By Mark Doyle
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With summer almost here, many Americans are curtailing their vacation plans this year in favor of staying home and saving money. But even economy-wary homeowners are still interested in improving their homes - whether to enhance resale value or personal enjoyment - and they're looking for improvements with the biggest payback.
Decks remain a top renovation, often cited as delivering the highest return on investment and homeowner enjoyment. Experts predict the outdoor living trend is likely to remain strong this summer, and a great deck will remain the showpiece for almost any outdoor environment.
"Fortunately, decks today are a lot more advanced than the traditional wooden models you might remember from your youth," said Dick Gauthier of Universal Forest Products, a top producer of composite deck materials. "They are easier to take care of and are made of superior materials that are designed to last a long time with much less maintenance."
About 80 percent of homeowners who install decks use real wood, but recent industry tests show that synthetic planks can retain their original look with less upkeep.
Composite materials remain a leading choice for savvy homeowners who seek low-maintenance, great-looking, eco-friendly decks. Universal's Latitudes Decking (www.latitudesdeck.com), a wood-thermoplastic composite material, is made from a mix of recycled wood fiber and post-industrial high-density polyethylene, but the material looks and feels natural.
Rather than needing to be restained or repainted regularly, as you would with a wooden deck, composite planks have the color mixed during the manufacturing process so fading is minimal.
Some composite products, including planks from Trex Deckscapes®, are made with recycled plastic. "Plastic is more expensive initially to put down, but you save money in the long term," said Wayne Rapoza, owner of Wayne's Lumber on Oahu.
Rapoza recommends the Eon product, which is 100 percent plastic, carries a 25-year warranty and offers the look of wood with a nonporous surface that is heat and slip-resistant. "It looks smooth, but if you look closely at the Eon, you can see that it has grooves," he pointed out. "I've had a scientist with a meter come out and tell me it's one of the best non-slip surfaces he's seen."
Once you've selected the material for your decking, you might want to consider adding a screen to your patio or lanai to protect against pests and other outdoor elements. Climatrol Hawaii specializes in installing the latest generation of aluminum screen enclosures, which feature waterproof screens and a new flat spline, the black rubber piping that secures the screen to the frame.
"With a flat spline, the screen is locked in and doesn't come loose," explained Tom Bellman of Climatrol Hawaii. "We haven't replaced a single screen in five years. With a Climatrol screen, you can literally live on your patio."
Despite a climbing trend toward new composite materials, many Hawaii homeowners continue to opt for natural stone for the flooring on their patios and lanais, particularly around pools and whirlpools. A durable and favorite around the world is travertine, known for its hardness and longevity. Another is quartzite, one of the most popular stones for outdoor use thanks to its low cost, variety of earthy colors and suitability for lanai conditions.
Most homeowners, however, still prefer real wood decking, which is more forgiving and less slippery than stone. Many simply prefer the look and feel of real wood.
Redwood and cedar used to be the woods of choice for decks in Hawaii, but they've dimished in popularity as the South American ironwood, or ipe, has claimed supremacy. While other woods face pest- and climate-based assaults on their longevity in Hawaii, ipe is well known for its durability against the Islands' pests and tropical climate. HS
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