If it’s Made of Wood, it can be made of Plastic Wood.

(Gareth Hoyle). Submitted on Thu, 21 Jul 2011

Projects vary in size. You may have a gigantic project, like replace all the walkways across a nature reserve, or a small project like making some garden furniture like picnic tables. Traditionally both these have been made using wood, but now a more sustainable and cost effective solution is to use recycled plastic wood.



Underfoot, wood rots quickly and is slippery. Though used for walkways, bridges and observation points for many years, many people are using recycled plastic wood as a replacement. Plastic wood has a much longer life, and though the initial cost may seem higher, it needs no maintenance, is easy to install, and lasts for much longer than wood so will not need replacing for at least forty years. It can also be easier to work with than some types of wood.

So what has plastic wood been used for already? Walkways and garden furniture have been made from recycled plastic for many years, in fact you may have already walked on many without realising it, as without close inspection they are almost indistinguishable from the wood that they replaced. There are many examples of tables and chairs, used as garden furniture because of their durability. If you forget to take your picnic chairs in out of the rain, with recyclable plastic wood there is no harm done. They also do not need to be treated regularly with preservatives, or painted, making them almost maintenance free.

You may not realise that many of the street signs that you pass are in fact made from plastic wood. They have the same advantages as plastic garden furniture, and also are far more graffiti resistant and vandal proof than wood. Hoardings and types of boarding can all be made from recyclable plastic wood. This boarding is also especially useful for animal husbandry, such as poultry pens and stables and even for garden fencing.

Wherever wood can be used, recyclable plastic wood can be substituted. Plastic planks and plastic profiles are versatile products which are increasingly being used instead of wood. Because they are recycled, and may be made from such substances as old supermarket carrier bags and milk bottles, they are seen as being much better for the environment, reducing the amount of land fill. If it has been made from wood, it can be made from recyclable plastic wood. When thinking of manufacturing a product from wood, you should think of the alternative. Especially if the product is outside, or will be exposed to water regularly, plastic wood makes a viable, cost effective alternative.

 

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So if you have a project in mind and want to look at the options available to you take a look at the Centriforce website for plastic profiles and recycled plastic wood that could be perfect for the job.

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