Buy Local Building Products for Economic and Environmental Advantages

When it comes to purchasing building materials, buying locally manufactured products is an easy choice for those who want to make a conscious decision to support their local economy while also reducing the footprint left on the environment. Builders who are more concerned with simply getting the job done cheaply might want to take this into consideration because even if buying local is not an important consideration for them…it is possibly a significant consideration for their customers.

CNBC reported last year that U.S. consumers are interested in buying locally made products, and since their purchasing power holds influence, builders, contractors and manufacturers are taking notice. Even retail giant, Walmart announced that it will boost sourcing of U.S. products by $50 billion during the next 10 years. GE is investing $1 billion through 2014 to revitalize its U.S. appliances business which is expected to create more than 1,500 U.S. jobs. These are just a couple of examples to demonstrate consumer purchasing power directing the marketplace towards more sustainable options.

Residential Building Products magazine reported that more than 80% of building products sold in the U.S. are made in the U.S.  Besides the ability to have a local point of contact for any product support or warranty issues, the advantages of buying locally manufactured products are especially advantageous for those residential projects seeking environmental certification, such as LEED credits for Homes.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system is a voluntary and continually evolving national standard for developing high performance sustainable buildings.   They offer LEED credits for materials and products that are harvested within 500 miles of a project and with roofing products that help reduce atmospheric heat build-up (See Duradek Techtalk #146a). Duradek products qualify for LEED points and are an excellent choice to support sustainability.

For a product to be considered ‘green’, it is no longer simply a product's ability to be recycled or to be manufactured from recycled material. Duradek is the Greener choice for many reasons.

• Manufactured in the U.S.
• One time installation and longevity of useful lifetime compares favorably against multiple application and re-application requirements of liquid systems, saving energy consumption for job site visits.
• There is a weight savings benefitting the structural requirements and energy consumption to transport as compared to an EPDM membrane with concrete pavers.
• Compared to pressure treated wood, there are no harmful chemicals leaching into the environment; and PVC membranes over untreated plywood can likely expect double the life expectancy.

If you are interested in ensuring your projects use locally made products, supported by a local manufacturer with low environmental impact and support your local economy, choose a reliable North American made product like Duradek.

Duradek has proven many times over its 40 year history that it is made to last, and doing it right the first time is one of the simplest ways to make an environmentally conscious choice that is also cost-effective for your budget.





Choose Duradek as a sustainable building product choice for your deck.



If you would like to consider the Duradek for your decking projects, look for us at one of the national building industry Trade Shows, or contact a Duradek trained and authorized installer near you.

Duradek is the Decking Material of Choice for the Best Home Builders

New home builders know the secret of successful urban developments include ensuring that the new homeowners enjoy a satisfying quality of life and often that includes an element of outdoor living space like balconies or roof top decks.

For example, EYA who has been committed to developing innovative urban neighborhoods since 1992 has provided more than 4,000 Washington area homes in lifestyle friendly residential neighborhoods. Twice named America's best builder, EYA is committed to sustainability and pursuing LEED certification for its homes and Duradek is happy to have contributed to some of these projects like Monument Place in Arlington, VA by providing Duradek waterproof deck surfaces.



Roofdeck by Duradek at Monument Place in Arlington, VA.

Duradek is a 'green' product and qualifies for LEED credits which can be an important consideration for builders who are committed to environmentally sound practices.

Not only is Duradek a sustainable product that often demonstrates a life cycle twice the length of its 10-year warranty, but the homeowner benefits from its low maintenance advantages as well. Again, EYA demonstrates that they are as committed to their customers as they are to the environment by producing a short instructional video for homeowners on how to properly clean their Duradek vinyl decks.

While Duradek does not require regular maintenance for its waterproofing function, it does need a little clean every once in awhile to stay looking great. And let's face it, when something is loved and well used there is sometimes evidence of that with spills and stains. Luckily, Duradek is an easy product to clean and the recommended cleaning products for removing some of the tougher stains are very easy to find.

