FICTION - Composite products are not strong enough for structural support and do not stand up to direct ground contact. Only real, pressure-treated wood can be used for framing and supporting decks, docks, and other outdoor structures.

FACT - Due to a lack of structural stiffness, composite materials cannot be used to frame a deck without the reinforcement of real wood. Wood is the only material strong enough to support itself.

FACT - Real wood is the only decking material that can be refinished through sanding and staining. Composite decking must be replaced in order to restore the original look.

FICTION - Wood decking does not over-promise. With careful product selection and proper installation, wood decking can provide decades of satisfaction. Periodic cleaning and application of a water repellant sealer is all that is needed to protect wood decking.

FACT - Compare the price of all alternatives: artificial wood decking may cost up to five times as much as treated wood!

FACT - Wood is the only 100 percent renewable, recyclable, reusable and biodegradable building material we have, making the stewardship of wood products an invaluable step in conserving resources. Plastic and vinyl are made with petroleum, a finite resource. Once finite resources are gone, they are gone forever.

FICTION - Artificial wood decking can become extremely hot when exposed to direct sunlight. So hot, in fact, that it can blister bare feet. Treated wood decking is a better insulator and rarely becomes hot enough to burn.

FACT - Scientists have discovered than when forests become old and overcrowded, trees begin to use more oxygen than they produce. Keeping our forests healthy and vibrant through replanting keeps our air and water healthy, too.

FACT - Yes, treated wood is safe for the home and garden. The Environmental Protection Agency, which reviews the safety and effectiveness of wood preservatives, has never found any unreasonable risk to human health and the environment.

FACT - When it comes to the environment, wood preservation supports forest conservation. By extending the life of wood products in service, preservative treatment helps balance overall demand on forest reserves.

FICTION - Wood is six times more efficient than brick, 15 times more efficient than concrete, 306 times more efficient than steel, and 1,770 times more efficient than aluminum.

FICTION - Plastic shopping bags take over 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill — it stands to reason that something made out of those bags would last 1,000 years as well. Long after you have tired of your composite deck, it won’t be recycled; it will go to the landfill with the plastic patio chairs and the rest of the plastic packaging.

FICTION - Composite decking tends to be soft and will scratch under normal wear. Dogs have claws, women wear heels, and damage does happen. After five years, vinyl composite decking will be worn. Scratches in plastic decking look far more visible than natural wear marks on real wood decking.

FICTION - No deck is maintenance free: the weather, scratches, spills, charcoal, and dirt affect all decking materials. Recently, composite decking manufacturers have stopped using the term "maintenance free" when describing their products. In fact, many refinishing products are marketed for plastic decking to hide scratches, remove difficult stains, and restore faded color.

FACT - Just about every product requires certain use and handling precautions; treated wood is no different. However, nearly all of the recommendations for using treated wood are the same as those for untreated wood and other building materials. One exception from regular wood: Do not burn treated wood.

FACT - The manufacture of plastic decking can require up to eight times the energy needed to produce a comparable piece of pressure-treated wood decking.