Source: BUILDING PRODUCTS Magazine
Publication date: May 1, 2004
By Stephanie Herzfeld
Treated lumber is tops in the railing category, but vinyl is giving wood and composite systems some serious competition these days because homeowners are recognizing that it's attractive, low maintenance, and cost effective. And for contractors, vinyl is a profitable upgrade that's easy to install.
According to Nola Pyle, co-owner of Vinyl By Design, a deck installation firm in New Paris, Ind., vinyl railing systems are an upgrade from wood and composite posts that allow installers to create unique looks for clients. "Ninety percent of what we do is custom—lots of curved railings," she notes.
Vinyl trim and accent pieces also are available to coordinate with railing systems, and standard lineals can be customized, says Ben Kaczmarek, product manager for composites for Kroy Building Products, a manufacturer of composite and vinyl decking products.
In terms of hues, white is most popular because it looks good with deck boards of all shades and materials. Nevertheless, Pyle says she installs an array of color combinations.
PERFORMANCE COUNTS
Vinyl railings outperform wood ones because they're easy to clean; don't warp, shrink, rot, or decay; maintain their color; and are more likely to start out straight and consistent because they're man-made, manufacturers claim.
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