High Tech Decks: Gen X Homeowners Fuel a Trend

High Tech Decks: Gen X Homeowners Fuel a Trend

(ARA) - Pragmatic, practical and particular, Generation X homeowners want to spend their free time relaxing, not working.

So with the largest segment of home buyers coming from the post-baby boom generation, building products companies are focusing their efforts on developing products that are easy to install, easy to maintain, and most of all engineered to top quality.

That's exactly what Gen X homeowners want. They are not afraid to spend money and they are comfortable with new technologies of all sorts, but when it comes to home maintenance, less is definitely more.

So it's no surprise that outdoor building products, which comprise one of the fastest growing niches within the building industry, have been redesigned to meet the needs of this demographic. In the case of decking, that means low-maintenance, high quality composite decking.

"Wood decks are what the baby boomer generation grew up with and put on their own homes. But their kids -- Gen X homeowners -- remember annual staining duties and painful splinters from playing on the deck. This generation wants non-traditional materials, including decking made from non-wood products," says Dan Gauthier, director of consumer products with Universal Forest Products, makers of Latitudes Decking and Railing (www.latitudesdeck.com), and one of the nation's fastest growing composite deck material producers.

It's barefoot friendly and easy to maintain, and composite decking comes in a variety of colors and materials. Latitudes, one of the most popular brands currently on the market, is a "wood thermoplastic composite" material made from 50 percent wood and 50 percent high density plastic. The composite deck boards, which come in a variety of lengths and colors, are barefoot friendly, slip-resistant and have a reversible brushed/woodgrain finish.

"In some ways, composite decking looks just like wood decking, but consumers also have the option of using the smooth side of the board, which creates a sleeker, more modern appearance," says Gauthier.

Research shows that Gen Xers, many who grew up in affluent two-income households, want darker, richer colors but they don't want the toxic and messy hassle of using a stain.
With composite decking, the color is added to the mixture during the manufacturing process, bonding it to the boards so that the color won't fade, chip or peel.

The Gen X homeowners are also a generation that has led to the coining of the phrase "Spec it Yourself." Despite what television might lead us to believe, not everyone wants to "do it yourself." Spec it Yourself, or SIY, involves research, price shopping, and information gathering. Experts say the computer savvy Gen Xers spend more time researching and comparing than any previous generation.

"Gen X shoppers want quality, they want options, and they want products that will hold their value," says Chelsey Gardner, an outdoor design expert who says composite decking is just one example of a new product category that is growing exponentially thanks to this demographic.

Home builders are also finding that the Gen X home buyer wants a ready made house, and that includes the outdoor living space. Whereas decks and patios used to be an "after market" product, added on after the buyer moved in, more and more home builders are offering expansive deck spaces as upgrade options, and that includes a choice of materials, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Latitudes makes it easy for homeowners to create a custom look for their deck. In addition to offering a variety of decking colors, a number of different rail systems, baluster and post caps options are available.

Geography plays a role, as well. Homeowners in New England are more likely to want a deck with a gray hue, where Florida homeowners want a lighter more tropical look.

"Ornamental railings and decorative post caps are great finishes for a deck, and with so many options to choose from it's easy to create a one-of-a-kind look," Gardner says.

That's just what the Gen X homeowner wants. This generation is not about cookie cutter looks or keeping up with the Joneses. They want to be unique and individual, and that translates to the products they use in their homes both inside and out.

Courtesy of ARAcontent