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I replaced a weird indoor/outdoor deck with pipe. Was a huge amount of work. You need metalworking bits and even then the table saw sparks when you rip pipe due to the high silicon content. Every screw hole pre drilled and countersunk. 410sq feet took me about 2 years to complete. Best is to work as if your building from aluminum. The ipe I have laughs at stain, it rolls off in the rain.
It was the right and necessary choice for my application (periodic standing water) but I'd really need a good reason to do it again. I did the deck 10 years ago and 1x4x12' were 0.90/ft, the boards were cheaper than almost everything. Quotes for labor is what made it expensive which is why I did it myself. After 10 years there is simply no wear, I think it will last 40 more.
When it came time to replace the entry deck we used cedar and were done in a weekend.
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