Wood & Competitive Decking

10th Edition

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This study analyzes US demand for decking by product, market, and region.

Decks are defined as unroofed, floored areas that are attached to the exterior of a structure. Typically, they are located at the rear of a building. This study encompasses deck boards, which are used to make the floor of the deck, as well as railing systems (consisting of a top rail, spindles, and bottom rail) and other built-in accessories, such as stairs, benches, and planter boxes.

Decking products are broken out by:

• wood
  • pressure treated wood (southern yellow pine, ponderosa pine, douglas and hemlock fir, and other treated wood, such as cypress, Siberian larch, birch, maple, and ash)
  • redwood
  • cedar
  • tropical hardwood – such as ipe, mahogany, teak, tigerwood, cambara, garapa, cumaru, balau, and meranti – and other wood species, such as untreated white oak and black walnut, as well as other types of oak
• wood-plastic composite, which can be segmented by plastic type and surface treatment:
  • plastic type: wood-polyethylene and other combinations such wood-PVC and wood-polypropylene
  • surface treatment: capstock-coated and uncoated varieties. Capstock-coated composite decking is encapsulated with a plastic resin, usually either PVC or an acrylic compound
• plastic and other materials:
  • plastic: vinyl, including both standard and cellular PVC; polyethylene; polystyrene; polypropylene; and laminated PVC membranes
  • other materials including fiberglass, aluminum and other metals, concrete, stone, and nonwood composites

The major market segments analyzed are:

• new residential
• residential renovation
• new commercial
• commercial renovation
• new nonbuilding
• nonbuilding renovation

The residential building market is further segmented by housing type (single-family, multifamily, and manufactured housing).

Commercial structures on which decks are usually installed include bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos, resorts, spas, and other entertainment facilities.

The nonbuilding segment encompasses decks that are not attached to a building. The majority of these decks are located in coastal or other waterfront areas and include boardwalks, docks, marinas, and piers. Nonbuilding decks also include walkways and platforms at national, state, or local parks; amusement parks; water parks; and playgrounds. In many cases, decks in these applications are built through municipal or other government contracts.