I put in a stone patio. I've built quite a few decks for customers but would never have one of my own. You do a stone patio once. No maintainance with the bluestone, even in the shade. Will last longer then me.
Ron

Rebuilding with stone or creet>>> has been done for many years, Europe has projects out still standing for some time of course they used slave labor under the direction of a Master Craftsmen. Now days it all depends on the Tradesman you use,done corectley with all the needed prep and good material it will be more $,maintainance will include a water hose. Done incorectley it will be a big,heavy,cracking,bad dream,costley,pain in the patooty project. I bid against tinted/ stamped creet all the time same kinda deal if its done right,the spanish speaking guys have good instrustion and the boss knows what hes doing those jobs look really good and seem to hold up down the road.

If you decide to rebuild a deck go with ipe to only do it one time and have your grandchild pass it on to his kids,ipe projects have been out a simular number of years in com projects left to go silver they are maintained by a fire hose if the guys get around to it. Same kinda deal it all depends on the frame under it and fastening with an important differance>> using creet or stone the man can say anything,the adverage Wallet really dosent know about slump,mix,rebar,screen,fiber encased creet,thumping the fill on 4'' lifts,knocking down the rocks when to put the steel on things like that. Leaving any of those details out or done in a sloppy manor and the thing will look good,Wallet person dosent know the differance,the contractor will get paid, down the road you will hate itFor a project you only want to do one time I dont recomend any composite material. Come some day they probley will get it right with a man made material but that day is deffently not now. J