Non-Wood Options for Elevated Backyard Deck?

[ultrarunner]

I hope that has not caught on in Kitsap County. I am this close to the saltwater. I do NOT need more deck (have 1000 sq ft) so as long as the granddad clause survives I am okay.
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Not to get too far off but we also have to deal with the Endangered Gopher which can stop a project cold... also trapping is not allowed.

Thurston County adjusts gopher review process | The Olympian

 

[GLyford]

I promised I would post pictures once the aluminum pergola kit got here. I put the pics in their own thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/397962-quick-garden-structure-pergola.html

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not sure what has been said. To me, concrete and stone is the only game in town. Wood is just a temporary, throw your money away material. A friend has a nice concrete elevated deck sitting atop sonatube poured columns.

I had a customer that had major damage to their composite deck, so I asked about it. Apparently ice falling off the roof just destroyed it. I could hardly believe it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good point about Ice sliding off the roof... it doesn't happen often in Olympia where I am but it does happen.

Have not moved forward yet...

The retaining wall and fill seems less of an option due to the steep slop and being 8+ feet off the ground at the back...

Looking at the existing details from 2005 it is clear part of the problem is the way it was constructed.

Met a local contractor that drives 4" galvanized piles and has built a number of decks in the area this way... the top has a saddle to accommodate beams and can be configured with adjustable saddle for later leveling should there be shrinkage or settling.

 

[aczlan]

Met a local contractor that drives 4" galvanized piles and has built a number of decks in the area this way... the top has a saddle to accommodate beams and can be configured with adjustable saddle for later leveling should there be shrinkage or settling.

When we were in GA we had a deck that was built with steel pipes going up from the ground to the deck, the house was built into a slope, so they were probably 25' tall, then there was a conventional wooden deck on that.

Aaron Z

 

[rox]

A couple years ago we put a rook over our open balcony. Here in the BRIGHT Provence sun a pergola just doesn't cut it, we want full sun protection. We ended up with a roofing material that was steel, with an terracotta film , don't know if it is baked on or glued on, and the shape of the steel is like traditional Provence Roof tiles. Then 6" of insulation then on the underside white powder coated Aluminum. Here is a pic


That insulation makes a tremendous difference in keeping our living room cool. I understand in other climates a pergola is a good choice, but here with our baking summer sun, I go for full protection. With the angle of the roof we get the winter sun that comes in under the roof to warm us up.

 

[ultrarunner]

Interesting product... not sure I have seen anything like it State side.

My Deck project is at a standstill... met with contractors about two weeks ago to zero in on the scope... thought it went very well... I flew up for the day.

Not a peep since... one I was finally able to reach said he is booked solid for the rest of the year... is this a great economy or what?

 

[rox]

Ultrarunner, I use a very good trucking broker for shipping pallets of our olive oil across the USA. I use Leo Harvey at FreightQuote.com He will get you the BEST shipping rates, he really knows his stuff, Leo has been serving me for over 10 years.

 

[rox]

Ultrarunner, What materials are you looking at to replace the decks?

 

[ultrarunner]

I've been looking at the gamut... pressure treated, composite, encapsulated and finished metal.