Running Head: Introduction to Environmental Science: Investigation 7

Introduction to Environmental Science:

Investigation 7
U49701984
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Introduction to Environmental Science: Investigation 7

Withgott and Laposata (2014) stated, Our demand for wood and paper products and our
need for open land for agriculture have led us to clear forested land. When trees are removed
more quickly than they can regrow, the result is deforestation, the clearing and loss of forests.
Deforestation has altered landscapes across much of our planet. In the time it takes you to read
this sentence, 2 hectares (5 acres) of tropical forest will have been cleared (p. 311). With such a
high demand for wood in construction, specifically residential upgrades, what can be done to
reduce the demand for wood? There are various methods that homeowners can take to reduce
the use of wood in upgrading their home with new features, while still increasing the property
value of their home. Composite decking is one of them.
According to Home & Gardening Television (2016), As an alternative to a hardwood
deck, try composite decking made from wood waste and recycled plastic. In addition to being
eco-friendly, composite decking outperforms ordinary wood decking; it lasts longer, requires less
maintenance and won't warp, crack, splinter or rot (hgtv.com). Rimdusit, Jubsilp, and
Tiptipakorn (2013) stated, The new wood replacement is wood polymer composites which are a
form-shaped composite material made of cellulosic fillers, i.e., wood flour/fiber, and
thermosetting/thermoplastic polymers with acceptable relative strength and stiffness, high
durability, low maintenance cost, fewer prices relative to other competing materials, extended
lifetime compared with many wood products (p. 84). Given all of these features and benefits,
composite decking sounds exceptionally appealing. However, homeowners may have a difficult
time making the decision to choose composite decking over wood because of the price.
Composite decking is significantly more expensive. According to Kompareit.com
(2016), On average, a pressure-treated wood deck will cost between $15 to $25 per square
foot including installation. A cedar wood deck will cost $30 or more per square foot. A composite

Introduction to Environmental Science: Investigation 7

deck will cost $30 to $45 per square foot installed (kompareit.com). This means that the
homeowner will have to consider the pros and cons of each material, price included, to choose
from when deciding which one to use. A homeowner would likely have to make a strong case to
themselves for paying approximately double the price for the composite deck over the wood
option. The longer life expectancy and low maintenance could perhaps tip the scales towards
choosing the more expensive option of the composite decking material, especially if the
environmental impact factor isnt enough for that specific homeowner. Nevertheless, there is
still a return on the investment.
According to the Remodeling Magazine (2016), the return on investment for a deck is 75
percent for a wooden deck and 64.4 percent for a composite deck. The lower return on
investment is another consideration for the homeowner. So, if a homeowner spent $12,000 on a
composite deck upgrade to a home, there would be an estimated increase in property value of
$7,680. There is another benefit of the composite decking material worth mentioning. At the
end of its longer lifespan over a wooden deck, the material can be, once again, recycled. Feifel,
Stbs, Seibert, & Hartl (2015) stated, Compared to tropical wood WPC is mostly advantageous.
WPC terraces may show in particular higher lifespans than wooden terraces and could
furthermore be recycled as well (p. 829). The fact that the material can be recycled and used
again, further provides materials that supplement the demand for wood and the drive for
deforestation.
As the human population in the world continues to increase, so does the demand for
wood products. There are various methods that homeowners can take to reduce the use of wood
in upgrading their home with new features, while still increasing the property value of their
home. Composite decking is one of them.

Introduction to Environmental Science: Investigation 7

Works Cited:
Withgott, J., Laposata, M. (2014). Environment: the science behind the stories (5th ed.).
Glenview, IL: Pearson Education, Inc.
Home & Garden Television. (2016). 10 green home updates. Retrieved from http://www.hgtv.co
m/design/real-estate/10-green-home-updates
Rimdusit, S., Jubsilp, C., & Tiptipakorn, S. (2013). Newly high-performance wood-substituted
composites based on polybenzoxazines. Engineering Materials. 83-115. Retrieved
from

http://link.springer.com.ezproxy.lib.usf.edu/chapter/10.1007/978-981-4451-76-5_5

Kompareit. (2016). Compare wood vs composite deck cost. Retrieved from http://www.kompare
it.com/homeandgarden/deck-compare-wood-vs-composite.html
Remodeling Magazine. (2016). 2016 cost vs. value report. Retrieved from
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2016/
Feifel, S., Stbs, O., Seibert, K., & Hartl, J. (2015). Comparing woodpolymer composites with
solid wood: the case of sustainability of terrace flooring. European Journal of
Wood and

Wood Products, 73(6). 829-836. Retrieved from

http://link.springer.com.ezproxy.lib.usf.

edu/article/10.1007/s00107-015-0953-6