Cedarist

Attn, Mike Guertin,

Your miss informed Statement,"Vinyl makes sense for a lot of people. In reality", does not make sense for several reasons.

First, It's going against all that we believe in when we are promoting "Green" building practices.

When your considering a Siding product, Ask yourself:

Question: What renewable source did this come from?
If it's not renewable, "then forget it."

Question: Where does the scrap go?
If it goes directly to our land fills, "then forget it."

We need to stop talking about price and discuss, "Value".
American values.

Cedar Siding coated and installed can have a 25 year coating guarrantee and a 100 year field life. It is what is considered the, "greenest" siding product available.
Visit the "WRCLA" website for more info.

Builders of Fine Homes have seen many Siding product experiments fail and leave customers stranded, ie LP Siding.

Now, Vinyl & Hardi siding products are trying to compete with Cedar for the Siding dollar builders spend. Before you buy,ask yourself the questions I noted above:

Vinyl: from what renewable resource?
Answer; Sourced from Fossil fuel = Not Renewable.
Waste: where does it go?
Answer: It goes to our landfill.

Hardi: from what renewable resource?
Contains, Fly Ash from burnt Coal = Not Renewable.
Waste: = It goes to our landfill.

Cedar: from what renewable resource? = Trees
Waste: = It is recycleable to make Paper,Fuel & Mulch.

America values = "Going Green". Lets show the world we are the leaders in Green building practices and use products that support those values when we side our homes.

After observing the host of Composite decking products that have been introduced over the last 20 years, I have come to the conclusion that they are all chasing profit more than they are trying to do the right thing for our planet.

Many of these composite deck products have tried and failed.

Chris Green in describing, "the pros and cons of synthetic decking" sounded more like a commercial for composite decking than a non biased discussion.


Chris Green notes • "There’s no waste from material defects." He failed to consider the scrap from Composite decking products are not recycled by Waste Management. Because of the fillers used, the scrap goes directly into land fill. That is not Green.

Mr Green States • "No maintenance beyond cleaning is required."
That is of course if you don't mind looking at a black stain
left from where the family pet likes to sleep. That won't come out.

Does he know about the stain manufacturers that have come out with stain products designed to cover up the stains that accummulate in composite decking?

He left out the fact that unlike natural wood products, composite decking have no fiber memory. Sagging can occur and you can't fix that.

Composite decking is proving not to be a stable as expansion from heat can cause buckling in long runs.

Truth is; we are all wanting to build, "green" and a fossil fuel sourced building product can't equal the, "Green" benefits of a sustainably grown wood decking material, ie. Western Red Cedar.

FYI-
"Seal-Once", is a great wood sealer. It can be machine applied before the decking goes to the job site. It is water based, will not harm Fish, Pets,Plants or Wildlife & safe
to use near lakes & streams. It is Green Spec listed.

In Summary; First impressions of composite decking can mask the realities and they are still an experiment that can fail.

Time tested sustainable wood decking products still provide the best "Green Value" when compared.