Non-Wood Options for Elevated Backyard Deck?

[ultrarunner]

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

Dakota Oak is their premium plank and from the website has been offered only since 2016?

My former tenants would cordon off the deck and steps in winter calling it an ice skating rink... it would get real slick when wet.

Have not heard back from the contractor since I mentioned aluminum planks...

I was also thinking about aluminum framing but the last thing I want is a deck that is noisy and squeaks under foot

ND Finishes

 

[tow653]

We have timbertech composite,put down with hidden fasteners, love it so far, going on 5yrs. Note no but seams.

 

[newbury]

Not to horn in too much on ultrarunner's thread BUT

I'm in the initial throes of trying to plan decks for a house in Northern Virginia.

The house we "rent" to my son and family. It's a former Cape Cod that was about 26x30 and we added on (at fair expense) a section about 24x36. And NO porch. The house REALLY needs a porch.

Because of small children and splinters I'm thinking of composite decking. Years ago, maybe a decade by now I built a platform for a a shed with what Home Depot was selling for composite and it has not decomposed at all. But now there must be a dozen competing brands all claiming to be best.
And the width seems to vary from "nominal 6" to 5.25".

So what are "good" brands I can probably get from 84 lumber (Trex/Azek/Timbertech) or Home Depot (what 84 has plus Veranda, and Fiberon) or Lowes (what 84 has plus Armadillo and Tropics)?

 

[grsthegreat]

I have only gone thru 1 winter, but it is not slippery in the least. In the heat of tge day the deck stays pretty cool, almost like the old wood deck. The aluminum disapoates the heat. Ive been wirking on composite decks in summer and believe me they get hot.

 

[grsthegreat]

Dakota Oak is their premium plank and from the website has been offered only since 2016?

My former tenants would cordon off the deck and steps in winter calling it an ice skating rink... it would get real slick when wet.

Have not heard back from the contractor since I mentioned aluminum planks...

I was also thinking about aluminum framing but the last thing I want is a deck that is noisy and squeaks under foot

ND Finishes

With standard wood framing, the aluminum planks cut like butter with a thin kerf boade and a chop saw. Cut as clean and as fast as wood. Composite decks can clog chop saw blades . I had no problems with mine, cept it is noisy cutting it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Dakota Oak is their premium plank and from the website has been offered only since 2016?

My former tenants would cordon off the deck and steps in winter calling it an ice skating rink... it would get real slick when wet.

Have not heard back from the contractor since I mentioned aluminum planks...

I was also thinking about aluminum framing but the last thing I want is a deck that is noisy and squeaks under foot

ND Finishes

it was shipped 4 planks per package with paper barriers protecting finished side, and sealed in cardboard. Not a single scratch on anything. Very impressed.

 

[ultrarunner]

All are welcome...

I've learned a lot since starting this thread... mostly how much I don't know plus all the options that are out there.

Just spoke with the builder and he is not adverse to Aluminum... custom builds a lot of docks with Aluminum... just never used it for a residential deck.

 

[hawkeye08]

I'm interested in this aluminum decking.. perfect timing as we are nearly ready to start. Ours is not near as extensive as Ultra's, but is big enough to be a sizeable expense.

 

[California]

I'm facing the same problem, north of San Francisco where ocean fog overnight often leaves the redwood deck wet in the morning. Like the deck that preceded it, it lasted only 25 years and now has rot at the ends of a few planks where they meet over the joists. I bought replacement redwood lumber to piece in the damaged spots for now.

Each Redwood 2 x 6 x 14 ft was near $40 with tax!!!

Replacing the whole deck and structure using redwood would be too expensive at today's prices. I need to find an alternative.

 

[newbury]

I'm facing the same problem, north of San Francisco where ocean fog overnight often leaves the redwood deck wet in the morning. Like the deck that preceded it, it lasted only 25 years and now has rot at the ends of a few planks where they meet over the joists. I bought replacement redwood lumber to piece in the damaged spots for now.

Each Redwood 2 x 6 x 14 ft was near $40 with tax!!!

Replacing the whole deck and structure using redwood would be too expensive at today's prices. I need to find an alternative.

That's about the price of 1x6x16 Trex here, from Lowes.