Have you consulted with the person that prepared the plans?

Why do you want to substitute a higher maintenance, shorter lifespan material for something that is essentially maintenance-free and long-lived? What are you trying to accomplish by this substitution? If you let us know, perhaps we can offer other alternatives or allay concerns.

A few reasons. I thought that is what i wanted but after looking at several I think concrete is unattractive. Everyone I have seen has cracked or chipped and now looks even worse. You get one shot at a quality pour and finish on concrete. Whatever you get you have to live with. I have had composite decking on my current home for 20 years and it looks great… just like the day it was installed. At 58 years old I won’t be around for for the life of either one anyway.

Just wonder why you said higher Maintanance on the composite decking? I have never done anything to mine but wash it off in 20 years.

Thanks for the reply. I was wanting someone to challenge my thought process.

Greg

It's mainly the timber footings required for decking that I would be concerned about--having seen rot on a couple of these over the years. With regards to deck vs patio-- I'd do patio every time. But I'd do it with pavers rather than concrete. That gets around the footer issue with decks and the cracking issue with concrete. And if you have subsidence or frost heave, popping out a paver and shoving some sand underneath is an easy fix.

The deck is about 40” or so off the ground. It is actually a screened porch. I will also be building a ground level patio with a fire pit using pavers. The front porch was designed as concrete as well. It is about 30” off the ground. Of course I will have to either backfill and pack or build a steel support for the concrete to pour on as well.

Greg

A wood framed deck would be supported by pressure treated posts and concrete piers rather than a full block foundation with, presumably, a crawlspace.

I agree that composite decking and trim would be much nicer than a concrete deck and crawl space. My side porch is painted wood and 130 years old.

RES2

The foundation is already built… or at least being built. We are laying block currently. Too late for a post pier.

To avoid trapping water in the foundation it appears you are stuck with a concrete deck but if the deck is properly sloped and waterproofed, you could add composite decking on sleepers. There are pre-fabricated composite deck squares that can be lifted to clean the concrete deck.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=deck+squares&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Have you consulted with the person that prepared the plans?

I did reach out. Haven’t heard back yet.

If it is already under construction, then the top of foundation has already been set for a concrete slab topping. A wood framed deck would have a very different detail with these same foundation walls. It would be a more involved switch than what is it seems you realize.

Also, for a screened in, roofed porch I personally would not want wood decking and the gaps between the boards, if I was conceiving the choice initially.

For any covered porch though, concrete can easily be surfaced if you have problems with color, non-structural cracking, or finish. It would also appear to be a more permanent, integral part of the house with it's own perimeter foundation and probable columns holding up the roof, whereas a wood deck, at least on a more formal front entrance, would appear less permanent.