Composite Decking

Composite decking is a great solution for Seattle, Washington. It is a type of deck made up of two or more pieces of wood that are glued together. This type of deck is often used in high traffic areas, such as airports or shopping malls. This type of material can help reduce the noise and vibration that can come from your feet while you’re walking on the floor. It can also help reduce the amount of time you spend on your feet while you’re working. This article describes composite deck, its benefits, and its use case for the Pacific North West.

As mentioned above, composite decking is simply a material to make wooden decks with. It is a type of engineered wood flooring made from a mixture of wood and plastic. It’s strong, durable, and easy to clean. This engineered wood material gives you the option to choose between several colors and textures to match your home’s décor. The only difference between this kind of material and other types of composite currently available is that composite has two or more pieces of solid or engineered wood glued together. So there is a piece of solid wood that goes on top of another piece of solid wood, or there may be one layer of wood backed by thin plywood, which makes it stronger than other types of composites. You will see that most engineered wood decking has three layers of material. These include the actual deck board itself, some sort of backing to prevent moisture damage, and then the protective coating on top of everything else.

Popular places which engineered wood are used include airports, military bases, commercial buildings, residential homes, schools, playgrounds, etc. In some instances, contractors may use engineered wood decking to help reduce noise and vibrations in larger spaces due to the material carrying less sound than solid boards. Composite decks also may provide additional stability when compared to other types of decks. These factors will result in a durable and low maintenance deck for years to come.

Benefits of Composite Decking
If you want to build better looking, higher quality, long-lasting, and strong outdoor living spaces, the best option would be to use engineered wood building materials. They have many advantages compared to wood and other options. They’re not only beautiful, but they’re also easy to maintain, safe, durable, and comfortable. Many people don’t realize such decking exists until their current decking needs replacement. Once they do find out about it, these are some of the things you’ll enjoy using it for. Here’s 9 reasons why you should use Composite Decking.

1) It Is Easy To Maintain
While some wood decks need regular maintenance, composites are simple to clean with soap and water. There is no oil or grime buildup to interfere with cleaning. When it comes to exterior decks, you should keep them dry so they won’t become damaged. But because composite is comprised of resilient material, it isn’t subject to moisture issues like wood is. Therefore, if you live in an area that gets wet frequently, where you may still have to protect wood, you would not need to protect composite.

2) It Gives Your Home A More Modern Look
Wooden decks were once very common, but now there are very few homeowners who prefer this deck style. This is because modern deck builders tend to use composite as the main type of deck instead. While they might appear similar in appearance, such composite deck is going to give your home a much cleaner look overall. With smooth lines and consistent texture you can guarantee a sleek aesthetic that pairs well with a large variety of other finish materials.

3) Adds to Home Value
Due to the fact that composite decking is comprised of a resilient blend of materials you can count on a long lasting deck. Decks made of composite may add value to your home due to the longevity and less need for repairs of your deck across time. This means that if you resell your home you will be in a good position to retain value.

4) It Provides Extra Strength and Durability
As mentioned earlier, composite does not have the same problems with rotting that woods do. Additionally, composite doesn’t require constant maintenance, unlike the wooden variety. Composites are also easier to repair if something happens to the surface or beneath them. As long as the glue holding the components together holds well, you can restore the deck to almost its original state after repairs. So even though you’re building a high-quality deck, you won’t have to spend as much time maintaining it.

5) It Will Last Longer Than Wood Decks
If you’ve ever owned a wood deck before, you know that they develop cracks and holes over time. This is a problem that will continue to grow with wood unless you make repairs often enough. However, composites aren’t prone to developing those kinds of defects. Unlike wood, they will always retain their color and finish. Composite materials are specially engineered to resist weather conditions like extreme heat, cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, and direct sunlight.

6) It Makes Maintenance Less Expensive
Since composites are less susceptible to damage, they will typically cost less to fix than wooden decks. The reason for this is because most damages caused by wood decks come about due normal wear and tear and weather. Composite decks stand up to constant use and weather better and this makes it easier to keep a composite deck looking good and structurally sound.

