Plastic has gotten a pretty bad rap over the years. But when plastics like phenolic, polyester, polystyrene, and vinyl were developed in the early 1900s, plastic was the material of the future. It was sensational stuff: low-maintenance, highly durable, lightweight. And plastic is still the material of the future. There are lots of reasons why it’s time to start using recycled plastic building materials.
What Can You Do With Recycled Plastic Building Materials?
You may not know it, but recycled plastic building materials are everywhere. That’s because plastic is capable of just about anything. Recycled plastic lumber (RPL) looks just as beautiful as actual wood, but it’s much more durable and withstands weather and time much more effectively than real wood. This material is perfect for landscaping, decking, and playground areas. You don’t have to seal it or treat it for weather and water. It won’t need to be painted or stained. And when it gets dirty, simply use a standard garden hose to clean it all off. That’s the wonder of recycled plastic building materials: they’re amazingly easy to own.
A plastic wood fence is an extremely smart solution for many property owners. It’s every bit as beautiful as traditional fence materials, but it’s so much easier to maintain and withstands the daily rigors of life outdoors far more successfully than even treated wood. Once you see how beautiful and low maintenance a plastic wood fence can be, you’ll never want to use traditional fence materials again.
Plastic playground materials are another easy solution. Plastic doesn’t get splinters in it like wood and it doesn’t rot away and become weak like wood will. Plastic doesn’t develop sharp, rusted edges like metal. In other words, recycled plastic building materials are far safer than standard metal or wood when it comes to playground equipment. A plastic playset is durable enough to withstand wear and tear with no rot, no splinters, no jagged edges and none of those dangers you normally have to watch out for when it comes to regular playground equipment.
In order to rot, all wood needs is three things: air, water, and temperatures between 40 and 105 degrees F. Are those things you might have in your backyard?
Lumber is just the beginning of the story when it comes to recycled plastic building materials. There’s so much more versatile plastic can do.
Other Uses for Recycled Plastic Building Materials
Maybe you haven’t heard of plasphalt yet, but you will soon. This amazing material is sweeping the nation. Made from grains of recycled plastic rather than the traditional sand or gravel usually used in asphalt recipes, plasphalt is even more durable and withstands wear and tear far better.
Other construction materials made from recycled plastics include roofing tiles, insulation, even plastic rock that can be used as an alternative to standard concrete.
Environmentally Friendly Composite
Mixing plastic with other materials to create something new is hardly a new idea. The recipe may have different ingredients, but composite building materials have been around since 1500 B.C. Composite materials, such as mud and straw, were used by the early Mesopotamians and Egyptians. As a composite ingredient, plastic has proven that it can be added to just about anything to create materials that are even stronger and longer-lasting. Recycled plastic building materials have practically limitless potential.
