and shingles, the company can build gables and knee walls with a finish to match the home’s exterior. Interior finish on the ceiling, the knee wall and even on the existing house wall, all add to the feeling that the screened porch is another room in the house, rather than an enclosed deck. Skylights add to that effect, and they help capture some of the natural light that can be lost when a roof is added to an exterior wall.

"And, for those homeowners who wish to extend the use of their screened porch into the cooler days of fall," explains Repak, "we offer several options which allow the screened porch to be converted into a 3-season room." One popular option includes adding clear acrylic panels that may be removed with the turn of a clip, much like the back of a picture frame. An alternative would be a fixed panel insert, which can be opened during warm weather like a window, but closed during chillier days and nights. "In addition, in those areas of the country where the sun is extremely strong during afternoon hours," says Repak, "Archadeck offers screens with UV protection and the option to wire in ceiling fans."

Some budget conscious homeowners prefer to start with upgradeable decks that they can convert to a screened porch in the future. In those cases, Archadeck increases the size of footings to support the roof load. Builders also install screen under the floorboards. "That way, the floor is already bug-proof when the owner decides to upgrade," explains Repak.

For those customers living where insects are not an issue, Archadeck offers a variety of shade options, ranging from an open porch or loggia to a pergola. These attractive structures provide the perfect relief for the potent rays and heat of the sun.

Founded in 1980 in Richmond, Va., Archadeck was ranked #1 in Decks & Porches by Qualified Remodeler magazine (Sept. 2001), and has designed and built more than 50,000 projects across North America, including decks, screened porches, sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, arbors, and many other outdoor structures. Archadeck offers the strongest warranty in the decking industry.

For many homeowners, spring cleaning may include sprucing up a wooden deck. Yet, the to-do list could keep them busy until the fall - power washing, waterproofing, sealing, staining, painting and replacing boards.

Now an increasing number of home owners are actually spending time enjoying their deck as well as the golf course, the park, or going on vacation. Why? Because they’re building with low-maintenance decking materials - the fastest growing segment of today’s deck-building business.

"A properly maintained wood deck will last longer than most people own their homes," says Rick Provost, president of Archadeck¨. "But who wants to clean and treat it every few years?"

Provost says customers are increasingly choosing alternative decking materials for a variety of reasons, besides being virtually maintenance-free. "Homeowners like the fact that it won’t splinter or warp, and environmentally conscious customers appreciate that it’s made from recycled materials. And, some people just prefer the way it looks."

Three popular low-maintenance decking choices are ChoiceDek, WeatherBest and Trex. All are made from recycled wood and plastic. Resistant to termites, rotting, warping, splitting and splintering, they require no preservatives or coatings. Several styles are available, including varieties that are easy to mistake for 100 percent wood. All styles cut, drill and install like wood.

Low-maintenance decking materials typically cost 30 to 50 percent more than treated wood. Much of this cost depends on whether the deck is 100 percent low-maintenance materials, or a combination of low-maintenance with wood railing. The extra cost of this material can usually be recouped in about five years because no sealing or staining is required.

Low-maintenance decking presents most of the same opportunities for design and construction as pressure-treated wood, allowing customers to take full advantage of the custom-design expertise of Archadeck. "We have been designing and building with low-maintenance materials for years," says Provost. "Our designers and installers have experience with the products, and our work is fully guaranteed by the National Warranty Corporation."

About Archadeck

Founded in 1980 in Richmond, Va., Archadeck was ranked #1 in Decks & Porches by Qualified Remodeler magazine (Sept. 2001), and has designed and built more than 50,000 projects across America, including decks, screened porches, sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, arbors, and many other outdoor structures. Archadeck offers the strongest warranty in the decking industry.