7) It Has Great Looks
The biggest advantage of using composites is that they allow you to customize the exact design of your deck. With countless brands and colors and textures available to choose form Composite materials allow for a great deal more aesthetic options than traditional wood. You’ll be able to determine what the final product will look like when finished with ease.

8) It Helps Reduce Pollution
Another huge perk of using composites is how it helps reduce pollution. Composites are mostly created from recycled materials so by utilizing composites you prevent wood product use and reducing the amount of recyclable material in landfills.You’ll be doing your part to protect our environment in more than one way!

9) It’s Easy To Clean Up
Wood can stain easily and is subject to damage caused by cleaning. Composites are naturally smoother and they don’t stain nearly as easy as their wooden counterparts, thus they are easier to clean.

Main Types Of Decking Used In The Pacific North West

Pressure Treated Timber
All sorts of woods can be pressure-treated by manufacturers for outdoor applications. Pressure-treating involves applying chemicals at high temperatures to the surface of the timber to create a long-lasting protective coating. In general, pressure-treated lumber must be specified when you buy pressure-treated lumber so it can withstand the elements. Examples include cedar, redwood, cypress, western red cedar, and Douglas fir. These woods tend to last longer than untreated wood. However, they cannot be stained or painted after being pressure-treated.

Wood Plastic Composite 
Wood-plastic composite (WPC) deck is an excellent set of building materials alternative to traditional wood. WPC is durable and resistant to scratches, and looks very natural. WPC offers many benefits compared to real wood. It requires less maintenance and upkeep. It also lasts a lot longer than the average wood deck. The manufacturing process takes little time and money. There are numerous WPC decks available on the market today, ranging in price from moderate to expensive. These decks come in different textures and colors, giving homeowners lots of options: a cost-effective and low maintenance way to add value to your home. WPCs are strong and waterproof, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor uses. They’re often called “green” because they require minimal resources during production. Most manufacturers take waste byproducts from other industries such as paper mills and turn those items into recycled material that produces their WPC siding boards. This approach helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserves our most valuable resource land. Some manufacturers even go one step further and recycle the entire board itself!

When selecting your decking material it’s about your needs and aesthetic preferences. While composite material is great for most, it’s important to understand the benefits so that you can plan your deck project accordingly. If you need an assist on building out your decking project, you can count on Spaces General Contracting to be your contractor of choice.

Spaces General Contracting is proud to announce their new online preliminary estimate engine. By answering a few questions, you can get an instant preliminary estimate to see what it may take to make your dream project a reality. Our new online estimate tool has been designed to give you the confidence you need to plan your budget for your next project. No strings attached.

Sustainability In Construction

The environment we live is fragile and easily affected by the daily choices that companies make. One of the most environmentally impactful aspects of construction is waste and debris. Experts estimate that construction contributes (Statistic Here) to our atmosphere causing damage to our environment. Using products that have less durability, and constructing with inefficient processes are the largest drivers of waste in the construction industry. By building with intention and selecting materials that last companies can reduce this impact by (estimate statistic here). Spaces General Contracting is passionate about our environment and is dedicated to following processes and procuring materials that greatly reduce their environmental footprint.

What We Believe

At Spaces General Contracting we believe that protecting our environment is one of the most important things that companies can do for our children, our future generations and our planet. We believe in putting the environment ahead of returns. By using processes that minimize waste and products that last we believe that we can contribute to significant change.

Why Sustainability In Construction Matters

Eco friendly construction has many benefits. A few of these benefits are listed below:

Less Cost In Disposal

Processes that minimize waste materials leave less material left over after the project is finished. This means that it will be less expensive to dispose of, as most disposal sites charge by weight.

Less Cost In Materials

Minimized left over material also allows you to purchase less material, saving money on your project.

Longer Lasting Projects

Many eco friendly products are actually more durable than their traditional counterparts. Longer lasting building materials mean a longer lasting project.

Less Costly To Maintain

More durable eco friendly products are less likely to break or require maintenance, saving money in the long term.

Environmental Benefits

The additional benefit of building sustainably is that it helps construction projects reuse or repurpose other materials that would normally cause negative environmental impact.

