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Other options that are popular and widely available are composite deck materials, however, I think that IPE ages much more beautifully than composite materials do. The problem is that composite materials tend to get bleached by the sun and fade over time. However, there are a variety of composite deck products available and they are constantly reformulating them. The products can generally be classified by the nature of their petroleum component. Some examples are:

Polyetheylene: Trex, Weatherbest, Timbertech, ChoiceDek

Polypropylene: CorrectDeck

PVC: AZEK / Procell, DeckLok

Update 6/2/08: I just ran across this nice list of environmental ratings for synthetic/composite decking materials.

Another important local resource is the ReStore which is run for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity and offers the largest inventory of used building supplies. Some of their products include windows, interior doors, bathtubs, toilets, sinks, appliances, lighting/electrical hardware, cabinets, flooring, drywall, tile, and assorted hardware, etc. They also offer a full service demolition crew which can help with material recovery.

If you are just looking for flooring options, then you can try Eco Floors on Milwaukie Ave. They carry low VOC carpet, recycled carpet, Bamboo floors, and FSC certified wood floors.

For lumber, several of the local lumber yards carry FSC Certified lumber in stock and most can special order it.

The secret of waterproofing exterior walls is not some newfangled technology, but rather an evolutionary thinking about how we incorporate technologies that we have been using for decades. Academic tests and studies on the science of waterproofing exterior wall systems are freely available, yet many contractors still don’t follow these proven techniques.

The basic lessons from these studies are that we need to design for failure. That’s because it doesn’t matter if you use the latest and greatest Hardiplank cement board siding or cheap vinyl and aluminum siding, at some point the combination of wind, water, and gravity will cause water to get behind your wall. The secret question is, did you plan and design for the water that you’ve now got behind your siding? If you did, your wall system will have incorporated the following four elements:

1. Drainage plane - heavy felt building paper or housewrap
2. Drainage space - furring strips, stuccowrap + felt, two layer felt, or air gaps
3. Flashings - metal flashings to kick water out
4. Weep holes - openings to allow water to escape

If your wall system includes these four elements and it is well constructed, then you shouldn’t have any waterproofing problems.

I strongly encourage all consumers and constractors to buy FSC lumber whenever possible. When you buy FSC Lumber you can be assured that the lumber was sourced from an accredited organization and from a forest that is managed in a more sustainable manner.

I’ve spoken with a number of industry professionals about the question of sustainable lumber, and the consensus is that FSC certified products are the best option and they are widely available.

The first problem is that as wood dries, it changes shape and warps. Depending on the severity of this process, it can cause the entire structure of your home to warp over time, which is one of the common causes of cracking in the drywall or plaster on your walls.

The second problem is that in can take years for green lumber to dry, and over time wet wood is likely to grow mold! The combination of the heat from your house and the moisture trapped in the lumber in the walls creates a friendly environment for a not so friendly fungus.

Now it’s important to note that not all “green” lumber is bad. I say this because some people may refer to lumber that came from sustainable forests as “green” lumber. I will talk about sustainable lumber more in a future article, just make sure that any lumber you get is kiln dried or seasoned before you use it to build or remodel your home.