Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

From Trash to Treasure, You Can Build a Deck That’s Easy on Both the Eyes and the Environment

From Trash to Treasure, You Can Build a Deck That’s Easy on Both the Eyes and the Environment

Composite decking has come a long way in recent decades—and one company is going further by recycling 300 million pounds of scrap and waste.

While wooden decks are beautiful, concerns over upkeep and long-term decay may have you considering composite decking products instead. But what if you could have the look of real wood while helping to divert plastics and other wastes away from landfills? An ingenious process from composite decking manufacturer TimberTech is doing just that: engineering products that convincingly resemble natural wood while at the same time recycling several hundred million pounds of sawdust and plastics each year.



A reimagined backyard in San Jose, California, makes the most of TimberTech’s composite decking products to unite a bluestone patio and detached in-law suite with the main house.

"Maintenance and durability are two key considerations when deciding between composite and wood decking," says Patrick Barnds, SVP of Product Management at TimberTech. "However, another consideration is the sustainability aspect of composite products."

While the term "composite decking" is often used broadly in communication, it actually describes two slightly different methods of manufacturing deck boards: either by combining plastic resin and natural wood waste (such as sawdust), or by using a fully synthetic polymer solution. In either case, the resulting mixture is combined under heat and pressure to form the core of the board, which is then enveloped in a protective shell that also provides the color and finish. TimberTech, which makes both types of products, takes the process one step further by actively sourcing recycled materials and reintroducing scraps from its own manufacturing process.

"To achieve a more consistent and dependable supply of inputs, we invested in our own recycling capabilities," Barnds adds. "We built a state-of-the-art plastics recycling facility that supplies materials for our capped wood-plastic products, and we also bought a company that specializes in harder-to-recycle plastics like PVC for our capped polymer products. Together, these programs allow us to increase the recycled content of our products as much as possible. In fact, we’re on track to use almost 300 million pounds of scrap and waste materials this year."



At one end of the patio, the custom fireplace is also clad in TimberTech’s composite boards.



On another side, a raised planter wraps around a corner between the patio and deck.



In addition to recycling, TimberTech's ongoing investment in research and development has led to new manufacturing processes that avoid the telltale signs of synthetic products-for example, overly simplistic wood-grain patterns or unrealistic, contrasting color schemes. Specifically, the company’s multifaceted finishing technologies focus on recreating the natural nuances found in dozens of wood varieties.

"To achieve a visual that comes as close as possible to real wood, we use a multi-stage color blending system that creates subtle highlights and low-lights similar to the board-to-board color variation of natural wood," explains Barnds. "Then, we incorporate an embossing step to add various grain patterns, which range from a traditional wood grain to the look of quarter-sawn hardwoods, wire-brushed finishes, and even reclaimed lumber, among others. The visual combinations are not easy to recreate, which is why we place such an emphasis on investing in the technology that goes into our product lines."



The technology behind TimberTech’s products recreates the look of real wood, with various steps to produce the variation found in natural products as well.

In addition to understanding how different composite decking products are designed and made, other questions can help you consider the best option for your climate, budget, and aesthetic goals. A landscape designer can also provide advice and clever design ideas-from mixing widths and colors to creating custom herringbone, chevron, or other patterns.

Matt Daly, whose firm, Water & Earth Landscape Design, worked on the San Jose project, offers this advice to customers: "Color and size selection comes down to aesthetic, the intent of the design, and paying respect to the home’s architecture or natural surroundings." About the San Jose project specifically, he adds, "The green turf grass, combined with the bluestone, didn’t allow for much variation, so we wanted to make the decking a focal point."

The days of choosing between two product colors are long gone as well. "When I was first introduced to composite decking, the choices were a not particularly attractive mottled gray or a light, tan-brown—both of which faded quickly and came with a minimal performance warranty," recalls Barnds.

"Today, no matter if you prefer the look of a softwood or hardwood, a domestic or exotic species, and a like-new or time-worn finish, you can likely match the visual with a composite decking product. Our boards have also demonstrated a long-term resistance to fading, which we back with a lifetime warranty on the product structure in addition to a 50-year fade and stain warranty for our polymer products."



TimberTech’s decking products come in dozens of pre-applied colors-from darker shades like Mahogany and English Walnut to lighter tones such as Ashwood and Driftwood.

"Understandably, one of the biggest factors clients worry about is cost," says Daly. "While composite decking can be a little more expensive up front as compared to low-end lumber, I also encourage clients to consider the long-term cost of maintaining or rebuilding a wood deck."

Barnds points out that TimberTech's decking products require only an occasional cleaning with mild soap and water. "Even with very little maintenance, high-quality composite decking will last 25 to 50 years," he says. "In comparison, a well-built and consistently maintained wooden deck made of pressure-treated pine, cedar, or redwood has a reasonable service life of around 15 years, depending on the local climate."



Both the raised patio and deck lead down to the lawn, which also features stepping stones that connect with a smaller bluestone patio in the corner of the lot.

In 2019, TimberTech introduced the industry’s first multi-width decking product, adding narrower and wider options to their standard five-and-a-half-inch boards. About the new product line Barnds adds, "When you have the ability to mix widths and colors, there are many possibilities for creating custom patterns or insets. It’s really fun to see the creative ways deck builders and homeowners take advantage of the design potential."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×