Authentic vs. Synthetic - Issue No. 313

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Authentic vs. Synthetic

Photo courtesy of Peachtree Doors & Therma-Tru Doors

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Modern Building Materials

Issue #313 - June 2009
As DIYers, it’s only natural for us to choose the highest quality materials possible for our home improvement projects. Traditionally, that has meant going with the genuine article — real wood, real stone, and real brick.

But as manufacturing processes and technologies improve, we’re discovering that the “real deal” is no longer always the best material for the job. Synthetic materials are nearly impervious to wear, resistant to rot, and are built to last a long time. Plus, a growing number of them are

available in the aisles of your local home center.

What’s most important, though, is that many of them are now made so well that you’d be hard pressed to tell them apart from the real McCoy. And a number of these materials will help you save money, to boot.

If you have a big home improvement project on the horizon, here’s a list of synthetic materials that you might want to consider for the job. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did.