How We Encourage Sustainability

Spaces General Contracting takes the environment seriously thats why we utilize the following initiatives to ensure that our projects are built with sustainability in mind.

How Spaces General Contracting Drives Sustainability:

  • Initiative #1 Procuring products that are environmentally friendly
  • Initiative #2 Using building materials that are durable
  • Initiative #3 Using process that minimize
  • Initiative #4 Becoming a USGBC member

How You Can Help

When you are planning your construction project, be sure to select contractors that work with sustainability in mind. Additionally, by purchasing eco friendly products you help in two ways. By Purchasing eco friendly products you encourage manufactures to make more sustainable products by driving demand. Additionally, when selecting your contractor hire a firm that focuses on minimizing waste. Not only does creating less waste entail you used less project material, it also saves money on maintenance and replacement costs.

diversity-in-construction

It’s no secret that during recent years there has been a sweeping revelation that racial equality and equity has never been ‘solved’. Many had thought and may still think that racism and racial bias was wiped out by Dr. King many years ago. The truth is the conversation isn’t over and it really can’t end, and nor should it. At Spaces General Contracting, we believe in equality and equity. We challenge the status quo, and are committed to establishing and maintaining practices that support and encourage diversity both within and without our organization. We are passionate about civil rights and aim to be among the few in the industry who will bring lasting change that supports BIPOC in our community.

What We Believe

We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with respect, dignity and warmth. We Believe that opportunity should be based on merit, not the color of your skin. We also believe that equality is not equity. Being treated equally, is not the same as being treated in a way that will balance the social scales. Opportunities need to be offered and resources need to be offered to balance these social scales so that equity can be rebalanced in our country.

What’s The Challenge or Problem

The challenge with building racial equality and equity is our country’s systemic racism. What many don’t understand is that although in large part outright racism has been universally condemned. Other challenges have not. Politics, seek to further disenfranchise BIPOC by gerrymandering and redistricting. Cities, choose to spend money on maintaining some neighborhoods over revitalizing some. Opportunities, by and large are not offered to people who have been victimized by the system, which perpetuates the problem further.

What Can Be Done

Education, awareness, empathy, and compassion are a great start. Additionally, taking action is critical as change begins with action. Becoming a part of the system that combats inequality and gives a voice to the most pressing concerns makes a difference, following organizations such as the NAACP, Urban League Of Metropolitan Seattle, Black Lives Matter. Participating in civil rights events and showing solidarity. Donating to causes that seek to address needs within the community. Finally, if you are an employer, offering jobs to qualified candidates in equal proportion.

What We’re Doing

We are proud to take action in our community and help lead our industry down the correct path. We are intrinsically driven to develop and sustain programs to drive significant change. We actively review our responses to civil rights issues and at every opportunity examine our programs to maintain effectiveness. Currently, Spaces General Contracting participates in the ways listed below.

We are fully committed to supporting our BIPOC community through the following initiatives:

  • Initiative #1: Partnering With The Urban League Of Metropolitan Seattle
  • Initiative #2: Supporting Black Owned Businesses through our equity in procurement program.
  • Initiative #3 Donating to worthy Causes that seek to make a difference in the community.
  • Initiative #4 Using our influence and voice to speak out on equality and equity issues.
  • Initiative #5 Assuring that BIPOC representation is present in management and executive positions.
  • Initiative #6 Assuring that all staff have undergone trainings that cover diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
  • Initiative #7 Maintaining a clear process of communication that directly passes to Executive management to assure our BIPOC staff voices will be heard and acted upon immediately.

How You Can Help

It is up to society as a whole to commit to making positive and needed change. Maintaining awareness as an individual by utilizing resources that can help you understand racism and injustice in our BIPOC communities. The following resources can be helpful for building knowledge that can contribute to lasting change:

NAACP- https://naacp.org

The home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice.

The Urban League Of Metropolitan Seattle- https://urbanleague.org

Empowers those we serve by providing programming and services designed to support and encourage self-sufficiency in all aspects of life.