Non-Wood Options for Elevated Backyard Deck?

[ultrarunner]

I've read a few here post about building a traditional deck using aluminum or composite materials.

Hoping those with information can post pictures and tips they learned along the way.

Recently, I got a very expensive bid to replace a wood deck built new in 2005... the bid was just shy of 80k !!!

My options are eliminate the deck or come up with a once and done solution for Olympia Washington's wet climate.

Deck is over a down-slope starting at grade with 8' posts extending up on the low side...

I considered steel with concrete... like I have in California... but this was built by the original owner who designed bridges for a living back in the 1960's

Those with Aluminum is that mounted on pressure treated joists and posts???

 

[4570Man]

No experience with aluminum decks other than the price list. I'm not a fan of the composite decks because they sun fade and pretty much look bleached after a few years. I'd build a covered wood deck before I built an aluminum, concrete or composite deck. I'm not a deck fan anyway. It's incredibly stupid IMO. "Yeah, I've worked outside all day now I want to sit in the sun for an hour longer and fight the bugs while the wind blows my napkins away" Said no one ever.

 

[bcp]

Retaining wall, fill, and paving blocks.

Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ That would cure my deck issues...

It would take a lot of blocks to build a retaining wall but it would eliminate wood rot.

The entire rear of the home is on a down slope... so I will need to make some calculations on my next visit... too much sun isn't really an issue in Olympia... and the forest grows very quickly making the deck a nice spot for family activities IF the weather cooperates.

 

[mcfarmall]

Menard's sells a product called PaverDeck. It's made of roll formed galvanized steel channels that interlock and form a deck that is strong enough to use concrete pavers as decking material. You can also top it off with traditional wood, composite, or AZEK style decking.

The product reminds me of a grain bin floor just to look at it. The nice part about it is you don't have any wood used in the structure so rot will never be an issue.

 

[bcp]

I have a hillside deck, about 20x30, That goes from 0 to 8 feet high. I wish i had done a "deck" about half the size, with a 4ft wall, fill, etc.

Bruce

 

[flingwing1969]

Retaining wall, fill, and paving blocks.

Bruce

I do like the idea of a retaining wall and concrete patio, even though you do have a tall wall to do but if $80k was your budget you can certainly buy a LOT of block - and you would only have to do it once.

This is more of a question than a knowledgeable comment but I do have some (limited) knowledge about retaining walls and the fact that they are usually used to retain earth. Since it sounds like this wall (if the OP planned on doing it) is replacing a deck that isn't holding any earth back, would it be better to build the wall to replace the supporting posts of the original deck, and then fill it with interlocking rubble and gravel instead or earth since that would not retain water as earth would, eliminating or at least reducing the hydraulic pressure on the wall? Sort of the way a mason builds a fireplace hearth. Once the wall is built with the proper lean-back and the fill is in place with a tamped gravel top layer, one could simply pour a reinforced pad on top and be done?

One might be able to pour the patio with lightweight concrete?

 

[ultrarunner]

Picked up two more bids... the range now is a low of 73k and a high of 88k for 1200 square feet of deck with pressure treated and composite.

Kind of in a rough spot as the property is leased and it isn't possible for me to carve out enough time to do anything hands on plus it is a good 12 hour drive each way.

The more I read about composite decking the more questions I have... especially in the wet climate of the PNW with a short hot summer.

Anyone know anything, good/bad about Fortress brand Deck Material?

 

[Egon]

Precast concrete floor slabs placed on engineered support structure.

 

[grsthegreat]

Last fall we replaced our old front cedar deck with aluminum decking supplied thru a company called Nexan (next deck). after 19 years of constant upkeep i decided to take a chain saw to the old deck.


most of the old caissons were still good, but i did replace 2 and added a front landing . we will be landscaping it this spring.

We even replaced the old rusting handrail system with aluminum no upkeep handrail system

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Can't thank you enough for the pictures!

Did you use Aluminum for framing or only for the deck and rails?

I know there are issues with the "Brown" pressure treat and metal corrosion.

When it was all said and done how did the cost compare?

I'm not sleeping well at night thinking about the amount of money involved here... but... if it is a one time expense and done... it makes it more palatable.

The existing 2004 Deck that is totally shot was installed by the previous owner the same year I bought... I know decks are a maintenance issue but all of my experience is SF Bay Area based and I was totally unprepared for the wet Olympia climate and how 10+ months of rain and humidity play havoc... plus the wood was often a slick as a skating rink all winter.

 

[ultrarunner]

Edit... read all the material and it seems like a good way to go.

Only thing that comes to mind other than cost is how resistant to damage... especially since property is currently rented and I can see it might be dent prone or the once in a decade when it snows and the snows plunges 18' from the roof to the deck below?

Also noticed two types of deck material is available... one with a "Gap" and one that is water tight that interlocks.

At first I went to the gap style but then I got to thinking it might collect the duff in the gap from the Fir Forest as the deck is deep in the forest.

The "Gap" deck material looks super easy to change out if damaged.

The water tight interlocking material might require taking out up to all the the material to replace one length as each interlocks with the next.

