What is a "composite" material? Composite materials are made from reclaimed wood products mixed with a sophisticated blend of plastics. There are some good composite materials and some not-so-good composite materials. The quality of any composite material depends on the type and characteristics of the raw materials used in the manufacturing process. Envirodeck products are made from 50% recycled wood fibre and 50% polyethylene plastic. What is composite material used for? Composite wood or wood plastic composite (WPC) as its commonly called, is used for a very wide range of applications such as decking, cladding, furniture and replacing existing wood applications. Durability is an important performance attribute for composite materials. What are the benefits of Envirodeck products? Envirodeck is "man-made" so each profile is designed to meet application-specific performance requirements. Envirodeck products exhibits low moisture absorption, has a high resistance to UV ray damage and insects, which makes it the perfect product for any outdoor entertainment area. Overall composite products are unmatched in performance benefits over wood alternatives. Who Is A.E.R.T? Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. is a leader in the USA in wood composite technology and has developed several technologies which use advanced state-of-the-art recycling of plastic scrap and related manufacturing processes. Manufacturing a growing line of low-maintenance composite building products from recycled polyethylene plastic and waste wood fibre which are used as a non-wood alternative building material for the homebuilding market including decking, door and window components, and exterior trim. Who is MositureShield? Mositureshield is a leading brand of composite products sold in the USA manufactured by A.E.R.T. Why should I buy Envirodeck instead of a competitor product? Our decking materials continue to pay for themselves with low costs and long-lasting durability. Unlike some composite decks, we don t need protective coatings to cover our boards. The advanced technology protects against stains, mould and mildew all the way to the core which local composite products cannot do. It is the only product that can be installed on and/or in the ground and even underwater. How is Envirodeck priced compared to other composite products? Envirodeck only sells solid composite products compared to our competition who sell hollow composite products which are well documented and known to fail in our climate. Envirodeck is a mid to high range priced composite product with top quality features and benefits which ultimately offers the best value for money in the market. Our products are the only products that have international testing and proven performance records. Does your product contain over 25% recycled materials? Yes. Envirodeck decking and accessories are made with 95% recycled materials, of which, 38% is post-consumer in origin. 1.
Does your product help conserve water? Yes. Since Envirodeck decking and accessories are made with 95% recycled content, water consumption is reduced or eliminated in the raw material extraction and processing stages that similar virgin based products would experience. Does your product help save energy? Yes. MoistureShield products are made with a mixture of recycled polyethylene plastic and recycled wood. Recycling one pound of wood conserves approximately 8,500 Btu's of energy. Similarly, recycling one pound of polyethylene conserves approximately 28,350 Btu's of energy. Consequently, building a 12' x 12' deck with MoistureShield saves an amount of energy roughly equal to 416 litres of petrol. Does your product help reduce fuel consumption? Yes. Because Envirodeck is made with 95% recycled content, the fuel consumed during the extraction and processing of virgin raw materials is eliminated. A large part of the energy savings associated with recycling polyethylene comes from the reduction of fuel use during these two stages. Does your product operate on a renewable form of energy? No. Our product requires no energy to operate. However, the manufacturing plants where MoistureShield is made are partially powered with biomass energy. Approximately one-fourth of the energy input for the manufacturing process is derived from renewable biomass sources. Does your product generate a minimum amount of waste? Yes. Envirodeck is manufactured to specific standard construction dimensions and has no wane, knotholes, or other bad spots that require cut-outs and create waste. Is your product made from waste material(s)? Yes. Envirodeck is made from 95% recycled materials, of which, 38% is post-consumer in origin. Envirodeck has one of the highest recycled materials content in the composite landscape decking industry. Does your product have some other environmental advantage that isn't mentioned above? Yes. When a product such as Envirodeck decking and accessories is made from recycled materials, the entire environmental waste spectrum is positively impacted. The recycled content in Envirodeck results in reduced energy consumption, reduced landfill waste, reduced hazardous waste, reduced air emissions including greenhouse gases, reduced water consumption, and reduced wastewater. Why does Envirodeck have an international limited warranty and other composites have much shorter warranties? Because of A.E.R.T Inc., total encapsulation process. Mositureshield products are manufactured under several unique patents wherein the wood fibres are aligned and encapsulated in plastic. The plastic surrounds and bonds to the wood fibres, making them moisture resistant. All local or other imported products are not manufactured in this patented manner which makes them inferior in performance. Is Envirodeck product less harmful to human health than a comparable conventional product? Yes. Envirodeck decking and accessories contain no added arsenic, or other preservatives that are likely to be toxic under normal exposure conditions. Conventional wood treating processes impregnate the 2.
