We installed an upper deck out of TimberTech AZEK Kach suggested. Its ok, but not my cup of tea. I dislike plastic. They feel like P lam or Pergo floor to me. Its been OK so far.

For lumber, I really like Ipe. Absolutely bullet proof. Fire rated too. 5/4 would be my suggestion.

Did the deck for my neighbor a couple door from me out of Mangaris. Very similar to Ipe, but not as dark and dense. They are all pretty tough lumber and very decay resistant. Love those wood deck. You gotta maintain it once every couple of years. I have not done any maintenance to my own ipe deck in about 10 years. Its been fine, no issues. a little cleaning or oil, its good as new.

I did a very large Brazilian redwood deck on my last house. Lots of maintenance but loved it.

My current house I did a very large Azek deck. No maintenance but don't love it as much as the hardwood.

The hardwood is much more expensive now though that when I did it back in 2006.

I also went with a Brazilian hardwood but I wouldn't if I had the choice again. Too many quirks with wood for the price. It looks good but only with yearly maintenance, and I think calling it a "weathered" look is a realtor term, if you don't maintain it turns to an old grey look.

Obviously a personal preference but the low maintenance and ease of installation would make me choose composite of I had the chance to do it again.

Agree bio.

My ex still lives in the house and she does not maintain it like I did.

I installed a Tigerwood deck this past summer. After the installation I coated it with Ice Oil, which darkened it a bit. looks good after a really rainy Fall and damp winter. The gaps have not changed and the boards are still flat to the joists. The price was about $3.75 per board foot. the wood was pretty easy to work with and is about as hard as Brazilian Cherry.

Mike

Just got back from HD after looking at the Veranda and Fiberon composite they stock . Both are only coated on the top and sides with an uncoated ridged bottom . I asked the " lumber expert " that was there about the two brands and he stated he wouldn't buy either one ! Specifically for the reason that it's not coated/sealed on all four sides . My research will continue .

^this.

Family used to have a cheap white composite deck I would take care of.
The unsealed ends would turn dark green/brown from the mildew prevalent in the area.

Every year I would power wash for a couple of days...high power and slow moving and a very big water bill...and at the very edge of cutting through the harder plastic surface.
(I should have been spraying everything down with Wet-N-Forget during those dry spells.)
(I should have also been thinking about sealers.)

It also got rained on by a neighbor's sappy pine in one spot which left major divot scars.

If there are environmental factors around which require cleaning often, consider the bigger picture and what product will work best.
My covered pine porch with Cabots australian oil stain looks pretty dang good but outside in the direct sun and snow the same product doesn't seem to do as well.

Update: On Saturday my wife and I stopped by our local lumber yard and it turns out they do not stock any composite decking . However they sell and can order Trex brand . So I gave the guy my name and number to get back with me . He just called me , the middle of the road Trex is 50.00 per 20 ' board and the top of the line is 80.00 per 20 ' board ............. and NEITHER one is coated on all four sides ! Not sure who the lumber yard salesman spoke to ( local rep or factory or ? ) but that person stated that no Trex products are coated on all four sides . Also stated that the un-coated bottom side will NOT absorb moisture , supposedly their glues and processing during manufacturing = a non absorbent sub structure . The coating per them is for looks and UV protection .

I am going to assume ( uh-oh :D ) that this person knew what they were talking about . If that's the case then I should shop around for the best price which so far is $1.75 L.F. for Trex . I know there are brands out there that are coated on all four sides , but the pricing takes them out of my league . So my plan for now is to shop local lumber processing plant which makes their own pressure treated products to see what their conventional 5/4 PT decking costs . I will compare to the Trex and then make a decision .

Right now I'm at the stage of " paralysis by analysis " :( and I need to make a decision . Thanks for letting me rant :D

Everytime I see Trex mentioned I wonder if I am the unluckiest guy or how on earth some of you get a totally different experience...

I had trex twice, Once in FL voluntarily ( bought it) - that stuff is heavy as hell BTW. After a couple years it started making waves and drooping between supports (built to spec, not too spaced out).

Then I moved back to Cal, and inherited more trex on my upper deck. Looked fine at first. Couple years later, same deal, it looks like waves on the ocean, it bends/drops between support beams... As far as I am concerned it's total *$hite* - there's about one 1ft between supports and it's still sagging in between. Real wood for me going forward, maintenance and all - the downstairs deck is redwood and the same age, and it's still straight !

Depending on the material, 5/4 is too thin for decking unless its Ipe or some type of dense tropical hardwood. Domestic lumber needs to be 1 1/2" thick to prevent bounce

My current wood deck is 5/4 pressure treated decking there is no bounce . After all 5/4 decking is made for ............. decks ! If the previous owners would have slathered on some preservative or stain every 5 years we wouldn't be having this conversation at all .

I just did weardeck on my dock and it's exceptional

Fiberglass reinforced decking

https://www.decks-docks.com/weardeckhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1555959550.jpg

So today I went to HD again to chat one more time , they stated ALL Trex is only coated on 3 sides and Trex's view point is they don't do the bottom because the boards have to off gas when they get hot . Yeah OK that's possible . Then we talked a product called Moisture Shield Vantage which is some super duper encased on all four sides composite . Per the guy behind the " pro desk " it is the only product certified for salt water exposure on docks . OK that's great but I'm not building a dock :D

Anyway for 80 boards 20 ' long it would be $4400.00 and then have to purchase the hidden screws/clips ! Then I drove to a local lumber liquidator I have used in the past . They sell Trex and their price on the 80 boards 20 ' long of the Trex Select with the install screws/clips is $5259.05 including tax .


So I'm tapping out on composite , my research shows there are too many negatives to offset the cost . I will go with # 1 grade PT pine and be done with it .

Last summer I replaced some of the original yellow pine decking on the front porch after 20 years. The only bad ones were those with knots, so I got nice clear yellow pine (not cheap) and the decking looks like new. The back deck is the same clear yellow pine material and still looks great. We just slap some heavy stain on every 5 years or so. My neighbor put in a new, huge deck with Trex and it is already wavy in spots, but he wanted the no maintanence ever feature.

I have bought 2 x 6 Trex in the past and it was the same on all 4 sides. The top is grained.

I have used Trex a few times to replace door sills that were buried in brick. People don't understand that you don't build a brick patio that captures the door sill. But Trex saved the situation at least for some years. I give it 10 to 20 depending. I used the smooth bottom side up as door sills aren't typically textured. Same coating.