[Zeke]

A recent study reveals that manufactured decking is not maintenance free. However, wood does splinter and definitely needs attention once a year to keep it real nice. If there is good air circulation below the deck, the framing does not have to be pressure treated, but any wood in contact with concrete should be.

Now I will tell you the 2 best tricks to building a deck: fasten from below and don't let the deck boards rest directly on the joists. Use a fastener system that holds the deck boards up.

Also, leave a fat nail space between green decking lumber and a bit more for manufactured since it doesn't shrink. You need the space for 2 reasons, cleaning out debris and getting preservative in between the boards.

If you use lumber, don't use any that has grain near the heart and place the cup of the grain up. As the grain wants to straighten out, the cupping will face down, not up. Some say it's the other way around and lumber being lumber likes to fool you. Really the grain could be placed either way and cupping will take effect the way it wants to. If we could only read each piece and predict.

Trex don't cup.