Owens Corning acquires WearDeck, composite decking and structural lumber manufacturer

Fully synthetic WearDeck products were used in this marina installation at the Conch Inn & Marina in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas. The boards are weatherproof, waterproof and heat reflective, providing a strong and durable solution for commercial and residential applications. Photo Credit: Owens Corning

Owens Corning (Toledo, Ohio, U.S.) signed an agreement in April 2022 with JR Plastics Corp. (Ocala, Fla., U.S.) to acquire WearDeck, a premium producer of composite weather-resistant decking for commercial and residential applications in North America. The purchase was completed June 1.

WearDeck products are said to offer a long-lasting, strong and durable solution for weather-resistant decking. This decking can be used for both commercial and residential applications, given its mechanical performance and lower lifetime costs compared with conventional composite decking. Using proprietary technology and processes, WearDeck products are manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) leveraging Owens Corning’s glass fiber technology for high-performance properties.

“The acquisition of WearDeck is a positive step in advancing our strategy to drive continued growth in Owens Corning and pivoting our Composites business to focus on high-value material solutions within the building and construction space,” composites president, Marcio Sandri, says. “WearDeck brings opportunities to further leverage our building materials expertise and glass fiber material science technology to significantly expand our current addressable markets.”

WearDeck employs about 100 people at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ocala, Fla., U.S.

WearDeck expects to deliver sales of about $60 million in full year 2022 and to grow this business in the coming years to contribute to Owens Corning’s target of achieving $10 billion in revenue by 2024. Owens Corning estimates the North American decking market to be more than $7 billion and to grow at about 5% per year. Composite decking products reportedly capture more than 30% of a market that is expected to increase in the coming years.

James Wear, founder of WearDeck, notes, “I am pleased with WearDeck’s strong performance over the years and would like to sincerely thank our team for their dedication and hard work to build a thriving composite decking business. The combination with Owens Corning will accelerate the growth of this business and greatly benefit our customers.”