 

[grsthegreat]

i bought the gap type, as the other is mostly used for dock installations. We have snow, but i dont have any shedding roof snow as my roof is asphalt.

the deck is extremely strong, and stays cool to the touch throughout summer. the composite decks can fry eggs in the summer.

there will be no delaminating here.

one thing i see alot of here is delaminating composite decks if a person allows pine needles to sit under a load of snow all winter.

i replaced all the framing but didnt want to use aluminum or steel framing members because i was warned that this would allow for a noisy deck when people walk on it. This deck is fairly quite .... compares to the noise from the previous deck.

We dont see the rain that you guys do, so im not sure of best solution for framing. i used pressure treated wood and posts for most part. All the handrails are from Regal, and there all powder coated aluminum.

Were going to complete the rear deck this year.

how large is your deck? $80K seems like someone is trying to retire on you. i purchased enuf for a 6x45 front deck and a 6x45 rear deck plus all steps and the lower deck which is aprox 10x12 foot and chose the wood grain color and i only paid about $9,000 for materials. i cant recall what i paid for the deck framing materials, but it was probably around $4,000 total including concrete. The alum handrail system ran aprox $3,000 as i recall. the wife and I installed the handrails in aprox 4 hours. Regal makes a sweet system. Also just to note, the deck is rigged to prevent slipping, and the surface is rough. this deck can be used on Docks, so its not slippery. i walked on it all winter and never slipped. The only downfall was you cant use a shovel to move snow, as it could scratch the finish. And dont use salt either.

As it turned out, i just used a plastic snow shovel to eliminate all but 1-2 " of snow, then used a push broom to get the rest. worked sweet.

 

[ultrarunner]

The existing decks total 1280 square feet... a lot of decking! (20x40, 20x20, 8x10)

The 20x20 could be converted to pavers with the addition of a retaining wall and fill... the large 20x40 would be a big project to convert as there is 8' of daylight under the far side railing.

I never thought about the noise factor.

Snow is a rare occurrence and never lasts through the day... that said once in 14 years there were sheets of snow letting go and came crashing down on the deck... the only damage was to my tenants BBQ and Chase Lounge Frame.

Is the gap large enough to allow for cleaning of small fir tree needles?... Only ask because I don't want to set myself up for lots of maintenance on a low maintenance deck... every visit I would spend a day just cleaning out he slots of the between the existing wood planks... it does get windy and with tall trees the needles travel.

If I went with the watertight planks it would protect the framing... and after 15 years the framing is starting to get punky in the gaps between the planks.

I don't really have any good pictures...

One picture shows part of the 20x40 deck and the other stairs to the water which isn't even in the bid.

 

[grsthegreat]

The existing decks total 1280 square feet... a lot of decking! (20x40, 20x20, 8x10)

The 20x20 could be converted to pavers with the addition of a retaining wall and fill... the large 20x40 would be a big project to convert as there is 8' of daylight under the far side railing.

I never thought about the noise factor.

Snow is a rare occurrence and never lasts through the day... that said once in 14 years there were sheets of snow letting go and came crashing down on the deck... the only damage was to my tenants BBQ and Chase Lounge Frame.

Is the gap large enough to allow for cleaning of small fir tree needles?... Only ask because I don't want to set myself up for lots of maintenance on a low maintenance deck... every visit I would spend a day just cleaning out he slots of the between the existing wood planks... it does get windy and with tall trees the needles travel.

If I went with the watertight planks it would protect the framing... and after 15 years the framing is starting to get punky in the gaps between the planks.

I don't really have any good pictures...

One picture shows part of the 20x40 deck and the other stairs to the water which isn't even in the bid.

heres a few close up pics showing gaps. i dont have any trees near mine so i cant tell you about needle cleanup.


i can assure you that this deck went together in the same amount of time as a wood deck would. there are no face screws in deck, only in the trim. it comes with spacers that screw into joists. Nextdeck will send you a free sample package showing all parts and colors

 

[ultrarunner]

I made a request Saturday for more information.

Did you consider any other material or brands like Versadeck?

 

[grsthegreat]

I made a request Saturday for more information.

Did you consider any other material or brands like Versadeck?

we had 3 different aluminm deck companies send us samples.... but i do not recall the names of the other 2. We liked nexans deck best. Im not sure how many companies even make the decking.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think there is 4 total in the residential aluminum deck side of things...

I'm leaning towards the Dakota Oak Wood Grain for the large exposed deck... won't have any price and freight information until next week.

Sent an email to the contractor that bid and another deck builder in the area too...

Can't thank you enough!

Back in Oakland the home I live in was bought new in 1958 for 27k.

Two years ago I needed a roof and had to remove all the old hand split shake as shake is forbidden, put down sheathing over the skip sheathing and went with lifetime shingles and double felt, new flashing, etc and it came the price almost matched what the home cost new!

I'm sure my price aversion is a sign I am getting old!

 

[grsthegreat]

The dakota oak was the finish we went with

 

[goeduck]

Last fall we replaced our old front cedar deck with aluminum decking supplied thru a company called Nexan (next deck). after 19 years of constant upkeep i decided to take a chain saw to the old deck.

Interesting option. I did not see it on the website but does the surface get slippery at all?