Would your customers appreciate a deck that carries a 20-year limited warranty not to rot, split, crack or splinter? Re-Source is made from 100 percent recycled waste, including plastic milk containers. This synthetic ridged-plastic material consists of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) resins, UV-inhibiting pigment systems, and selected additives. With no painting or sealing required, this is about as maintenance-free as you can get.

Re-Source is manufactured in many dimensional lumber sizes, shapes and colors, and can be installed with standard woodworking tools. A 72-tooth carbide blade cuts through it easily, and routing is a snap. In fact, a newly-routed edge blends in perfectly with the rest of the material. But if you use a router bit with a roller bearing, a plastic film will soon wrap around the bearing. This film comes off easily, but you'll need to check your bit regularly. Using a countersunk bit before installing screws gives a cleaner-looking job, or you can use plugs supplied by the manufacturer.

Re-Source is available in tongue-and-groove boards for a quicker installation (Figure 11-6). Some force is required to make sure one T&G board fits tightly into the next. You may need a specialized tool to help you achieve that snug fit. The BoWrench by Cepco Tool Company (Figure 11-7) is the easy and quick solution to pulling any kind of decking board into place (as well as T&G plywood). The BoWrench binds itself to any 2-by joist, freeing your hands to install the decking material. The tool in the photo has the optional T&G cam. You can also get an adjustable joist gripper for joists, studs, or rafters up to 1¹/₂ to 6¹/₄ inches wide.

Figure 11-6 (below) Installing Re-Source plastic decking Photo Courtesy of: Re-Source Building Products, Ltd.

Figure 11-7 (below) Using the BoWrench to pull decking board into place Photo Courtesy of: Re-Source Building Products, Ltd.

Attach the boards through the tongue and into the joist with 2-inch galvanized finishing nails at a 45-degree angle. For best results, use a nailset to properly sink the nail below the surface level. When fastening to steel joists, use #6 self-tapping screws through the groove at a 30-degree angle.

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