Deck Wood Recommendation
We are in the process of laying down planks on our new roof deck. We like white oak but heard it ages badly. Any suggestions?
We are in the process of laying down planks on our new roof deck. We like white oak but heard it ages badly. Any suggestions?
Ipe is the best choice..I agree I only use Ipe..I have used Garapa which is another imported hardwood..not always available and is softer much ligther color.
I buy through Rogers sales farmingdale NY. Pricing 35% cheaper than my local yard..they have it all year long.
I don’t do much with trex anymore, some pt pine more & more Ipe jobs
Maybe you can use some reclaimed southern pine…stuff is super hard. Coat it with a marine finish. I know a guy who makes the base of his decks from extruded aluminum so that there’s no rot. Email me at info@brooklynmodern.com if you want his contact.
-gerald
Dave,
I’ve witnessed black mold issues and cracking on a number of Trex decks. I also am involved on a couple of deck forums, and have read too many horror stories about Trex. I know that some people are very happy with it, but it’s a fact that sometimes they have a bad run at a factory, and they refuse to take responsibility…which has led to 2 major class action suits. I don’t want to subject my clients to a potential nightmare, which is why I stick with wood for decking…specifically Ipe. I know wood, and trust Ipe.
steve
I have a Trex deck in PA…Looks fine to me. I got the “gray weathered” color.
I also have a PT deck in MA that’s 16 yars old. I coated it with an oil based cabot’s “redwood” stain when I installed it and it had a second coating about 7 years ago. it still looks great. Cabot’s was making a special stain for PT back then but I think it’s basically the same as their regular oil-based line.
Sketch & hammer installed my deck here and used PT 2X8s as the decking. They stained them a really nice color (also with oil based) and they look fantastic.
Cedar is much more maintenance & upkeep to kepp it looking nice, unless you want it to weather gray.
trex (etal)is fugly, like a fedders. but it is looow maintenance.
second the hidden fasteners rec.
second the ipe rec too.
steve, why don’t you like Trex given your statement “I’ve never used the man made decking, so I can’t recommend any.”??
I’ve been trying to research this myself. My problem is that I want to go with something sustainable and/or reclaimed. Best choice?
Spend the money and use hidden fasteners.
Ipe is the best choice…it’s what I use. White oak is acceptable outdoors, but I’ve never tried it, so I don’t know how it weathers. 5/4×6 cedar works, but lots of maintenance.
Don’t use Phillipine Mahogany, as it’s not good outdoor, and is not even close to real mahogany. There is a wide range of composites and vinyl decking, but don’t use Trex. I’ve never used the man made decking, so I can’t recommend any.
Then there’s the old standby…ACQ treated SY Pine, which is good for substructure, but bad for decking
There are other good wood choices, but none are locally available.
steve