Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly, low maintenance decking option, you might want to check into rubber composite decks.

Made from a mix of polyethylene resins and recycled tires, these heavy manufactured deck boards were first used in commercial projects but are now available for residential decks as well. The rubber decking has a smooth or natural traction surface and is supposed to do a good job withstanding extreme heat and cold. It also resists damage from insects and solar rays.

A downside to rubber decking is that it isn’t yet widely available, so you may need to special order.

Rubber composite decks last about 25 years and are low maintenance, requiring only periodic cleaning with water. Costs run about $3-$4 per square foot (not installed). Colors you’re likely to find are terra-cotta, gray, and black.