Synt ated tre ood

Itr/OOD preservers tired of losing Y Y marketshare to composite manufacturers can now add a polymer coating to their treated lumber to produce a sturdier, lower maintenance wood decking.

After four years of product development and testing, Northstar Vinyl Products, LLC, Kennesaw. Ga.. has just introduced Morex, a decking that's wood on the inside and synthetic on the outside.

"With Morex, the customer gets the best of both worlds," says Northstar president Jeff Moreau. "He gets the strength of wood and all the benefits of a synthetic."

The new decking begins with the selection of premium grade pressure treated wood deck material. Then, using a proprietary, high-speed process, a polymer coating is applied to the top three sides of the board. A three-component, skid-resistant aggregate is applied to the walking surface.

Its wood core reportedly reduces the board's overall weisht while 'increasing its strength, elimlnates predrilling, and is nailed down, not screwed, so nail heads "seat" into the coating to form a watertight seal. Builders, architects, designers and code officials typically are more familiar with wood.

The coating is said to protect the wood against sun and rain, reduce maintenance, allow cleaning with water and a degreaser, cany a l0-year