Compare Our Recycled Plastic Lumber to other materials. Comparing our recycled plastic planter boxes, window boxes, benches, drinking fountains, trash receptacles and other products to those made from other materials such as wood, clay, plastic and metal easily shows the advantages we provide. MATERIAL COMPARISON TABLE Our Recycled Plastic Lumber Wood Terracotta (Clay) Plastic Metal DURABILITY Excellent Poor Reasonable Reasonable Good MAINTENANCE Almost None (cleaning only) High Some Almost None Some SANDING None Frequent Some None Some PAINTING None Frequent Some None Some CRACKS No Yes Yes Yes No CHIPS No Yes Yes Yes No ROT No Yes No No No RUST No No No No Yes CORROSION No Yes No No Yes STRENGTH Excellent Excellent Brittle Poor Excellent COLOR Throughout Painted Painted Coated Only Painted AESTHETICS Excellent Good Reasonable Looks Cheap Good