wood substrate with toxic chemicals to prevent rot and decay. Envirodeck is naturally resistant to rot and decay without the toxic additives. Will the product split or rot around a swimming pool? No. Envirodeck is protected all the way through to the core and is suited for all installations around pools and high moisture areas, even underwater. What colours are available? Who says modern composite materials can't be designed with modern aesthetic designs and colours in mind? Envirodeck products are offered in a number of profiles, colours and styles to fulfil any design requirement. The Envirodeck Ranges have their own colour spectrums. It is important to mention both the colour code and colour name for quoting purposes to prevent any confusion. Click on the product catalogues for colour details. Does Envirodeck contain reclaimed wood and recycled plastic? Yes, we do not use virgin plastics as that is not environmentally friendly. How strong is the material? Envirodeck is impact modified for both flexibility and durability. Does composite wood retain its strength in severe weather? Most plastics, composite included, becomes less flexible in cold conditions and more flexible in hot conditions. However, unless subjected to unusual impact, weather does not compromise the performance of the product and the profiles are specifically designed to withstand temperature variances. Envirodeck is perfectly suited to any local weather conditions throughout the seasons. What about hot weather or temperature swings? All materials expand and contract with temperature changes. Envirodeck is engineered with this in mind and proper installation according to our guidelines manages this process which does not affect the performance of the product. As with all other products, the darker colours will attain higher temperatures underfoot than the lighter colours. Is composite wood safe? The finished installation hides all sharp objects such as clips and unsightly screws, leaving nothing but a smooth barefoot friendly surface. Envirodeck has a tough finish, does not get slippery when wet, contains no harmful chemicals and is totally safe all round. Does Envirodeck easily ignite when exposed to a flame? No. Envirodeck has (Class C/ III) fire rating and does not readily ignite. It is categorised as being selfextinguishing which will not support combustion by its self, however it will burn to an ash when exposed to a direct flame. What care and maintenance is required? Please be aware that there is no such thing as "maintenance-free decking". You still have to do the basics to keep Envirodeck products looking their best. It is recommended that you wash your deck periodically with a composite deck cleaning product to remove any surface stains, dirt or debris. 3.
Avoid the use of rubber-backed mats, pot plants or any permanent objects left on the deck for an extended period of time, as these items can cause discolouration to the decking surface or colour variations compared to the rest of the deck. For day-to-day cleaning, use a regular broom or stiff bristle brush to wipe off excess leaves, dust and debris. For more stubborn areas, use a garden hose or high pressure washer, ensuring the distance from the surface is between 20-30 cm; and a composite deck wash. No staining or painting is ever required. **If you encounter mould or mildew problem in our climate, understand that any bushes, shrubs or tree's surrounding the deck release aerosol sugars that is food for this bacteria. Regular dust or dirt can also be a food source. Mould growth is not the fault of the product as the product retains no moisture and resists growth but Mother Nature could play a role, even in our dry climatic conditions. Can I paint Envirodeck products? Your choice of Envirodeck would normally preclude the desire to paint or "maintain" it any way so we do not recommend any painting or staining of Envirodeck products. Is Envirodeck susceptible to natural weathering and colour fading? All natural products weather over a period of time as part of the natural weathering process. 5% of the products composition is a combination of UV stabilisers and colour additives, preventing colour deterioration. Envirodeck colours emulate the textures and natural colour variations of real wood and will stabilise over a period of six months after installation, from the original colour to a slight shade lighter but will stay in the same family of colours it is in. Over time, UV rays from the sun will fade ANY decking. Is Envirodeck expensive in relation to wood alternatives? No. Envirodeck is more economical than any wood products available. Even if the initial purchase cost is higher, by simply adding maintenance (painting, sanding, sealing, water proofing or staining) to the equation, you will realise drastic cost savings over the long term. Time will be spent enjoying the deck rather than maintaining it, providing time and cost savings all round. Why does Envirodeck come in such long lengths? There are a number of reasons for the longer board. Economy of scale is achieved as transport costs are optimized for weight and volume to site. Longer boards provide faster deck installations as the number of joist gaps within the deck are reduced and the long boards can be installed to customize any decking pattern required. Do different colours have different pricing structures? No. All Envirodeck colours in the Envirodeck Ranges available are sold at the same price. Profile ranges are priced individually. Are all colours available for supply? Colour availability is based on customer demand and is subject to change without prior notice. Not all Envirodeck colours illustrated are available in every profile at a particular time. An approximate waiting period for a colour which is not a stock item is 8 weeks. Contact Envirodeck for updated information regarding colour supply. 4.
