Strong, cool, versatile . . . the list goes on. The positive characteristics of Owens Corning WearDeck synthetic lumber have been well documented, and it’s won plenty of local fans since Baycrest Distribution of Bala began distributing it in Muskoka.
DIYers and professionals alike have used it for waterfront and non-waterfront applications throughout Ontario and beyond.
This includes a carpenter with over four decades of experience who recently used WearDeck on a dock, deck and a boathouse. Tom Gardner describes the first time he saw the synthetic lumber in use and how it was standing up to the environment.
“We saw it at a busy marina,” recalls Tom. “We talked to one of the guys who worked at the marina, and they love it . . . It had that wood grain look, so it still had that kind of classic Muskoka feel to it.”
The fact that the decking still looked good despite the wear from thousands of feet and boats helped Tom and his client decide to use it themselves.
“It stays the same, it looks exactly as it did when it was installed,” he says. “Natural wood would never do that; it would have to be replaced eventually.”
Professional usage
One of the key characteristics of WearDeck by Owens Corning is its ability to act like natural lumber, but without the drawbacks. This is especially helpful for professional carpenters and builders.
Tom explains because of the composition of the boards, joints stay tight and true, even in the face of human and environmental pressures.
Natural lumber will shrink and swell with humidity changes, so that even the best-built joints will open and close through the season. WearDeck doesn’t do that.
“It’s totally consistent. It doesn’t get bigger or smaller, it just stays exactly the way it is and that’s a big thing,” he says. “Next year, we can look at the dock and it will look just like it looks today.”
Tom points out that the colour and wood grain will also stay the same, while applauding the manufacturer for ensuring the colours go all the way through the boards, preventing the need for staining, painting, or installing end caps – all of which add to the cost of a project.
He also says it was nice working with a product that didn’t splinter or make a mess. He describes it as a “razor cut” that was clean.
“No fraying or splinters or anything, and all the material is machine cut,” he explains. “And there weren’t variables in sizing. A board that is cut to be seven and a quarter is seven and a quarter in every board.”
Because of the way Owens Corning lumber is made, the boards can be installed any time of year, even on the coldest winter days, allowing for an extended work season.
“It’s not like wood, which is going to freeze and crack and you’re not going to get adhesion with your fasteners,” says Tom. “And all it needs is a hose with solid pressure or a leaf blower to dust it off, making it low maintenance.”
Versatility
Though WearDeck is often thought of as simply a deck or dock board, it can be used for much more than that.
Tom says they used it for framing underneath the decking, trim, baseboard, and even fascia on a boathouse project. Because the boards span up to 36 inches on-centre, fewer boards are needed to maintain quality and strength.
Weardeck comes in board profiles of 1×6, 1×8, 2×2, 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, 2×12, and fascia, for all your decking, framing, ledger, trim needs – and more. The 2x boards are approved for use as structural members such as joists, ledger boards and stair stringers too.
There are 10 colours to choose from, and it’s fully stocked in Bala at Baycrest Distribution, ensuring the lifetime lumber products are ready when you need them.
As Tom notes, they are perfect for waterfront cottage applications.
“It’s cost effective and quicker to complete,” he says. “It’s waterproof, so it’s perfect for any project requiring lumber near the water.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
