Deck replacement
Bought a fixer, the deck is shot (50x14ish, elevated). Contractors telling us that wood is poor quality right now, go with composite. True? I have some concerns about the heat related to composite as the deck leads to the pool, so kiddos in bare feet a lot. And of course, composite is much higher in price.
We would prefer a cable rail system, but the kits are pricey. Is there a way to get the look without the cost?
Also, has anyone installed a system below the deck boards to divert rain into gutters? This looks like a great option to "waterproof" the patio below and allow install of a ceiling for that space. I looked at the Trek system, but assuming there are DIY options as well since it appears to be just plastic.
There is another large deck on the side of the house that will likely remain wood for now, with replacement in a couple of years. Thoughts on whether the composite companies change colors often? Will it fade? Wondering how hard it would be to match down the road.
Comments (6)
PROAdvantageLumber.com
3 years agoYou can't just lump all wood together and call it "low quality". Pressure treated? Yeah, that's low quality. But exotic hardwoods like ipe and cumaru are some of the best decking materials you can install. They won't burn bare feet, they're splinter-free, and they offer natural slip resistance — all great qualities for a poolside deck. They're also more durable than composites; we guarantee ipe for up to 75 years, but it has been known to last 90.
Composites have been known to burn bare feet. And if you need to match new material to old in the future (replacement boards or updating your second deck), it will be difficult to impossible to get a perfect match. Wood, on the other hand, has enough natural variation to help mask the difference between old and new boards, and whatever differences remain can be normalized by refinishing.
There are really only two downsides to exotic decking. One is cost; ipe is comparable to composites in price. The other is maintenance. Like all wood, ipe and cumaru will fade to gray unless you apply an oil coat every year. But this is not required and has no effect on the longevity of the wood, so if you don't mind gray you can skip it.
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