Deck Material

[tanglefoot]

I want to replace our 2 X 6 cedar deck boards with a composite material so there won't be any need for periodic staining or sealing. I would like to find a tongue-and-groove board that will close the gap between deck boards so wasps can't go between them to build nests. Also, the 2 X 6's butt up to the concrete porches in several places, so the new material will have to match that thickness(1 1/2"). Does anybody have suggestions for the new top I'm looking for?
Butch

 

[jimmyj]

I have some pals who have used the composite deck material. It looks great but man is it ever slippery when it is wet or has snow on it. Test what you are going to get first as they really regret buying it.

Also, if you don't have any gaps how will your water drain off?

 

[MikeInEburg]

We tried to do the same, but found that the composite has significantly more "spring", hence required closer spaced joists than our 24'' centers. Ended up putting 2X6s back on...
Mike

 

[dooleysm]

I've got composite decking on 16" centers and I don't notice any spring in mine.

 

[studor]

I used a solid vinyl deckboard that looks the same as 5/4 decking and is put down with stainless screws. not a all slippery and will never stain again. I looked at the composites that had hidden fastener systems and did not like the finish. you could always shim to get even with the concrete surfaces
regards

 

[GaryM]

Mine is GeoDeck. It's an extruded composite material and has a texture of rough sawn material. Available in Cedar, Driftwood, and Mahogany colors too.

 

[Western]

Where are you guys buying your material? big box stores?

I have kicked the idea around also. I have a small 12'x12' deck, but I have been given orders to add on 2 separate lower decks. I haven't pursued it far enough to price it yet.

 

[studor]

Western - I bought my decking through a local supplier to the trades -- to get the colour I (SWMBO) wanted was a special order and the stuff I saw in the big box stores did not impress me

 

[claridon]

We put a porch on the back of the house a few years ago and went with the composite boards. We love it. One of the best decisions we've ever made.
I left a gap between the boards because it's required due to the expansion/contraction of the material.
If I was worried about bugs I'd lay screening down underneath it during the installation. Our porch is about 3 feet off the ground so I could get under there and staple screening now if I had to.
Just a thought.
-Len

 

[SpringHollow]

Ipe (sustainable South American Tropical Hardwood) makes a very nice natural decking material - just predrill everything you do. Suppose to last 40 years or more (some say 100) unstained. Beautiful looking too.

Ken

 

[dodge man]

We went with a deck similar to the geodeck. Its not slick at all when it gets wet. I'm pretty sure you have to leave gaps between the board for expansion and contraction. We also put boards on the side of our deck and the railing. We have had problems with the boards on the sides warping. I think the material is to thin and warps. No problems with the deck boards or railing yet.

 

[tanglefoot]

Thanks for all the posts. I guess screen wire would solve the wasp problem, and in that case I might consider going back with 2 X 6's. Drainage is not a problem, but expansion seems to be. The bad thing about it is, with the 2 X 6 cedar I used originally, I spaced it 1/8" between boards when I built it 12 years ago. Now, some of the spaces are opened up to 1/2".
Butch

 

[polo1665]

Ipe (sustainable South American Tropical Hardwood) makes a very nice natural decking material - just predrill everything you do. Suppose to last 40 years or more (some say 100) unstained. Beautiful looking too.

Ken

The place we bought has a wrap around Ipe deck. It is very nice, but I would have to say that it looks much better treated, than left to the weather.
I am not sure of the cost of the composite decking, but I have been pricing Ipe recently (for an extension of the deck) and it is going for $3.25 a foot for 5/4" x 6". The stuff is as hard as a rock, they say it won't float in water.

Mark

 

[Western]

Thanks Studer,

 

[JohninCT]

Not sure if you would be interested in a block paver look on your deck, but there is a cool product put out by a company called VAST thats made out of recycled rubber tires and plastic bottles. They cut like wood and snap into an underlayed grid kind of like leggo blocks. The thickness of the deck pavers is just about the same a 2 by wood. They also make patio/walk/driveway pavers that are thicker and install the same way.

There are a few interesting videos of them you can watch on YouTube

YouTube - VASTPavers's Channel

 

[tanglefoot]

Thanks, John. I think I'll look into that.
Butch