Outdoor Living Made Easy

(ARA) - Outdoor living spaces have never been more popular. According to one recent study, nearly half of all new homes are either built with an attached deck or the new homeowners add one within five years. That's a lot of new decks.

The reasons behind the growing popularity are simple. Working adults are spending more time at the office making it increasingly difficult to make quality time for the family. The same pressures are driving down the time available to enjoy the outdoors. As a result, families are finding that outdoor living spaces are a great way to fill both voids.

Additionally, homeowners that like to entertain really appreciate the freedom of their outdoor living spaces. A byproduct of the home improvement craze is that homeowners are increasingly concerned about potential damage to the indoor living spaces that they've invested so much to improve. They are less willing to take chances with even the best-behaved guests.

These same people are choosing composite decking for many of the above reasons. Composite decking generally requires much less maintenance than other materials, which makes it ideal for busy families, people on the go or anyone interested in minimizing the amount of time and effort they spend on their home. Moreover, composite decks are durable and easy to clean, making them ideal for worry-free entertaining.

Composites are the latest generation of decking materials and they offer exceptional durability. So, it's not surprising that the demand for composites has grown significantly in recent years. As the demand has grown, so has the selection of brands available. This proliferation has made it more difficult for homeowners to choose the one that's right for their home.

One of the most popular choices among all composites is an engineered decking and matching handrail system called Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek. It does not require staining, sealing or treating and carries a manufacturer's limited lifetime, fully transferable warranty. It's also resistant to termites, splintering and even dents from hail. The product line also includes a complete, decorative railing system including posts, post caps, railing and balusters.

"Hands down, ChoiceDek's number one selling point is its low maintenance factor," said Natasha Valach, of Weyerhaeuser. "Homeowners enjoy spending less time maintaining their backyard deck and more time enjoying it."

Better yet, ChoiceDek is made with recycled plastics and recycled wood products, which helps keep these used items out of landfills. Old plastic milk jugs and grocery sacks are melted down to surround the ground up wood fibers and make them virtually waterproof. The wood fibers make the plastic stronger and help dissipate heat on hot summer days.

Do-it-yourselfers will also appreciate how easy it is to work with ChoiceDek. Although denser than wood, you can easily construct a deck using standard hand and power tools. Thinner blades with fewer than 20 teeth are recommended because they wear longer and resist heat better, and pre-drilling pilot holes is recommended when installing balusters and hand rails. ChoiceDek boards are also free of knots, so they can be cut anywhere and that means less waste.

To learn more about ChoiceDek's low maintenance composite decking products that combine modern durability with the classic appearance of wood, just visit www.choicedek.com or your local Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. In the United States, call (877) 235-6873 to speak with a Weyerhaeuser representative.

Courtesy of ARA Content