Making Your Deck Safe for the Environment

Decks are a great place for entertaining, eating, or enjoying a quiet weekend morning sipping coffee and reading. The one common element that makes these experiences special is that they are done outdoors. Most people enjoy and even need some connection to nature. It reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and improves the ability to concentrate. Those who say that people today are isolated from the environment have forgotten about the connection to nature that their decks provide. It only makes sense that deck construction and care be done in a way that’s safe for the environment.

Build An Eco-Friendly Deck

When building a deck, use wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certified wood is harvested from a forest that is sustainably managed. Clear-cutting and pesticide use are restricted, and fragile ecosystems are protected. Choose a wood such as cedar that is naturally weather resistant. An alternative building material to use for your deck is composite decking. This material is made from recycled high-density polyethylene and wood from landfills. It is more durable than wood and has a greater resistance to termites, sun damage, and mold.

Use An Environmentally Friendly Grill

Charcoal puts out smoke, soot, and carbon dioxide. The process of making it from wood involves slow pyrolysis which is energy intensive. A better alternative is a propane powered grill. Propane is clean burning and is not a greenhouse gas. However, if you have a taste for charcoal grilled food, then opt for natural wood lump charcoal. There are many brands that sell this as organic lump charcoal. It puts out less soot and lacks the chemical additives of charcoal briquettes. Use a charcoal chimney starter instead of lighter fluid.

Use Environmentally Friendly Deck Maintenance Products

Avoid using deck restoration and cleaning products that have harsh chemicals. These end up in the ground under and around your deck where it affects plants, your pets, and possibly you. Over time they can get into the watershed and contaminate streams, lakes, and ponds. Instead, use DeckMAX deck cleaning and revitalizer products. These products are plant-based and made in an environmentally responsible way. They are highly effective and are the best of all types of deck cleaning and restoration products on the market.

For more questions about making your deck experiences environmentally friendly, please contact us.