It might save some time if you did a search on this site and take a peek at the two new trex postings.

Bottom line>>> using composite is a gamble. John

I see what you mean. It looks like this issue has been beat up several times over. From what I have seen it looks like Trex is very unpopular, however the EPOCH from Tamco seems to have less bad press. I would like to build with something that is very low maintenance. I have lived in houses with old wood porches and we would have to paint them every year or so.

Epoch/evergrain, one of the soft composites like choice or moisture sheild same kinda deal sister joists on any butt joints, pron to mold unless they get a finsh on them,not near the complaints as trex. Some say a shaded area promotes mold and mildew.

With all the composites a person needs to understand completly how and when they want it installed read the fine print on instalation. Provide cross vintalation.

I see you have already ruled out Ipe so I wont go into that.

I have one Epohc project out 3 years the color has faded 30 % or so not a lot of mold really just the normal stuff that will happen to any outdoor project left alone with no care at all. Also one choice comerical job on a multi
leveal condo its 5 years out and looks really bad the decking has faded to a liver color and has started to degrade. One thing might be of intrest to ya, I used the cut offs from that choice project for the treads on my own upstairs deck stairway I put two coats of twp 116 finish on them that same 5 years ago they look a lot better with no real sigh of degrading. John

John,
Do you think the composites will do better under a covered porch as apposed to an open deck. I am planning a covered wrap around on my house project. It will be 8' from the front of the porch to the wall of the house on 3 sides of the house. Most of the decking will be under roof, but yet still exposed to the outide air, very little sun since I am in a heavily wooded area. What else would you suggest for this application?
Thanks

Composites will do worst,very little sun,shady area,heavily wooded you just described the almost perfect no no for composites.The only thing you could add would be 12'' or so off the ground to get a perfect score.

As you go looking around R Man you might run into tendura, this is a product targeted for just what you are planing. Be real sure you get the instrustions on that stuff they will void the warenty if the stone hindge star alinement was not right.

What would I suggest??? drum roll>>berrrrrrrrrrrr..bing!
All you Guys were waiting for this right??

Go with Ipe. J

Another deck site>>www.homeressources.com like this site it has a number of pages go to the Deck Fourm area under the post Big Black spots on my one month old deck. This goes back a few years and has some very unhappy composite customers talking about their projects mostly trex with a few others mixed in. Anyone thinking about using composite should have access to this info long before they build.

J

John, Thanks. Well Actually I guess I have the perfect situation to NOT use composite, since yes it will be elevated somewhere around a foot or so off grade, until it gets to the back of the house, then it will be up there around 10' or so. We will have a walk out under this deck.

Thanks for your help. I will check out the tendura

Composites have come a long way. I think it probably comes down to the look you like. The maintenance should be low esp w/ a covered porch where mildew spores won't settle (usually mildew does not happen where there are overhangs).
In any case the oft-quoted advice of good cross ventilation is important - esp for Tendura, which is a good product but needs that air moving underneath it.
Some composites come in a 4" width now.