Building a deck

[jim sylvester]

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

[spence]

Around an above ground pool?
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[jim sylvester]

sorry

correct spence

on the ground pool.(half buried)

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

[nightfighter]

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....

[wdmso]

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

[redlite]

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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[Sea Dangles]

Originally Posted by jim sylvester

sorry

correct spence

on the ground pool.(half buried)

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

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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[Sea Dangles]

Go composite
Buy once,cry once
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[Fly Rod]

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....

[FishermanTim]

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!

[Sea Dangles]

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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[basswipe]

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.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

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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Varies by code but in most areas I believe you do.
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[trevier]

Originally Posted by basswipe

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.

IPE? I have to laugh at this tuff, horrible to work with, expensive, gets hot, and horrible to work with.

[spence]

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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[buckman]

Originally Posted by spence

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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[piemma]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

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....

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.

[The Dad Fisherman]

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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[nightfighter]

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.