One of the most striking aspects of the LP Behind the Walls House is its wraparound porch on both the first and second levels. The lower-level treatment features LP's new premium-grade, wood-composite decking and railing -- WeatherBest, which offers the look and feelof natural hardwood without the costly, time-consuming hassles of regular maintenance.

"Thanks to their ease of maintenance and durability, wood composites are the fastest-growing segment of the decking business today," says Steve Weinstein, vice president of marketing for LP's specialty products. "WeatherBest helps differentiate the home builder from competitors who build with standard treated lumber or some other form of high-maintenance natural wood."

Natural wood products typically demand extensive annual upkeep to stay looking good: waterproofing, sealing, staining or painting, plus the replacement of cracked, checked and splintered boards. WeatherBest is made from wood-flour particles coated in polyethylene and mixed with additives that protect its surfaces from the sun, wind, moisture, even termites. "WeatherBest looks like wood," says Weinstein, "but because of the integrated polyethylene, it doesn't behave like wood."

WeatherBest is backed by a 10-year limited warranty against the kinds of problems that bedevil conventional wood decks. "Treated lumber comes without any warranty, while WeatherBest warrants against rot, splintering and checking," Weinstein says. WeatherBest is also one of the very few wood-plastic decking products to win NES [National Evaluation Service] approval for both its structural properties and its durability."

Competitive Edge: WeatherBest Decking Low maintenance: Colors penetrate clear through substrate, so there’s no need for painting — ever — saving customers money over the years. Durability: Resists termites, rot, decay, splintering and checking. Exclusive reversible boards: Featuring random graining pattern. New colors: Western Redwood, Driftwood Grey, Pacific Cedar. Quality assurance: Backed by a 10-year limited warranty.

1) Basic, featuring a natural pine wood-grain finish that weathers to a soft ivory grey;

2) Select, offering a brushed-wood finish in light-hued Roughsawn Pine or the darker Roughsawn Grey;

3) Premium, which encompasses a trio of new colors: Pacific Cedar, Western Redwood and Driftwood Grey. The surfaces of the Premium line are slip-resistant, but their most intriguing characteristic is reversibility. On one side of each plank is a random wood-grain finish similar to WeatherBest’s popular natural pine board. The flip side offers a roughsawn look. “This feature allows the builder and buyer to select whichever color and finish best fits the home’s exterior design and setting,” Weinstein explains.

Each of the three styles offers solid decking and hollow decking. “Both types of decking cut, drill and install just like a natural wood,” says Weinstein, “but the hollow planks are somewhat lighter and therefore even easier to work with, especially on remodeling projects. If you happen to be ripping out an old wooden deck — that will most likely be 24 inches on center — you can lay the hollow plank right down on the existing joists without having to add extra structural support.”

Sales Aids and Incentives
LP offers builders a variety of consumer education materials for demonstrating the advantages of WeatherBest wood-composite products and their ability to withstand even the toughest climates. The kit displays the full range of product choices, including matching railings, trim and fascia.

Builders and remodelers also are invited to join the WeatherBest Installer Network (WIN). This frequent-buyer program enables members to earn a variety of installation tools, clothing, trips and other premiums through purchases of WeatherBest products.

Click Here to receive more information on WeatherBest Decking.

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