Green building can positively affect the green in your wallet over time. Since Trex is a durable, low-maintenance fence, it will virtually eliminate ongoing costs. Every painting or staining project that is required to maintain a wood fence not only has a negative impact on the environment, it also means a user can expect perpetual expense. Additionally, a typical wood fence will need to be replaced in 10-15 years (and will require ongoing spot repairs such as replacing rotting posts, warped boards, or cracked rails). Essentially, that means a user can expect to pay for their wood fence at least twice, plus the ongoing maintenance costs, in the minimum anticipated lifetime of a Trex Fence. Additionally, a hidden cost that consumers should take into consideration is that the cost of resources and labor is volatile. Prices may be soft in a downturn, but the skilled labor pool in the contractor community during a strong economy is prone to shortages. The increased demand creates upward price pressure. Lumber prices have been increasing rapidly in recent years as demand relative to supply, global trade conditions, and a reduction in the quality of wood affect the market. All of this contributes to the inability for a consumer to set budgetary expectations of what their future costs will be for repairs and replacements. Trex material is designed to be free of manufacturing defects for at least the warranty period, which allows consumers to avoid budgetary allocations for volatile future expenses. Over time, going green with Trex is the better financial decision.