Deck Construction, Pro advice

[Baz]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Thanks Baz! I can't wait to get the cabling done and then get a few lights wired up. I'm leaning toward solar low voltage for the deck steps. I've three wall mount boxes and I'm looking at the types of lights that illuminate vertically down the wall rather than shine out to illuminate the deck area. The roof overhang seems perfect if I want to hang string lighting and I already have copper hooks there that I use for Christmas lights.

Then moving the shed, relocating the hot tub...landscaping. Tell me that at some point it ends and I can just enjoy??

I think you are on the right track with your lighting comments. Should turn out fantastic!

I use a transformer for my lighting but have also integrated some solar here and there. They both have their uses.

Don't feel bad about your to-do list. This time of year you can only do so much. Just pace yourself.

Now come fall/winter...it's going to be all asses and elbows...lol.....

[70SATMan]

Yeah, I'm always racing the start of the rainy season it seems, LOL.

[Crowbob]

While we’re on the subject of decks and there haven’t been enough threads about it yet, what is the current scoop on composite decking?

My 12’ X17’ treated lumber deck is showing its 30 years of brutal southern-exposure sun, snow, spilt beer, etc. The last time composite decking was discussed, heat, fading, and sag were issues, especially with very harsh exposure.

Any advice?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

While we’re on the subject of decks and there haven’t been enough threads about it yet, what is the current scoop on composite decking?

My 12’ X17’ treated lumber deck is showing its 30 years of brutal southern-exposure sun, snow, spilt beer, etc. The last time composite decking was discussed, heat, fading, and sag were issues, especially with very harsh exposure.

Any advice?

I replaced a very small (4x18) beat to heck area of decking with composite. I doubled the joists by putting in new ones in between the existing ones. So, no sag but hot AF.

[70SATMan]

My Inlaws did Trex in light grey. Their ranch was in Lake County, CA which gets really hot in the summers. That deck even being light grey was smoking hot and sagged.

They moved off the ranch to a smaller home closer to the lake and just put in another new deck and went with,,,,, Yeah you guessed it..

I'd go with painted fir before I'd do composite. TOTALLY despise the material. So far, I've been pleased with the Dasso bamboo we chose. Gets hot in direct sun but, doesn't feel as hot as the Trex gets. Having said that, my climate is quite a bit different.

[gregpark]

I've built many decks over the years and am a fan of modern composites now. No rot and the newer types don't fade color in the sun nearly as much. What I don't like is they get too hot to walk on bare foot.
This is a cementicious deck I built off the back of my house a couple of years ago. One foot on center joists, 1⅛" ply, moisture membrane, troweled super thin specialty concrete, soldered 6" flashing on perimeter. For those interested I found these robot welded aluminum stair horses on line and really like them. No more end grain exposed to water and the treads fasten from underneath and the screws don't show. I buried them in the concrete footing (never rot or rust). And I like the look.