Building a deck
 

Hi Guys



Short and Sweet



With the kids getting bigger we have decided to get a pool this summer.



I have done all the research i possibly could over the winter for decking materials, but am still torn



What have you used



Composite or PT?



What are your thoughts on both



thanks





Jim

Around an above ground pool?
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sorry

correct spence

on the ground pool.(half buried)

sitting on ledge....can't go in the ground

Composite if it is in the budget. PT will dry, check, and split. Nature of the beast. Unless you want to be a slave to recoating every year. If you go with composite, you will never wish you had gone with PT instead.

I have installed most of them. Azek, Trex, Timbertec. Buy through a lumberyard, NOT through a box store or one of those discount places....

dont go crazy depending on the age of your children you might get 10 years . after that our kids never used it.. once in High school .. future proof it I went with trex just on the deck and stairs the rest PT big enough for 2 chairs and the ladder

Problem ive found with plastics is they do get hot.
PT sux. Even worse is when u use the new coating paints on them. That stuff gets so hot u could fry an egg on it
There is a new hollow/ honeycomb composite material that doesnt heat up like traditional azak. Because its hollow it transfers heat but is supposed to be just as strong and durable as traditional composites. I forget name but will ask someone that knows and let u know as a viable option.
Get ready to choke on cost of composite vs PT.
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My in ground was put in with a yard full of ledge....3 days with a ram ho solved that issue. Pools are awesome.
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Go composite
Buy once,cry once
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composite is the only way to go....I prefer Fiberon decking, my deck is 16 years old, still looks new....non skid when it rains...easy maintenance I schwab the deck once a year in the spring with water and bleach let it dry and will look brand new....recommend pressure treated joist....my neighbor used brazilian hard decking has replaced and patched a few times....:)

If loading composite on vechicle B careful when layered on each other tie it down good or it will slide onto the road when U apply your brakes....:)

Don't forget the insurance impact.

Will the pool be fenced in?
Are there little kids in the area?
What kind of wildlife do you get on a regular basis?

You'd be surprised who and what will try to make their way into a pool on a hot summer day/night!

I dont think you can legally have a pool without a fence. It does add up in a hurry with fencing,patio,cabana et al. I will say that my pool paid us back in smiles in just a couple years! Good move Jim
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How big a deck?

PT sucks and Trex is a joke of a composite.Go with ipe if you can afford it or go with mahogany.All depends on the size of the deck and what you can afford.

Varies by code but in most areas I believe you do.
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IPE? I have to laugh at this tuff, horrible to work with, expensive, gets hot, and horrible to work with.

I think composite looks a lot nicer today than it did when trex first came out. I have a mahogany deck and it requires a decent amount of maintenance. Unless you were trying to match existing wood I'd use composite and not have to worry about sealing, checking, splinters etc...
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Couldn't agree more. Go with a composite and a blind fastener system .
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What Ross said. I re-did my big deck with Azek and never regretted it. PT will last 10 years at best and you will start with cracks after 4 or 5. You can use the treatments that fills in the cracks but it doesn't last. I have another smaller deck (10 x 12) on the back of the house that is PT and 11 years old. I am going to re-deck this spring (whenever that it) with Azek.
You can either screw the new decking down or use a "blind" securing system. I drilled and screwed the first deck but will use the blind system on the next one.

I did mine with Cedar last year....a little pricier then PT but significantly cheaper than composite. Naturally water resistant and doesn't split.

I get a lot of sun on my deck so I can walk barefoot on the cedar where the composite gets extremely hot
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Jim, I did a nice big deck last year with the 5/4x6 STK white cedar. STK is Select Tight Knots. Nice alternative if you like wood. As always, attention to framing detail will set up a great finish.