Can the product be installed in any climate? Envirodeck is designed to withstand temperature changes and harsh climate conditions making it the perfect application for coastal, Highveld or lowveld conditions. The benefits of the product make Envirodeck the best choice for high moisture applications as well, such as jetties, beach decks, sauna cladding, Jacuzzi decks, pool decks and shower floors to name but a few. How many clips and screws are typically required per m²? Eighteen (18) to twenty (20) clips and screws are required per square meter of decking. The closer the joists in the substructure the more clips and screws are required to install composite decking. How many planks are required per m²? The width and length of each specific Envirodeck Range of profiles will change the number of boards required to complete a square meter of decking. Please refer to the product catalogue for further details on the ratio of boards required to complete a sqm of decking for each specific decking range. Which side of the board must be installed facing upwards? This is based purely on a personal aesthetic preference as either side of the board can be used making it full reversible. What about slip resistance around my swimming pool or Jacuzzi? Envirodeck profile ranges provide excellent traction in either wet or dry conditions. Any wet surface can be slippery; Envirodeck has approximately the same coefficient of friction as smooth asphalt. It will not be as slippery as wood. What noise does the product make when you walk on it? The product is a natural decking product so it will sound the same as when walking on any well installed wooden deck. The underfoot feel of any deck is only as good as the substructure it is laid upon. Envirodeck products are engineered in conjunction with specific fixing methods creating a solid underfoot feel to the deck. Can you bend or shape Envirodeck? Yes, unlike other composite products, it is possible to bend/shape Envirodeck products. However, every application is different. You should contact an Envirodeck office for guidance in this department and the warranty does not cover the product after it has been altered in this way. Do I need to clean the deck after installation? As soon as your deck is installed be sure to clean it with a garden hose or soft broom ensuring that board does not have left over debris from the installation which can cause damage to the decking surface. A high pressure hose can be used to clean the deck, ensuring that a fan nozzle is used and the distance from the deck surface is kept at 30cm. Will the product stain? Many competitors products have a polymer surface coating for stain protection, but over time this coating diminishes when exposed to the elements leaving composite products very susceptible to a wide variety of stains. Envirodeck is protected to the core and will resist stains from the inside out. As with any natural product, certain chemicals, food products and oils left unattended for a period of time will penetrate the product. Wash the substance off as soon as possible to prevent any potential stains. 5.
What happens if I forget to attend to a potential stain? If this is the case, the product will naturally weather over a period of time and after initial washing of the affected area, the stain will disappear. What about scratches and dents in the deck? As is the case with timber, Envirodeck profiles are susceptible to scratches and denting from certain outdoor furniture. Proper care should be taken during the installation of each board to minimise damage from tools or mishandling. After installation avoid dragging any furniture, outdoor braai's or other sharp objects across the surface of the deck. Ensure that all surfaces are free of excessive debris that can promote scratching by periodically cleaning the deck. Slight scratching that does occur will weather out over a period of time and will disappear due to the products density and colour extrusion. Severely damaged boards will need replacing. Can I install Envirodeck on directly on concrete? For further information on this, please contact a local Envirodeck office. How do I know what range to use? Envirodeck allows you to make that decision based on personal preference. If you are unsure of which Envirodeck range to use, contact Envirodeck for application specific advice. Can I use Envirodeck on a second story application? Yes. Envirodeck meets and exceeds all building code requirements as a decking profile and any finished installation will only be as good as its substructure it is laid upon. Always check with the relevant SABS building codes and standards specific to each installation. Follow all local safety regulations, including safety harnesses for installing the product in a construction site environment. Where can I buy Envirodeck products from? Depending on region, Envirodeck products can be purchased directly from a local professional deck installation company, a local distributor or directly from a regional warehouse. Transportation costs to site are excluded in all material prices and transport fees to site will be quoted separately. What cladding profiles are available to hide unsightly vertical spaces? Every cladding application is unique and needs to be evaluated on a project level. Contact Envirodeck for further help and advice regarding cladding applications. Can deck lights be installed in Envirodeck products? Yes. A full range of lighting products are available to extend your alfresco dining and entertainment into the night. Please refer to the Envirodeck Lighting catalogue for the full range of lighting products available. 6.