This Cost Calculator is designed to estimate the cost of using environmentally preferable recycled plastic lumber, rather than conventional virgin wood or composite decking, for building a new deck. The Cost Calculator demonstrates that environmentally preferable high density polyethylene is very cost competitive. Although the initial cost of HDPE lumber is higher than wood and slightly higher than composite decking, the initial cost difference is more than made up for by savings over the life of the deck.

Click here to read more about the benefits of using EVOLVE® premium polyethylene decking.

• 3 Years
• 6 Years
• 10 Years
• Lifetime

• Pressure Treated Southern Yellow Pine
• Cedar/Redwood
• Recycled Plastic/Wood Composite
• Recycled HDPE Plastic

To use the Cost Calculator, input the area of the deck under consideration into the green "Input" box at the top of the worksheet. This is the only information that you need to provide to use the Cost Calculator.

Wood structures are functional but they need in-depth regular maintinance and usually have to be replaced every 9 to 15 years.

Composite decks last longer than wood, but they still contain fillers that can absorb moisture and rot, mold or mildew.  Like wood, composite products may also soak up tannins, grease, and chemicals that will permanently stain your deck.  While the appearance of a composite deck will degrade over as little as five years, the life expectancy is 15 to 25 years.

EVOLVE HDPE premium decking is the best choice for long-lasting, attractive, low maintinance outdoor living.  The 100% high density polyethylene has the natural look of wood, but it won't absorb moisture or chemicals to ruin your investment.  While industry standards estimate the life of a HDPE deck to be 50 to 400 years, EVOLVE comes with a limited lifetime warranty…our mark of confidence that your deck will be there looking good for a very long time.

Relative average costs of materials and labor were developed through a broad market survey in March 2008.  For purposes of this calculator, our pricing is averaged.  A lower or higher price for any of the decking products is likely to be found in the marketplace.

Annual cost of maintenance for a wood deck includes an annual visit by a decking professional as well as cleaning, sealing, staining, and painting.  Annual cost of maintenance for a plastic/wood composite deck assumes annual maintenance utilizing a commercial deck wash solution to remove the deep seated staining associated with wood fiber in composite decks.   Annual cost of maintenance for a high density polyethylene deck includes water and mild detergent.

Benefits of EVOLVE Premium Polyethylene Decking

Building a deck with HDPE plastic lumber instead of conventional hardwood or treated lumber makes environmental and economic sense.

It reduces waste and demand for landfill space by reducing virgin plastic waste streams by creating markets for waste plastic. Plastic wastes do not break down over time; if not reused; they sit permanently in landfills or are incinerated. Thus, reducing the waste stream reduces pressure to build more landfills.

It conserves local ecology because using recycled plastic lumber instead of wood or composite reduces the demand for timber. This abates deforestation pressures and supports healthy forest ecology.

It preserves or restores wildlife habitat because using recycled plastic lumber instead of wood reduces the demand for timber. This abates deforestation pressures and supports healthy forest habitats.

It conserves fossil fuels because using recycled plastic for plastic lumber reduces petroleum demand.

It helps fight climate change because using recycled plastic instead of virgin wood reduces demand for timber and deforestation pressures, and forests filter carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas responsible for global climate change (This process is known as carbon sequestration). The EPA has developed several tools for calculating the greenhouse gas impacts of purchasing, waste management, and manufacturing activities, available at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ActionsWasteTools.html

It protects worker or user safety because wood can break down over time and splinter, potentially causing injuries.  It will not absorb or harbor mold spores, bacteria, or mildew.

It improves soil quality because using recycled plastic lumber reduces use of pressure treated wood.  Pressure treated wood can break down and leach preserving chemicals into surrounding soils.

It reduces runoff and /or non-point source pollution because using recycled plastic lumber reduces use of pressure treated wood. Pressure treated wood can break down and leach preserving chemicals into surrounding land and water bodies.

It reduces human exposure to hazardous materials or substances because manufacturing pressure treated wood can expose workers to potentially hazardous pressure treating chemicals, and pressure treated wood that breaks down can expose users to these chemicals.  It will not absorb or harbor mold spores, bacteria, or mildew.

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