Wood it's real 2009

For several years, wood composites have been gaining market share in residential deck construction, appealing because they typically require less maintenance. Now the wood industry is fighting back.
“We’re a little bit scared,” said Mike Pastore, a vice president with Spartanburg Forest Products, here at the builder conference in Las Vegas.
Sure, true wood decks still account for 73% of the market. But the composites, typically a mixture of wood ground to a flour-like consistency and mixed with plastic, now account for 26%, far more than a decade ago.

The wood industry has launched a marketing campaign, visiting big-box and independent retailers to educate them about the product.
The industry is trying to combat concerns over trees being cut for the product, pointing out more trees are being planted and the decks are natural. They also tout that, treated correctly, splintering and warping should be miminal.
“We have done an abysmal job educating them about our product,” Mr. Pastore said. “Shame on us for waiting so long to address this.”
There’s plenty at stake: 2.5 million decks will be built this year, up slightly despite the recession. Aware of how popular composites are becoming, Mr. Pastor admitted: “We have a mountain to climb.”
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