Decks - composite vs treated

[spikerS]

composite decking in my experience is good in north, NE, east, and SE facing, where it isn't in direct sun all day. While I don't have any evidence for it, I have heard stories of kids burning their feet on composite decks pretty badly, haven't heard it recently though, so maybe the newer stuff has found a way to alleviate the heat soak. I have seen expansion and contraction issues, and screws popping, so that should be taken into consideration as well. Upside is that it is really easy to maintain. I have done a few composite decks for some Beyonders, and have had zero complaints about the materials so far.

I still recommend to go with Pressure treated wood. More maintenance involved, but, I find the deck to be better overall, and a lot cheaper. Composite decking can almost double to tripple the costs to do the deck.

[nagooro]

We built a new home a year ago, ended up doing a 14ftx15ft composite deck. Looked at pressure treated vs composite. Not a fan of the look/feel of PT and I dont think I could be bothered to do maintenance on it (ie. staining). Pressure treated was 2-3x more for most quotes, but very happy with it so far and looks much nicer. We used products from timbertech, had Yardbuild.ca build it for us, as well as a cedar fence at the same time.

edit..image should work now..ignore the lack of skirting
https://i.imgur.com/nRchUoo.jpg

[blitz]

You guys don't use mahogany?

Wood selection is one of the few things where I'm a baller, lol

[powerslave]

I know this may be a little off topic, but what are some good quality local companies that will do deck replacements?

[deee_wreck]

BUMP --- Looking for a Fence and Deck Contractor as well, our deck is "expired" needs a facelift, and a 2 fence posts i have need to be redone.

[suntan]

Ipe is the best baller wood for outdoors.

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You guys don't use mahogany?

Wood selection is one of the few things where I'm a baller, lol

[The_Rural_Juror]

I am looking at Ipe and other similar woods for my south facing deck. It's going to get too hot for composite.

[Brent.ff]

K next question, when is too early to start building this thing? When does the frost normally come out

[blitz]

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Ipe is the best baller wood for outdoors.

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I am looking at Ipe and other similar woods for my south facing deck. It's going to get too hot for composite.

I'm a woodworker as well, and Ipe is a bitch to work with as it dulls tools quickly. It's also too rigid and brittle IMO.

Search for Kayu Batu, it's an indonesian mahogony. Dense, rot resistant, but way easier on tools and easier to work with. Go with the 4" wide boards and not 6", you're way less likely to see cupping in the future.

[Brent.ff]

Another deck question, what is everyone using for footings? I'm between a concrete and form, vs concrete foot, post and gravel.. Ledger on the house\

attempted to change the title of the post to just 'Decks', but it didnt update.. odd

[88CRX]

3'-4' deep (12" diameter) hole, little gravel in the base, sono tube up to 8" above grade (if possible), fill with concrete, plus metal deck post holder cast into place. That plus ledger off the house and done.

My massive deck that we built last summer:

» Click image for larger version

Highly recommend the picture frame border. We also did a center trim so no deck boards have any butt joints anywhere.

[Brent.ff]

How much it run you and what the dimensions? The center trim and picture frame looks great. I am still contemplating a two-stage one, but not sure i want the extra effort.

[88CRX]

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How much it run you and what the dimensions? The center trim and picture frame looks great. I am still contemplating a two-stage one, but not sure i want the extra effort.

28'x12'.

$1700 ish in lumber only (and thats exactly why is brown pressure treated and not composite haha). Concrete, sono-tubes and post holders were all extra on top of that.

We thought about 2 levels but fuck that complicates things haha. And I'm not that handy. Simple 1 level was dead simple and we banged out all the wood in 2 days. Concrete was done a month earlier.

We still need to do stairs, railings and skirting but glad to have the majority of it done.

[FraserB]

Can you post a picture of the center trim? My deck is being re-done in two weeks and I don't want to see cut ends at all really.

[Brent.ff]

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28'x12'.

$1700 ish in lumber only (and thats exactly why is brown pressure treated and not composite haha). Concrete, sono-tubes and post holders were all extra on top of that.

We thought about 2 levels but fuck that complicates things haha. And I'm not that handy. Simple 1 level was dead simple and we banged out all the wood in 2 days. Concrete was done a month earlier.

We still need to do stairs, railings and skirting but glad to have the majority of it done.

How many post you end up with, 4, or do you have intermediate ones at 6' from house? How much you think the concrete run ya, or did you have someone else do those?

[blitz]

You don't need intermediate posts for anything under 16' wide and long as your high enough to use 2x12's. I think I have 5 posts for my 16x40 deck

[88CRX]

4 posts total, maybe 11' or something out from the house, spaced equally. Can see the framing below. The center trim piece just required an extra joist and then blocking (where I drew the red lines). The picture frame border requires the same extra joist and blocking.

Concrete was maybe 5 or 6 bags per hole or something. There's some online calculators that figure it out for you. Hole diameter x depth = a fuck load of mixing in a wheel barrel haha.


» Click image for larger version


» Click image for larger version

Just go to a lumber store, tell them your overall size and they'll figure out how many posts you'll need based on what depth of 2x material you want to use. We didn't have a lot of depth so we used 2x8 joists and a built up 2x8 beam.

[Brent.ff]

Anyone ever use these?
https://pylex.com/en/products/10555-...pylex-50-black

Sales guy at a deck place recommended them vs. cement post.

[ExtraSlow]

Did he think they were better somehow? Or just more expensive so his store makes more money?

[Brent.ff]

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Did he think they were better somehow? Or just more expensive so his store makes more money?

They’re pretty well the same price as cement and sonotube, but significantly less labor. $60 for a rental auger as is so cost is kinda null