Thanks!! I had read horror stories of new growth T&G Doug Fir flooring warping/cupping and rotting out within ten years. That's why I'm so gun-shy about pulling the trigger. I don't want to have to have this front porch professionally redone anytime in the near future. Sarah

I am remembering the old wrap around covered porches giving shaded comfort in sweet ol Eugune Oregon... sigh,,, those old places must have looked great all fresh and all, sitting out in the woods with a view of the dirt road the Loggers having a beer on the rocking chair after a long dangerous day in the woods. Slightley rocking because the pitch on those porches was really heading down hill, done with old growth doug fir Sigh..... But here we are and the Tany wants to know what is the best wood to use now and is not really giving ear to what we are saying us guys who do this as a living. Outside areas covered or not should not be built as if they are inside the house them ol boys knew this so they put a lot of fall in when framing those wrap arounds,they were using old growth mateial, most time T&G material layed running away from the house and they most always painted them.Back then a few creeks and rotted places dident bother those Great People, Life had too many pleasures and pain to worry about someting like that. Ipe is the best hands down material to use for outdoor areas,covered or not. I have done several wrap arounds with ipe T&G material,fasatened thru the tounge with ss screws, every 3' or so I cut a 1/2'' slot in the T just to make sure, I got this idea from TimberTech T&G material.No T&G boards actually touch to alow for movement,this space is an 1/8'' or so the same as us guys alow for drainage with regular plank decking. T&G drains the same way Using cedar for decking at all is not a long lived choice,old growth cvg doug fir would be really sweet and a little spendy bout twice what I can get Ipe for. Tany Person I wish you good fortune. J

Hi ya Ed, nothing more to add but one thing, who ever told you to silicone the T&G is completly wrong for a lot of reasons. J.

Who ever posted about the "Armor-All EZ Deck Wash" is out of their mind. It contains Sodium Hypochlorite as the active ingredient. Chlorine Bleach or Sodium Hypochlorite (active ingredient in Chlorine Bleach) based deck cleaners that the uneducated recommend may appear to quickly remove mildew (white in color) and mold (black and other colors) fungus from Timbertech and other Composite Decking. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) DO NOT RECOMMEND Chlorine Bleach for Mold (Mildew is a species of Mold) remediation on porous surfaces such as Trex and other composite decking. The reason for this is that Chlorine Bleach does not remove or kill the roots (mycelium) of the fungus, but actually waters them. A few weeks after you have cleaned a deck with chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite based products you will notice the mildew or other mold fungus growing back in greater numbers, especially after additional moisture comes into contact with the deck. It will make the problem worse and harder to remove the next time the composite surface becomes unsightly. In addition, Chlorine Bleach products reek havoc on the rest of the deck structure shortening the life of the entire structure. It is highly corrosive to any metal including structural connectors or fasteners (screws) holding the deck together. It shortens the life of the pressure treated lumber supporting the deck. This could lead to liability issues for the owner of the property and any company who recommends its use. PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY DESTRUCTIVE. It is shocking that Timbertech and other composite manufacturers do not follow the recommendations of the EPA or OSHA and recommend one of the most TOXIC chemicals known to this earth.