You can rest easy this Earth Day, knowing that you’ve done a small part to help save the planet. By having a Trex composite deck, you are already a step ahead.
For over twenty years, Trex composite decking has been made from 95% recycled wood and plastic. Trex saves 400 million pounds of plastic and wood from landfills each year, making it one of the largest plastic recyclers in the US. Trex never has to cut down a tree for use in its decking material. The wood comes from reclaimed wood and recycled sawdust. This recycled wood is combined with recycled plastic from a variety of sources: the overwrap on paper towels, dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves, and grocery and shopping bags. The average 500-square foot composite Trex deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags!
Not only are the materials in Trex composite decking environmentally friendly, but their manufacturing process is as well! Their processing method eliminates the use of smoke stacks, and the factory runoff and refuse are recycled back into the manufacturing line. They even run their trailers on vegetable-based oil hydraulics. Trex works together with members of the U.S. Green Building Council to strive towards creating environmentally and socially responsible spaces that improve the quality of life on this planet.
So get out there and enjoy the beautiful Virginia spring air on your Trex deck, knowing that you’ve done your part to help keep this planet beautiful.
Now, that being said I am not looking to build the world’s largest deck off my basement door. I think the thought or just one monstrous space is a bit too much. So I went back and talked to my contractor who built my first TREX deck, and he recommended we put another level on top of the current deck. As soon as he mentioned it bells starting ringing inside my head. I can use the bottom level strictly for grilling and hot tubing, and the top level for sun and fun!
Luckily, we had a Trex Pro builder located near us in Centreville, Virginia. We were able to work with them on a certain time frame a budget for our project. So, obviously the next step was for the construction to commence. We were very pleased when the project was finished early and we still had a good amount of money on our budget for the project. So, after consulting with our Trex Pro, we decided to add an outdoor fireplace to the deck, and I’m glad we did.
Make use of your outdoor deck space, and use planters and flower boxes to grow edible plants. If you start planting now, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor this spring and summer. Get creative! Any container can be used as a planter as long as it has holes in the bottom for drainage. You’ll want to line the bottom of your container with pottery shards, rocks, gravel, or even packing peanuts to help with water drainage. Don’t forget to use vertical space as well with use of a trellis, or stacking pots up an iron rod.
If you’re new to gardening, some hearty herbs may be a good starting point. Most herbs are perennials (meaning they come back year after year) and can withstand cooler temperatures. Lettuces and other leafy greens come in many varieties, some with such color you wouldn’t believe! You’d be surprised at how these plants can spruce up your deck space. The best part about cultivating edible plants on your deck is that you can enjoy them for their look as well as their taste!