So whether you are looking to buy a new home or are building a new home, keep in mind the successful example of sustainable product choices and the lifestyle friendly practices of EYA and Duradek.

Cable Railing System Is Now Proudly Offered By Durarail

photo provided by Premium Decks

Durarail, the powder-coated aluminum railing specialist, now offers Cable Railing - a contemporary deck railing system that provides minimal view obstruction with maximum style. The stainless steel  cables allow airflow through the deck and provide excellent resistance to the elements for an attractive, low maintenance railing solution.

photo provided by Premium Decks

Durarail's powder-coated aluminum top rails and posts provide the ultimate framework for the new Cable Railing System. Cleverly designed cable fasteners are hidden withing the posts, allowing you to attractively frame the perimeter of your deck with a sleek, clean and modern look that can stand up to the elements and provide many years of functional and esthetic appeal.

With a choice of 5 standard Durarail Top Rail designs, homeowners can choose the look that most appeals to them.

photo provided by Texas Railing Systems

Available in 8 standard colors and 180 custom colors, Durarail framework is UV resistant and will not peel, flake or blister as it ages so there is no need for sanding, staining or painting.
In addition to its esthetic appeal and durability, Durarail's Cable Railing System has another advantage; its stainless steel cables contain at least 65% recycled content which help qualify for LEED credits.

Is Duradek Really Green? YES!

Years ago, being ‘Green’ meant one of 2 things – Was it made of recycled materials or Could it be recycled?
We are now much more educated on what being ‘Green’ truly means and take into consideration the entire ‘Cradle to Grave’ concept of the product.

Here’s Duradek’s ‘Cradle to Grave’ story...as compared to the alternatives;

Mining – PVC is a derivative of natural gas and sodium chloride; which is also known as Salt and is one of the most abundant natural resources available on earth.
Manufacturing – At one time, manufacturing PVC had some hazardous side effects. But measures have been taken to rectify those and these safety issues no longer exist. The EPA states that while the manufacturing of PVC is on the rise, toxic dioxins are decreasing.
Transportation & Distribution – Due to the low weight of Duradek compared to the alternatives (such as EPDM & pavers or wood planks), there is considerably less energy consumed in the transportation of the product; from raw resources to manufacturing to distribution to the jobsite.
Building Design – The structural requirements to support a deck with heavy pavers requires many more construction materials. Duradek’s light weight needs only basic structural requirements, using far fewer materials and energy.
Installation – The one-step application process of Duradek requires fewer trips to the job site and uses less manpower, both of which means less energy being consumed.
Maintenance – Duradek does not require re-coating or re-staining, both of which consume materials and manpower. Maintaining Duradek consumes far less energy than the alternatives.
Useful Life – Duradek is a waterproofing membrane, therefore the entire structure is protected and will not decay. The structure remains intact, helping the building to last longer. This saves cost, materials and energy in repairs or replacement.
End of Life – When the time comes to renew the surface, Duradek’s re-installation process will consume less manpower, materials and energy, as well as less disruption to the structure and building use.
Disposal – Compared to Treated Lumber PVC does not leach chemicals into the environment as it decomposes. In fact PVC is often used as landfill liners to prevent other materials from leaching toxins into the earth. Other alternatives, such as composite deck boards are much larger in volume therefore taking up much more space in a landfill.
Recycling - The current opportunities for cost-effectively recycling PVC are minimal, but progress is being made. Some solutions include creating new building materials and man-made reefs.

Compare PVC to the Alternatives

When compared to products that perform the SAME function, consider the following:

• PVC's one-step application and longevity compare favorably to the multiple application and reapplication requirements of liquid-applied systems, saving many trips to the job, which in turn consumes less energy.
• There is a huge weight savings benefiting the structural requirements and the energy consumption to transport as compared to an EPDM membrane with concrete pavers.
• When compared to pressure treated wood, there are no chemicals leaching into the environment and likely double the life expectancy.

As a waterproof roof or deck, compared to alternatives, DURADEK IS THE GREENER CHOICE!

Click here to see more information on the Green side of Duradek including LEED points.