Vancouverites are proud of their environmental consciousness. From reusable water bottles to electric cars, Metro Vancouver residents invest in eco-friendly solutions.

This is especially true when it comes to building and renovating homes. With a slew of building products on the market claiming to be “green,” it’s hard to remove the eco-duds from the bunch. This can be frustrating for someone trying to choose eco-friendly deck materials.

As the Greater Vancouver deck experts, and fellow eco-minded consumers, Citywide Sundecks has your solution. In this article we’ll cover the environmental pros and cons of common decking materials, and share our favourite eco-friendly deck solution with you!

Environmental pros and cons of common deck materials

Many deck materials claim to be environmentally friendly and many are, to varying degrees. At Citywide Sundecks, we install wood, composite, vinyl, and liquid decking. Each of these popular deck materials has environmental pros and cons:

Wooden decking

Pros – Wood is natural and compostable. At the end of a wooden deck’s lifespan, it rots, returning back to the ecosystem once again.

Cons – Timber’s organic nature requires coating for protection from the environment. The harsh chemicals in stain, sealant, and paint can be damaging to the environment and re-application is usually required annually.

Composite decking

Pros – composite (wood mixed with plastic) lasts longer than traditional wood. It never requires painting or staining, which avoids the need for extra chemicals. Composite decking is also made from recycled materials.

Cons – This mixed material isn’t recyclable at the end of its lifespan, and its manufacturing requires excessive energy and water.

Vinyl decking

Pros – This PVC based material is long lasting (up to 30 years). At the end of its lifespan, it takes up much less landfill space than its composite counterpart.

Cons – This material is non-recyclable and requires significant energy in manufacturing.

Liquid decking

Pros – Liquid deck coatings, generally urethane-based, are long-lasting and easily repaired. When the coating wears out, rather than needing to remove the material, you can add another coat. This reduces time, energy, materials, and waste.

Cons – Liquid coatings contain chemicals. Some of the properties in these chemicals are toxic in liquid form. Therefore, you have to be mindful about how you dispose leftover product.

The most eco-friendly deck material

The materials mentioned above have varying issues for the environment, ranging from energy inefficiency and the inability to be recycled to shorter lifespans and toxic chemical concerns.

However, there is one material that overcomes all of these shortcomings while looking fantastic in any home: Cellular PVC.

Cellular PVC, marketed as a composite deck material, is 100% PVC. Unlike traditional composite decking, it’s 100% recyclable. At Citywide Sundecks, we install the cellular PVC brand, AZEK to create the ultimate eco-friendly deck.

AZEK Cellular PVC

AZEK Building Products reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills each year. They do this by recycling the majority of wasted materials during manufacturing. The AZEK Deck line is made from up to 36% recycled material.

Annually, over 100,000 trees are saved by using AZEK cellular PVC over wood or composite decking. Through innovative ways, this is a company that continues to give back to the environment.

AZEK is a safe, eco-friendly deck material, containing no urea or formaldehyde. Thanks to their eco-values, they’ve achieved the National Green Building Standard. All AZEK Building Products are certified by the National Green Building Standard (NGBS).

Beyond making eco-friendly deck choices for homeowners, AZEK has many other benefits. It’s one of the most durable, low maintenance, and beautiful materials used in decking. Unlike composite or timber decking, it holds up when in direct contact with soil or water for extended periods of time. Because it’s entirely plastic, it can be heated and molded into incredible curved and circular designs for one-of-a-kind results.

Ready For A New Eco-Friendly Deck?

If you’re considering a new eco-friendly, durable, and beautiful sundeck, consider AZEK.

For a free quote on your new AZEK deck, call 250-618-2507 or fill out the form below.