Need a New Deck

[AngliaGT]

Our second story deck has some rotten boards on it,
& will need to be replaced in a while.We got one estimate
that was kind of a shock.
We could go wood,or a Trex-like material.Wood requires
annual staining,& Trex doesn't.I'd prefer a low-maintenence
material.
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions?

 

[NutmegCT]

Doug - try to hold off on the work until lumber prices return to Earth. Lumber is 3 or 4 times its usual price in most places now.

One 4x8 sheet of common plywood is now $75 here. Last year it was around $25.

I'd stick with wood, as the "plastic" stuff gets really hot in the sun. Ask me how I know!

Tom M.

 

[Gliderman8]

.......I'd stick with wood, as the "plastic" stuff gets really hot in the sun. Ask me how I know!

Tom M.

I'm going to have to disagree with you Tom. I replaced my wood deck boards with Trex about 4 years ago and it never gets too hot whatsoever. My deck is facing south so it gets the sun most of the day. I purposely selected a light color to reflect rather that absorb the sun.
I don't miss the maintenance of wood at all!

 

[NutmegCT]

Elliot - that was probably my problem. I had a darker color (like the previous wooden decking). Bet if I'd chosen something like you have, the heat problem would have disappeared.

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[equiprx]

When I replaced my redwood deck, I went with a tongue & groove composite material.
I was aware that this material requires air venting which was not possible.
The first issue was the drain slots clog up and the deck pools.
After a while, some of the planks were warping.
I think this was caused by a combination of unequal expansion of the Joists and inadequate fastener grip.
This required removal of half the deck, replacing the warped plank and reinstalling.
Eventually the warping settled down and is no longer an issue.
The material can be brittle and areas where I had to cut around uprights broke.
Nothing is maintenance free and if I ever had to do it again I'd go with redwood.

Our second story deck has some rotten boards on it,
& will need to be replaced in a while.We got one estimate
that was kind of a shock.
We could go wood,or a Trex-like material.Wood requires
annual staining,& Trex doesn't.I'd prefer a low-maintenence
material.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions?View attachment 71279

 

[NutmegCT]

"Nothing is maintenance free and if I ever had to do it again I'd go with redwood."

me too!

 

[GregW]

Are you saying you're not maintenance free Tom?

 

[GregW]

When I was growing up, we kept the deck going by replacing just the rotted boards as needed.

 

[NutmegCT]

Are you saying you're not maintenance free Tom?

Greg - every time I make an appointment to see a doctor, the value of health care stocks skyrockets.

When I was growing up, we kept the deck going by replacing just the rotted boards as needed.

You sound like a Frugal Yankee. A penny nail saved is a penny nail earned!

 

[equiprx]

My wife kept falling through the rotted boards.
The original joists were on 6 ft. centers.
At least I was able to save the overhead trellis and side railings.

When I was growing up, we kept the deck going by replacing just the rotted boards as needed.

 

[GregW]

You sound like a Frugal Yankee. A penny nail saved is a penny nail earned!

Now that I think more about it. I was the only one doing the deck repair after dad did it once. Parents separated when I was in 4th grade or so. The deck lasted at least 16 years because it was still up when we moved .

 

[DNK]

Doug, Look into a wood called Garapa. Pricier than US woods, but similar to plastic in price.
You reaslly never have to do anything to it. It just grays out.