Recycled Wood/Plastic Composite Lumber

Summary
Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber is one of the prime uses for recycled plastic trash bags and waste wood fibers. The composite material is used to produce building products such as decking, door and window frames, and exterior moldings. Manufacturers claim that products produced with recycled wood/plastic lumber are more durable than conventional preservative-treated lumber. Also, these products contain no toxic chemicals such as those used in conventional treated lumber.

Details
Recycled wood/plastic composite lumber typically consists of a 50 /50 mix of wood fibers from recovered saw dust and waste plastics that include high-density polyethylene, PVC, and others. The material is formed into both solid and hollow profiles.

Recycled wood/plastic composites are typically more rigid than 100 percent recycled plastic lumber because the wood fibers act as reinforcement. In addition, the plastic encapsulates and binds the wood together to resist moisture penetration and degradation from fungal rot.

Installation
Recycled wood/plastic composites are commonly used to replace dimensional lumber in exterior decking and moldings, doorjambs, playground equipment, fencing, and other applications where durability is an important performance attribute. The material can typically be worked and installed using common carpentry tools. Both screws and nails with a hot-dipped galvanized coating are acceptable fasteners. Because there is no grain, pre-drilling is typically not required for self-drilling screws. Pneumatic nailers also work exceptionally well. A circular saw equipped with a carbide blade (preferably with a thin kerf and heat vents) provide very clean cuts. When installed as decking material, wood/plastic composite board should be spaced a minimum of 1/8" apart.

Once installed, recycled wood/plastic composite lumber may be left in its natural color or painted/stained after installation.

Benefits/Costs
Wood/plastic composites generally exhibit low moisture absorption and high resistance to decay, insect, and UV ray damage. As a decking material, wood/plastic composite material is said to require less maintenance than traditional lumber decking materials. It can be strong enough for applications such as load bearing deck boards. Wood/composite lumber tends to have significantly greater dimensional stability and a lower coefficient of expansion than solid plastics. Some composites use nearly 100 percent recycled raw material content. In general, recycled wood/plastic composites are cost-competitive with high-end decking materials such as finger jointed pine and redwood, but are significantly more expensive than standard treated products. Retail costs for 2X6-inch material are approximately $2.00 per linear foot.

Limitations
Some recycled wood/plastic lumber products can weigh considerably more than standard lumber products. Like other plastic products, recycled wood/plastic lumber can become more flexible in hot weather and more rigid in cold weather than other decking materials.

Code/Regulatory
Manufacturers of recycled wood/plastic composites typically have model code evaluation reports for their products to facilitate their acceptance in individual building jurisdictions.

Availability
Depending on manufacturer, recycled wood/plastics can be purchased through building supply retailers throughout the country or direct from the manufacturer.

Contact(s)
Do you have a specific question about this technology and/or its 'real life' applications? Try the contacts listed below:

Plastic Lumber Trade Association
P.O. Box 80311
540 South Main Street, Building 7
Akron, OH 44308-9998
800-886-8990
Fax 330-762-1963
www.plasticlumber.org

Brite Manufacturing Inc.
2 Manchester Court
Bolton, Ontario, Canada L7E 2J3
800-265-6021
www.britemanufacturing.com

Boardwalk Composite Lumber
CertainTeed Corporation
750 East Swedesford Road
Valley Forge, PA 19482
610-341-7000
Fax: 610-341-7777

Composite Building Products International, Inc.
200 Brock Street
Barrie, ON CANADA L4N 2M4
877-728-3498
705-728-3498
Fax: 705-728-4519
www.xtendex.com

DURA Products International Inc.
60 Carrier Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada - M9W 5R1
416- 679-0556
888-304-DURA (3872)
Fax: 416-679-0614
www.dexx.ca

EPOCH™ Composite Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 567
Lamar, MO 64759
800-405-0546
Fax: 800-682-9563

Fiber Composites LLC
34570 Random Drive
New London, NC 28127
704-463-7120
Fax: 704-463-1750
www.fibercomposites.com

Kadant Composites, Inc.
8 Alfred Circle
Bedford, Ma. 01730
781-275-3600
Fax: 781-275-3601
www.geodeck.com

Kroy Building Products, Inc.
P.O. Box 636
York, Nebraska 68467
402-362-1212
800-933-5769
Fax 402-362-6797
www.kroybp.com

Louisiana Pacific
"Weatherbest" Composite Decking Product
10155 Kincey Avenue, Suite 150
Huntersville, NC 28078
800-521-4316

Master Mark Plastics
One Master Mark Drive
P.O. Box 662
Albany, MN 56307-0662
800-535-4838
Fax: 320-845-7093
www.rhinodeck.com

Nexwood Industries Ltd.
1327 Clark Boulevard
Brampton, ON Canada L6T 5R5
888-7NEXWOOD
888-763-9966
Fax: 905-799-3663
www.nexwood.com

TENDURA
1220 South Brundidge Street
P.O. Box 827
Troy, Alabama 36081
800-TENDURA

Trex Co. LLC
20 South Cameron Street
Winchester, VA, 22601
800-289-8739
www.trex.com

US Plastic Lumber Corp.
2600 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL, 60608
312-491-2500
Fax 312-491-2501
www.usplasticlumber.com