In addition to the longer lifespan that does not require dyeing and sealing, composite decking companies have many other environmental statements. Composite flooring companies like Dino Decking (https://www.dinodecking.co.uk/category/composite-decking-boards/) reports that composite boards are made from recycled materials. Companies like Trex says that the plastic used came from 1.5 billion plastic bags, accounting for about seven of the 10 plastic shopping bags in the United States. Instead of using logs, they use factory waste and old pallets. The combination of plastic and sawdust creates an attractive, durable and maintenance-free floor.
Although composite flooring may cost more, in the long run, lower maintenance costs put it at the leading edge. The composite boards have many colors and varying textures to choose from and does not require staining or sealing. Composite trim panels resist decay and insects and even meet California’s stringent fire codes. Composite decks are said to have a life span of more than 30 years, however, in reality, it may be less because homeowner preferences may change over time.
The Challenge with Composite Decking
The reasons for making it environmentally friendly in terms of material procurement and manufacturing also make composite trim panels unsustainable in terms of installation and disposal. When you combine recyclable industrial materials (plastics) with compostable biomaterials (wood), you get materials that are not recyclable or even compostable.
Therefore, any sort of sawdust or construction waste will be shipped to the landfill. Since it is almost impossible to completely collect wood chips, the miter saw will spread the plastic/wood chips all over the construction place. If your deck consumes 100 twelve-foot panels and you average three times per board using a 1/8-inch saw cutter, you will create 8 pounds of this huge hybrid, a large part of this may be blown away with the wind. A simple estimation sees that around 100 pounds of waste will be sent to the landfill, even if you have produced as many compound birdhouses as possible.
Final Thoughts
This really comes down to personal choices and ideals. Minimize the environmental effect of laminate flooring by planning all of the cuts to reduce waste and carefully capture and gather the sawdust. The composite deck can last longer and does not need annual application of sealants and stain. However, wooden decks are created from natural and environmentally friendly resources that do not end up in landfills, but you need to use fossil fuel-based chemical sealants and stains.