Hello

faq · 05-04-11, 10:41 PM

Hi!,

I just signed up for ecomodds and stumbled upon a link to ecorenovator. So I'm really excited about contributing to this forum!

Piwoslaw · 05-05-11, 12:57 AM

Welcome to ER, faq

Do you have any ecorenovations planned for your house?

faq · 05-05-11, 01:30 AM

Yes, I actually do. I have an old wooden patio, and I think that it's about time to get a new one or do some renovation on it. Our patio seems like it's starting to fall apart, and I was thinking about some different materials that I will be able to use. There's recently been a few families in my area that have been using a material that is a combination of wood and plastic. Are you familiar with this material?

Piwoslaw · 05-05-11, 07:03 AM

I've seen it in the US, but the Wife and I regret that we can't find it in Europe.

strider3700 · 05-05-11, 09:31 AM

I have a friend that built a deck out of it. THe cost was almost double that of cedar. It looks good and should last forever though. The biggest complaints in 2 years is that it grows a covering that needs scrubbed off yearly and that in the direct sun it gets too hot to stand on with barefeet. Way way hotter then wood in the same location. having seen it I'll go cedar if I need a deck.

faq · 05-05-11, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider3700

I have a friend that built a deck out of it. THe cost was almost double that of cedar. It looks good and should last forever though. The biggest complaints in 2 years is that it grows a covering that needs scrubbed off yearly and that in the direct sun it gets too hot to stand on with barefeet. Way way hotter then wood in the same location. having seen it I'll go cedar if I need a deck.

But I would hate to cut down trees to make a new deck. My neighbor told me the other day that for this material they use wood chips and recycled plastic to make. I'm thinking if I can save a few trees, it'd b a good thing to do haha. Is there an easier way to deal with the covering that grows on the material?

AC_Hacker · 05-06-11, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faq

...But I would hate to cut down trees to make a new deck...

I don't really get the 'deck thing'.

Why build a structure that needs to be replaced every 15 to 20 years?

I completely understand wanting to have an outside area for socializing, etc during fair weather.

I think that the patio idea, where stones or pavers or re-cycled concrete chunks, or beautiful mosaic surfaces like the Romans did, is far superior to a wood deck or a plastic deck (you still have rot-prone sub-structure).

The cementitious materials do not break down when exposed to UV or rain, and with some careful design can be every bit as attractive as a deck.

I say, "down with the deck, power to the patio".

-AC_Hacker

S-F · 05-06-11, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker

I don't really get the 'deck thing'.

Why build a structure that needs to be replaced every 15 to 20 years?

I completely understand wanting to have an outside area for socializing, etc during fair weather.

I think that the patio idea, where stones or pavers or re-cycled concrete chunks, or beautiful mosaic surfaces like the Romans did, is far superior to a wood deck or a plastic deck (you still have rot-prone sub-structure).

The cementitious materials do not break down when exposed to UV or rain, and with some careful design can be every bit as attractive as a deck.

I say, "down with the deck, power to the patio".

-AC_Hacker

Amen!

I was a patio and wall mason for years. Here in New England we have great field stone that you can use to make a patio that looks 400 yrs. old on day 1. The only maintenance, assuming that the foundation is made properly, is to re grout it every 5 or 10 years. Just make sure the foundation is made extremely well like the Romans did and it will last another thousand years.

S-F · 05-05-11, 09:24 PM

Trex decks are made of plastic and they look like it. The trees that architectural lumber are cut from are mass produced and have much less embodied energy than plastic.

faq · 05-05-11, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-F

Trex decks are made of plastic and they look like it. The trees that architectural lumber are cut from are mass produced and have much less embodied energy than plastic.

So, actually building a deck from architectural lumber is better and more sustainable?

05-04-11, 10:41 PM	#1
faq Green Enthusiast Join Date: May 2011 Location: California Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello Hi!, I just signed up for ecomodds and stumbled upon a link to ecorenovator. So I'm really excited about contributing to this forum!

05-05-11, 12:57 AM	#2
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	Welcome to ER, faq Do you have any ecorenovations planned for your house? __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

05-05-11, 07:03 AM	#4
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 961 Thanks: 188 Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts	I've seen it in the US, but the Wife and I regret that we can't find it in Europe. __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

05-05-11, 01:30 AM	#3
faq Green Enthusiast Join Date: May 2011 Location: California Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, I actually do. I have an old wooden patio, and I think that it's about time to get a new one or do some renovation on it. Our patio seems like it's starting to fall apart, and I was thinking about some different materials that I will be able to use. There's recently been a few families in my area that have been using a material that is a combination of wood and plastic. Are you familiar with this material?

05-05-11, 09:31 AM	#5
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	I have a friend that built a deck out of it. THe cost was almost double that of cedar. It looks good and should last forever though. The biggest complaints in 2 years is that it grows a covering that needs scrubbed off yearly and that in the direct sun it gets too hot to stand on with barefeet. Way way hotter then wood in the same location. having seen it I'll go cedar if I need a deck.

05-05-11, 09:24 PM	#9
S-F You Ain't Me Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northampton MA Posts: 662 Thanks: 6 Thanked 71 Times in 58 Posts	Trex decks are made of plastic and they look like it. The trees that architectural lumber are cut from are mass produced and have much less embodied energy than plastic.