Click here for more
Photos of the Cruz Project.
The Stark
project
(driftwood-colored standard grade)
Click here for
more photos of the Stark project.
PrimoPlank has the same
dimensions as regular 2 x 6 wooden plank. It also comes in matching 2x2,
2x4, 2x8, 2x10 and 4x4 boards of the same material and colors for making
seats and railings. It comes in standard lengths of 12 and 16 ft, but we
can provide lengths from 18 to 24 ft for a premium.
It all comes in a variety
of colors -- blue-gray, light oak, beige oak, cedar, redwood,
rosewood, driftwood, teak,
yellow pine, chestnut, white, ivory and sand. The white, ivory and sand
colors can be used for railings and facia. It
can also be used for step risers to create a permanently two-toned
accent deck.
PrimoPlank
is 100% solid plastic. It's made from recycled plastic containers
and is UV (ultraviolet light) stabilized so it won't break down in the
sunlight. Made from the same material as the containers used for
transporting hydrochloric acid, this stuff is chemically indestructible.
There are
three grades,
each from a different manufacturer: a
standard grade plank that
has a mottled surface with an initial medium sheen, a
premium grade
plank that has a realistic grained surface with very low sheen, and an
above standard grade that has
a fairly flat surface, sharp corners and an initial medium sheen like the standard
grade product but has a uniformly dense interior that allows for
exposing, beveling and carving the ends. This is important, for
example, in making radial-planked steps or when terminating posts and railings.
Further, in the
manufacturing process this
above standard grade material is run through rollers as it comes
out of the caster and it is this secondary process that gives it a very
flat surface and sharp corners, ideal for wide facia trim and railings.
We use this exclusively in all of our deck and arbor kits.
The
premium plank
has a surface with actual grain -- not embossed -- that is also the
natural result of the manufacturing process. Each board has slight
variations in color within it, just like wood. And the planks vary in
color among themselves. See how realistic that makes a plastic deck
look. Below is the
Mattson project
built with this
cedar-colored premium grade PrimoPlank.
The Mattson deck above incorporates almost every feature that we have done in the
past with redwood decks. Those cabinet doors in the rain-proof built-in
cabinet were fabricated for us from the same PrimoPlank by a
professional cabinet-maker.
This deck clearly demonstrates how tight the joints in solid-plastic can
be made. And these joints will stay tight -- because the
solid-plastic is tightly self-threading when fastened wqith screws; there is just no way
screw-fasteners will ever become loose in solid-plastic and allow the
joined segments to pull away as with wood or composites.
I was not prepared for
how fantastic the completed deck would actually look. The
solid-plastic lumber has textures and color variations that make you
think when you first see it that it is actually wood! At night the
low-voltage lighting actually enhances this effect.
My deck has been in constant use since it was completed in late August
"02. When I have guests over I deliberately make no mention of
plastic. Only after they have been on the deck for awhile do they get
the sense that "Hey, this isn't wood"! That's been the reaction among
the majority of my friends who hadn't already seen the deck being
built.
Two of the biggest reasons I chose to go with this plastic material
were looks and upkeep. Besides the beautiful appearance, the
maintenance for me is minimal - grease, wine, bird droppings, all wash
off easily without leaving any stain. The chlorinated hot tub water
doesn't discolor the planking either like it would if my new deck were
planked with customary redwood.
It is a great relief to know that I don't have to seal and stain it
every year just to keep it looking nice.
This plastic deck has truly been an enhancement to the comfort of my
house, not to mention the sustainable value-added. The premium I paid
was well worth it.
Ron Mattson
Below is
the VandenBerg project which uses cedar-colored premium grade
PrimoPlank for planking, seats and railing caps.
Below is the all-plastic
Taxera project whose
brilliant-white
above-standard grade PrimoPlank
railing and facia define this multilevel deck.
Click here for more photos of the Taxera project
Below is a small deck with lots of
interesting designer elements all made from above-grade PrimoPlank using
weathered-wood colored planking and chestnut color for accent pieces: curved seats,
air-conditioner covers, fold-down wall-table and curved border strip.
Click here
for detailed photos of the designer
elements in the photo above.
The photo to the left is a balcony deck with
stairs built from above-standard grade PrimoPlank just about 100 ft from
the Pacific ocean. Stainless steel screws were used throughout.
All of the other balcony decks in this resort town
look just like the one next door. This deck will never look like that --
and it will never need renovating or painting.
Below is a designer railing made from
solid-plastic above-standard white PrimoPlank. It incorporates
1-inch wide black-metal architectural balusters. This combination provided a
sharp looking railing that doesn't obstruct the panoramic vista seen
from the deck of
Mariners Cove off San Francisco Bay. The planking is standard
grade cedar colored PrimoPlank with embossed grain.
Below is a deck, sloped
at ¼ inch per foot, planked with tightly-set embossed-grain
tongue & groove (1x6 T&G) weathered-wood colored PrimoPlank. It has see-thru
lean-out railings of chestnut PrimoPlank 2x4, 2x6 and 4x4s that frame-in
32-inch black steel-tube fencing panels. Even the 6-foot fence at the
far end has been constructed entirely from the same PrimoPlank
materials.
Here's
a whole new concept in patio-covers made possible by the strength
of solid-plastic coated wooden lumber.
Because it's made from our solid-plastic PrimoPlank it's almost
self-cleaning -- once placed in the hanging position, all the food crumbs and sauce spills will wash right off
with spray from a garden hose -- no wipe-down or towel-drying needed -- you're
finished.