Looking for ideas on how to build the best low to no maintenance deck

[ultrarunner]

My 12 year old Deck is starting to go...

It has me wondering what would be the ultimate Pacific Northwest Deck?

Pressure treated, synthetic planks, red iron joists, concrete sonotube supports or build the whole thing of brown anodized aluminum?

All suggestions welcome.

I've seen some aluminum docks and steps that look like they will be around for a long time... not that I care for the industrial look of aluminum or stainless.

Have a neighbor that spent big bucks on one of the manmade decking materials about 10 years ago... it is a disappointment because it is really weathering and cracking.... the company is no longer around from he said.

 

[bcp]

Several homes around here have taken out raised wood decks and replaced them with concrete slabs at ground level.

I've tried cedar, pressure treated, and untreated. Some of each is rotten in 10 years or still solid after 30. I'm on a hillside, so a slab won't work.

Bruce

 

[Paddy]

Ultrarunner,

We built a home of poured concrete. All floors and even the roof is concrete. The system is quite simple; bar joists are placed 4 ft on center, osb makes the temp deck, wire mesh is placed and then 4 in slab is poured. I have 1500 sq-ft of outdoor concrete deck 14 ft above ground level. It's 8 years old now and as you can imagine, not much different than when new. All our inside floors are stained and sealed. I will eventually do the same outside.

 

[polo1665]

Our wrap around deck is made from Ipe (hardwood from brazil). Supposedly difficult to work with due to its weight and density, but is also insect and rot resistant. Our deck has been in use since 2004 and is holding up very well. Needs occasional (every 3 years or so) pressure washing and staining.

 

[oosik]

I have two small(12x20) decks with construction grade 2x6 planking. Both were built in 1982 and are still solid. About every five years or so I soak them down with some type of oil based outdoor preservative. The difference being - I'm on the dry side of the state, you are on the wet side. My decks do show the effects of use but its not at all that bad.

My aluminum dock has that synthetic(made from plastic) decking material and its still as good as the day it was built in 1998. So, in my case, hot wx and long days in the sun don't seem to bother the decking.

I would suggest the synthetic decking but with the experience you have seen - - ??? I wonder if synthetic materials are any better than they were ten years ago.

You could always use the decking materials used on boats - teak or iron wood - but I'm sure it would be really expensive, if you could even find it. My neighbor has two lawn chairs made of teak. Takes two people to move one because they are so heavy and they do require annual refinishing to look good. But they are both still solid as the rock of Gibraltar. They are 20+ years old and he leaves them outside in the winter.

Talk to a contractor who specializes in decks and see what they would recommend. It could be that you are just going to have to refinish whatever you use every year.

 

[EddieWalker]

Did you build the original deck that is failing after only 12 years? Why is it failing? Dollar for dollar, nothing comes close to PT wood for building a deck. I've found that when a deck fails, it's because too many corners are cut or the person who built it did not understand basic framing, and made too many mistakes. There seems to be a lack of understanding how beams work, why they are needed and how to secure them to the posts. The lack of diagonal bracing is very common around here. Then there is the use of nails instead of screws and bolts. In new, high end homes, I'm seeing the underside of decks being totally enclosed. This leads to mold and rot. Air has to flow under a deck to dry it out.

There is a TV show that builds very expensive decks and they really like using metal for all the framing. I can see the advantages, but doubt I'll ever do something like that due to the additional expense.

 

[KennyG]

When my cedar deck went bad (25 or 30 years old, installed without proper spacing so it didn't drain) I replaced it with Azek composite decking. After 5 years it's great. I power wash it one or two times a year to clear off the dirt and tree sap. I used the original PT framing. It showed no damage.

Composite decking is the best choice in my opinion but you need to go with a name brand. I think the solid composites are better than the formed products with voids. It is expensive but you save on maintenance.

 

[ultrarunner]

The joists and beams are what is failing and an occasional small section of plank.

Previous owners rebuilt it and all wood was milled on site... cedar and Douglas fir.

The 4 x 12 clear vertical fir beams have sections have spots that turned soft and punky.

The 2 x 12 joists are the real issue and losing strength.

Planking is easy to swap out a bad section and has been the least of concern

I have 4 cantilever balcony decks, a wrap around deck that is on grade at the back of the house and 12' above the slope where it ends.

The is a 4 x 12 fir stair case to the lower lever... both treads and stringers... the treads have done well the stingers not...

Seems like return to nature happens at an accelerated rate in Western Washington.

 

[jeff9366]

In hot, humid Florida the deck material of choice is Trex (brand) composite.

LINK: Composite Decking | Composite Deck Materials | Trex

You cannot put a hot Lodge cast iron BBQ directly on the Trex or it will melt into the deck. Ask me how I know.

My seven year old Trex deck looks like the day it was installed.

 

[dodge man]

We redid our deck about 8 years ago with composite decking. Its nice, it isn't so plastic looking and has a slightly rougher finish so its not so slick when wet or when it has snow on it. The problem is a few of the planks are delaminating. It will probably last several more years but isn't holding up as well as it should. They don't make that brand anymore because of these problems I suspect.