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Considerations As an answer to these concerns, various wood-composite or synthetic products are now available. These include wood-plastic, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – the same material that piping is made from – and even fiberglass.
Each type system has its strengths and weaknesses as well as a unique look. All are designed to absorb little or no water, so even the wood based products are much more dimensionally stable than wood and thus less likely to warp or twist. Full plastic systems are not subject to water damage but protection from ultra violet rays (UV) is a key requirement to insure that they do not break down prematurely. Plastic is also more susceptible to expansion related problems so the proper placement of fasteners is critical.
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