Our Christmas OFFER is live now, Get 15% OFF on all services. Click Here

Location

Buffalo, NY

Call Us

+1 716-710-0390

Should I use composite wood for my landscape?

This low-maintenance alternative to wood is made from varying amounts of recycled plastic. Consider decks, fences, and more.

Composite wood can be a low-maintenance, sustainable alternative to wood in home landscaping projects. Formulated to resist stains and scratches without the need for annual sealants and is available in a variety of colors and textures. Composite wood made from recycled materials breathes new life into plastic waste that would otherwise go to landfill.

Homeowners are faced with many material choices for their landscaping, and choosing the most resilient, low-maintenance material that has the look you want can be a complex decision. Learn more about our low-maintenance alternatives to wood and decide if your installation is worth the initial investment.

Basic. Composite wood combines plastic and fiberglass to create a very strong product. Composite wood is designed and molded to mimic real wood and is available in sizes close to the wood’s nominal size.

Expense. Composite lumber for smaller DIY projects is available at your local hardware store and costs between $7 and $40 per board. Hiring a professional contractor not only gives you better material prices at wholesale prices, but also pays a small margin, shipping and installation labor. The total cost of using a professional will depend on your location and the design building or landscaping contractor you choose.

Composite wood decking can cost thousands of dollars to install. Exact pricing will depend onsquare footage in addition to the factors mentioned above. A good rule of thumb is that when hiringa professional, costs start at around $9 per square foot. This is slightly higher than the averagestarting cost of a real wood deck, which can be as low as $7.50 per square foot.

Advantage:

✓ Made with recycled content
✓ Anti-corruption and pest free
✓ Does not absorb water
✓ Low maintenance
✓ Very durable
✓ Easy-to-install materials; not cracked
✓ Various colors and finishes available

Disadvantage:

✓ At first, it may cost more than a real tree.
✓ It may have an artificial appearance.
✓ In moist and humid climates, annual high-pressure washing is required.

When it’s a sustainable choice. Composite wood is a sustainable material choice when the plastic content is made from at least 50% recycled post-consumer waste. Composite wood made from recycled plastic breathes new life into plastic waste, diverting it from oceans and landfills.

Choosing synthetic lumber over tropical hardwoods also reduces the burden on forestry harvests worldwide.

The key to choosing a sustainable product for your composite lumber is to look closely at product specifications for recycled plastic percentages. Also check with the manufacturer or vendor that made the product to ensure that the product was made within 100 miles of where you live. It does not earn sustainability points if it contains little or no recycled content and is manufactured outside the region. Locally sourced materials are always successful, so if you don’t have a composite lumber manufacturer near you, don’t overlook local hardwoods from reputable sources.

Installation notes. Working with synthetic wood is similar to working with real wood. Don’t forget to leave some space between the boards for water and air circulation. Like wood decking, composite wood has recessed hardware options for a clean, modern look.

Wall veneers. Composite wood can be attached to existing walls by adding texture or color. Easy to attach and hang, as seen on the stag horn fern fitted here.

Fencing. This fence is an interesting example of composite wood made in a woven design. Wood is strong yet flexible and works great in this application. The boards are spaced apart to allow some air and light to permeate the fence. Metal poles offset the earthy wood color, and mounding grass softens the ground beneath the fence.

Porch and deck. Decks are the most common use for composite lumber and can be used as outdoor flooring anywhere on a porch, terrace, balcony or boardwalk. You can choose from a range of colors inspired by real wood, from maroon to silver gray. Recycled synthetic wood floors look great from the outside, with some options featuring different grain patterns that mimic real wood.

Trim and railings. Synthetic wood for decks and railings can be mixed with natural hardwoods. You don’t have to use either one exclusively in your deck application. Finishing components for railings, posts and trim are available in a variety of product lines for composite decking.

Get In Touch:

Contact us about your project ideas and our team will be in touch with you within 24 hours! We are in the business for over 5+ years and Buffalo’s Top Rated.

RDK Landscaping – For more inspiration, visit our site. 

Experts in tree removal, stump  demolition, stump removal, tree trimming, tree mulching, tree pruning and emergency tree removal  in Buffalo, NY

Read our Reviews!!

Todd Wilhelm
Todd Wilhelm
2024-10-01
Had sod installed at my house in Amherst. Job done very quickly and well. Highly recommended. Will be using them again for spring 2025 project.
Md Mia
Md Mia
2024-09-27
RDK Tree Service removed a large maple by the power lines. It was definitely not a easy job. They did the job safely and did it rather quickly. I will definitely recommend them for your tree services.
Bike Lover
Bike Lover
2024-09-27
Residing in Buffalo NY, and needed to remove a large tree in the backyard and front yard. The crew did a fantastic job with removing it along with the stump. We are so impressed. Thank you RDK!
selvachandran saravanan
selvachandran saravanan
2024-09-25
Did a job here in my rental property in Amherst of removing two 60-70ft pine trees with stump removal and prepped an area for parking. RDK Landscaping is the one you should go to with your tree and landscaping/hardscaping needs. They are just the best overall!!
jackary Rootis
jackary Rootis
2024-09-24
I highly recommend them. Great crew, Super easy to work with. They’re doing a great job out here in East Amherst. Not only did I use them, but my neighbor and their son did as well and we couldn’t be happier.
DIANE Abram: Toot-Toot Daycare
DIANE Abram: Toot-Toot Daycare
2024-09-21
I hope these pictures speak for itself. I had called couple of companies to my property in Northampton, Buffalo, but only RDK Landscaping had come out so quick to give a quote for a project we started and couldn’t finish. They were so quick, efficient and had completed the project in about 2 days. They did a beautiful job, and answered all my questions throughout the entire process. I am so very thrilled about the results and could not recommend more! They are doing wonderful projects.
Dan Duggan
Dan Duggan
2024-09-19
RDK Landscaping did an amazing job! We had 8 dead ash trees at our property in Clarence that needed to be taken down given their proximity to the house and garage, in addition to two trees close to the power lines. I was very impressed with how quickly Roy and his team responded, came out to the property and got the job done. I would highly recommend them!
Andres Martinez
Andres Martinez
2024-09-14
Everybody at RDK Landscaping was a pleasure to deal with, we had a big project with them to clear up some really overgrown gardens beds around our garage, they went above and beyond making our space useable again. Once the project was complete they made sure to clean everything up and even cleared some weeds we had on our driveway that we hadn’t even mention to them. Can’t recommend them enough and will be calling them first for any future landscaping projects.
Esther Guess
Esther Guess
2024-09-12
The guys were quick and effective at getting all that ivy down. Great work!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *