Plastic Lumber & Wood

Synthetic lumber is rapidly becoming a more commonly used material in construction. In the past, it was used mostly for outdoor furniture or fixtures but with improvements in strengths and weathering properties, plastic lumber is being used more in capital construction.

In another post I covered some of the many composite deck options but this post is about the broader use of plastic lumber and some of current options.

Polywood, Inc, based in New Jersey, "manufactures structural plastic lumber from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled plastics. Using our patented technologies, we’re developing and advancing the use of structural, industrial plastic lumber." They claim their polywood is "tougher and more resilient" than treated wood. I would like to know more about what they mean by "tougher" but you have to contact them for their technical data. I am always skeptical of imitation products.

Bedford Technology makes Fiber Force plastic lumber for building playground equipment, pedestrian bridges, and other small outdoor structures. "[Fiber Force is] made of recycled high density polyethylene plastic, colorants, ultraviolet stabilizers, and combined with fiberglass." It also comes in a variety of colors, including blue, red, and yellow. Amazingly, they offer sizes up to 12x12-20'!

American Composite Timbers (ACT) makes structural lumber and timbers (also up to 12x12) "composed of recycled plastic, fiberglass and select additives which offer a choice of colors, UV stabilization, and if special ordered, flame retardancy." To me, the flame option of adding a flame retardant is the interesting thing because there are not many outdoor products (especially in wood options) that are flame retardant.

TimberGuard is an interesting and durable option I have actually seen before. It is NOT plastic lumber but is polymer wrapped lumber so it has the proven strength of wood. It is made with a process that kind of pushes the lumber through a sheet of thick polymer materials that dries into a very hard shell around the wood. It is very tough stuff.

21 POLY is similar to TimberGuard but is a polymer coating that is sprayed onto wood (usually about 1/16" thick) and binds to the wood fibers. It is an excellent product and is very easy to work with. You can drill, cut, and nail it and it comes in tan, green, dark brown, and battleship gray.

I will try to keep up with plastic lumber and poly lumber options out there but this list is a good start for durable outdoor materials.