While 2025 may not beat the record of 2024 as the hottest year on record - and no one wants that record to be broken —it’s still anticipated to be hot. The past decade has been the warmest 10 years on record, so no matter where you live the hot summer sun is likely to impact your enjoyment of your outdoor space.
When you’re remodeling or reconfiguring your yard, it pays to consider how the products you choose will hold up in high heat and how they will affect how much water you need to keep your landscaping alive.
Just as you can choose plants that fit your region and require less water, your decisions about decks, patios and walkways can be more thoughtful when you consider the impact of different materials on the environment.
If your top priority is the ability to use your deck on even the hottest days you’ll need to compare the performance of different decking materials. Archadeck, a company based in Raleigh - Durham, North Carolina, experimented with six products at three different times on a hot summer day to see which one retained the heat most.
The experiment compared two types of composite decking materials from Azek and TimberTech with lighter and darker colors, along with stained and unstained pressure treated wood. The results: color impacts temperature most. For composite decking materials, darker colors absorb more heat than lighter ones - and they store more heat energy, which meant that they stayed hotter longer even into the evening than the lighter color materials during the experiment.
The un-stained pressure-treated natural wood decking was the coolest of all samples during the experiment, but a pressure-treated natural wood deck that isn’t stained will not hold up as well as any of the other materials. Staining the wood adds to its durability but increases the heat density to a level similar to composite decking.
The Archadeck team’s conclusion: If you're looking for a deck that will stay cooler longer and cool down more in the afternoon, you'll want to choose a lighter-colored material. If you want a deck that will stay as cool as possible and last as long as possible with minimal maintenance, lighter-colored composite decking is the best choice.
Researchers at The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension recommend choosing material made from recycled products such as plastic lumber and concrete made from fly ash in their Sustainable Landscape Materials and Practices guide.
For example, Trex produces eco-friendly composite decks from a blend of up to 95% recycled plastic film and other components such as overwrap on paper towels, dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves, and grocery and shopping bags.
Trex introduced “SunComfortable” technology to their composite decks that reflects solar energy and reduces heat absorption. Lab tests show that the technology reduces heat buildup by 37 degrees compared to their original boards. The company also offers light colored options that stay cooler than darker versions.
TimberTech produces composite decks with 60% to 85% recycled content, saving millions of pounds of wood and plastic scrap and trash such as milk jugs, old vinyl siding, PVC pipe and construction waste from going into the ocean or landfills. TimberTech’s Advanced PVC products stay up to 30 degrees cooler than most other composite decking products,
If you decide you prefer natural wood for your deck, Jordan Clough, a principal of Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture in Washington, D.C., recommends Black Locust wood.
“This is a species native to the Southeast U.S., so it’s also not prone to tariffs, with very hard wood and excellent rot resistance,” Clough says. “Black Locust was once used by farmers as fence posts, where they would regularly last over 100 years. In older cities blocks of Black Locust were used for roads.”
While Black Locust is light colored wood, it takes stain well and ages to a silver-grey color similar to cedar, according to Clough. The light color makes it more resistant to hot temperatures, and the density of the wood makes it highly durable and naturally rot and pest resistant. Decks constructed of this material don’t require maintenance. The lifespan of a Black Locust deck is more than 50 years.
“The downsides are that only a handful of suppliers have Black Locust, and it does experience some checking [cracks or splits] as it settles in the first year or so, but that can be remedied with some sanding,” Clough says. “Because the wood is so rot resistant it can also be used in the ground as blocks, like cobblestones, creating a very durable, unique patio surface. It is priced roughly in line with other premium natural wood decking materials (Ipe, Accoya, Teak) but with the added benefit of being American grown and processed, and exceptional durability.”
To Deck or to Patio
An important decision to make is whether you prefer a deck or a patio. That choice will be impacted by your budget and the configuration of your outdoor space.
There are a lot of individualized pros and cons to a deck versus a patio, says Angie Hicks, Indianapolis-based founder of Angie’s list, now Angi, a consumer review and information site for home maintenance and improvement.
“A deck might be better for someone with a sloped backyard, homeowners worried about heat retention and those looking for a good return on their investment,” Hicks says. “A patio is great for those with a flat yard and those who don’t have a lot of time for maintenance.”
On average, a deck costs about $8,219 to build, Hicks says, while a patio costs about $3,952 to build.
“From reclaimed wood and recycled plastic composite to upcycled aluminum, you can repurpose all kinds of materials to build a deck,” Hicks says. “Similarly for patios, you can repurpose natural stones, permeable pavers or reuse old and reclaimed bricks.”
If you decide a patio is a better fit for your budget or your space, or you just prefer a patio to a deck, Hicks suggests you can use things like brick pavers, concrete, gravel, or natural stones. While concrete and gravel tend to be on the more affordable end, brick pavers and natural stones are typically more expensive, she says. However, concrete is one of the most damaging materials for the environment.
You can find sustainable alternatives to concrete such as:
If you want to add walkways between outdoor areas or to link your indoor and outdoor space, Clough recommends using compacted gravel.
“The key here is the shape of the stone: a round gravel—like pea gravel—will move, shift and wash away with time,” Clough says. “In order to get a stable walkway, you need gravel with an angular shape and some amount of 'fine' material (essentially dust) that causes the stone to lock together quickly and create a relatively solid surface. This can be a very cost-effective option for walkways, and it has the added benefit of doubling as a good base material if you ever want to come back and add some steppingstones over it.”
Water Conservation and Outdoor Living Areas
Moodscapes, a landscape design-build firm based in Arlington, Mass., suggests considering water conservation, permeability and soil erosion when choosing hardscaping materials. Avoid concrete slab or pavers that are not permeable and don’t allow for water drainage.
When rainwater can pass through your hardscaping, that can reduce the amount of water you need to add to your landscaping. Choosing the right hardscaping materials and placing them appropriately can prevent soil erosion so you don’t lose valuable topsoil needed to grow plants.
Sustainable concrete alternatives use less water in their production than concrete. In addition, they’re designed to stand up to extreme temperatures, which adds to their durability.
If you opt for a composite deck, it’s important to install it with a very subtle slope and to have slight spacing between the boards to allow for water to slide off or through the deck. This avoids pooling of water on your deck and allows rainwater to naturally flow into your green spaces.
Even on the hottest days, firepits, the home accessory of choice for even the smallest of backyards, add a touch of romance to evening gatherings and are especially welcome in climates where the temperature drops at night.
Whether you choose the $30 version or go high-end for a firepit, the bigger question is whether there are alternative models of firepits that are better for the environment than an outdoor fireplace that relies on fossil fuels. Woodburning firepits may seem like a better choice than a gas firepit, but burning wood emits carcinogens, smoke, embers and ashes.
Brilliance Outdoor manufactures firepits that use wood or charcoal as an eco-friendlier option than those fueled by propane or gas, particularly if the firepit itself is made from recycled materials and is carefully maintained to reduce emissions.
Another option from City Bonfires manufactures firepits from reusable, recyclable steel tins that use non-toxic, renewable soy wax and eco-friendly, all natural biodegradable briquettes for their fuel. The biodegradable, plant-based briquettes don’t emit harmful embers, smoke or ashes like a wood fire does. The fuel is 100% consumed in each fire without leaving a trace. The firepits come with a special lid that can be popped on to immediately put out a fire for safety.
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.