For a product that’s not supposed to move, decks sure are growing. Metrostudy, the expert on residential construction data and analysis and sister company to ProSales, says favorable economic conditions point to a 4.6% increase in the number of decks that will be installed this year compared with 2017. Look for roughly 158,000 more pro-sized deck jobs nationwide this year, raising the total to 3.6 million, according to Metrostudy.
And when those decks get built, several new products will help reduce the installation time needed. Some of these products were introduced at the Remodeling | Deck | JLC show in October, while others didn’t debut until the International Builders’ Show. Most of those advances are for wood-plastic composite or all-plastic decking, which still trail far behind treated wood decks in popularity but deliver far higher margins per linear foot.
Competition remains fierce in all segments. According to the 2017 Brand Use Study, the top three brands for treated wood as rated by Remodeling magazine readers were Lonza’s Wolmanized Wood and Era Wood, Great Southern Wood Preserving’s YellaWood, and Viance’s Preserve and Ecolife products. Lonza came out first as the brand specified or used most, while YellaWood led in the quality rating.
At the top for composite and vinyl decking products were Trex, AZEK, and TimberTech. Trex was specified or used most while AZEK led in quality. These three also were tops for deck railing, with Trex first in all categories.
Dealers played a hidden role in the ratings, as evidenced by remodelers’ ranking of factors influencing their brand selections. “Delivery is correct, defect-free, and undamaged” ranked second out of the nine choices given regardless of whether treated wood decking, vinyl/composite decking, or railing was involved. “Availability through preferred dealer” ranked third for wood decking, and fifth for both composites and railing. Notably, the speed of delivery and short lead times ranked fourth in importance for wood decking but second from the bottom for both composites and railing. And having the lowest price ranked last in every case.
Here’s a roundup of some notable new decking products coming your way in 2018.
Deckorators’ new Fastendry claims to combine weatherproofing and fastening capabilities into one solution. Fastendry is to designed to fit into the slotted edges of Deckorators composite decking, which the company says forms a water-tight seal that prevents rain, melting snow, and debris from passing through the spaces between boards. Fastendry is available in 12-, 16-, and 20-foot lengths, and complements Deckorators’ Vault, Heritage, Vista, Classic, and Frontier deck boards.
Green Bay Decking released the OPTIMA Deck. Available in three different colors, Green Bay Decking says its product has the lowest moisture absorption of any composite decking material and the highest stability in extreme freeze/thaw cycles. The firm says OPTIMA Deck offers a realistic, wood-look finish and has one of the most slip-resistant surfaces in the market.
DuraLife released its new Step-Clip Fastening System. This new proprietary system works with all DuraLife grooved decking products, and the company says it reduces deck installation time by 50%. No screws are needed to install Step-Clips, just a hammer or nail gun. The clips are made of 15∕8-inch-wide and 23-inch-long polypropylene interlocking strips that can accommodate four deck boards each.
TurboClip sticks include 16 universal hidden deck clips, plus one ‘grip clip’ at the end of each stick. The plastic clips are pre-loaded with stainless steel screws, and as each clip is fastened to the joist, it is snapped off the stick. The manufacturer says the clips are compatible with all major brand composite deck boards, and will be available in early 2018.
Deckorators also unveiled new railing solutions, the SLX Invisirail and ALX Classic Pre-Assembled Rail. The SLX Invisirail is a glass railing system made with tempered glass panels and stainless steel posts. The firm says the SLX eliminates most sightline obstructions. The ALX Classic Pre-Assembled Rail is available in 6- and 8-foot sections, which is said to save time on baluster installation. The ALX is made from heavy-gauge aluminum and is scratch- and corrosion-resistant.
Fairway Architectural Railing Solutions introduced new railing solutions: the S100 Steel Railing and A210 Aluminum Railing. The S100 railing features 6- and 8-foot widths, 28-, 34-, and 40- inch heights, and is stair-adjustable up to 42 degrees. The A210 also has new features, such as the horizontal cable infill and a compatible ADA secondary aluminum 1½-inch handrail.
The Dextor Power Hand will appeal to those who install a lot of hardwood decking. The clamp can be powered by a cordless drill/driver equipped with a clutch and 11 mm hex bolt bit. Depending on the width of your decking, the Power Hand can be used to clamp three or four boards at a time, and is capable of providing over 400 pounds of pulling or pushing force to straighten the decking, according to Dextor Works CEO Lars Mikkelsen. Suggested price is $169.95.
TAMKO Building Products unveiled its new Envision Registered Contractor Program. The company says free program includes benefits such as marketing tools and complimentary gear. There are two program levels to choose from, Registered or Gold. According to the manufacturer, this is the company’s first program specifically targeted toward decking contractors and is a continuation of its increased focus to support and promote Envision contractors.
