The Battle Of Deckboards: Compairing Longevity of Different Materials || Dr Decks

Plastic decks are nothing more than a modern day marketing gimmick. NONE of it even close lives up to what they advertise. Yes wood has its drawbacks but the thing the don't mention is that wood is fixable and plastic is not. That and who wants to walk on plastic?

You can tell this video is coming from a west coast person who doesn't have access to good pressure treated lumber. The entire Eastern half of the country has access to #1 southern yellow pine that is pressure treated through the entire board. It looks good and lasts for 40 years. Of course it does have to be cleaned and has to be recoated every 2-5 years. Capped composites are a game changer, all the good ones have a 20+ year warranty. In the Eastern US, treated SYP can make a very nice deck surface.

Do you have experience with black locust decking?

what about redwood?

My PT deck is 35 yrs old. I am replacing the posts but the boards (2x6) are still good. I am going to take a sander to them soon. The gaps aren't perfect but still ok. The 2x6s make the deck rock solid. Not sure about the composites and how scratch resistance they are. I live out in the country and all kinds of critters around.

No mention of 45 degree edge screwing as in the Camo fastener system and several others? We just restored an old deck using 1x4 mahogany with the Camo fastening system and it came out great. With the stainless screws pulling down and against each other into the joist, they a create very strong connection that's nearly invisible and resists cupping better than face fastening. ln addition, while mahogany is challenging to work with, the screws are stainless, self tapping, have a splined or Torx head that won't cam out and the tool, by design, countersinks the screws to exactly the right depth......once you get used to it. Just drive in the screw until it stops. lt's impossible overdrive them. No, l don't work for the Camo Fastening system or have a financial interest in the company. As for the home owner, the less said the better.

Great video lots of facts quickly 😀👍. I like how you include the install issues along with the products.

In areas where temperatures can run more extreme, such as Michigan where I now live and work, no wood really works well outdoors. They all fail under the constant frost/thaw cycles, the overuse of salt and other deicers prolly doesn’t help either. I’m curious as to how well composites handle this. Can you provide any feedback on this?

I’ve used cedar, ipe and Trex Enhance. I’m not a fan of the Trex Enhance decking. The underside profile makes it necessary to pre-drill holes in order to ensure perpendicular penetration.

Also, love your content. Just recently discovered your stuff. Please, keep it coming!

I just finished redecking and went with PVC. The finish is way better than wood. Hopefully, it would have less maintenance and last longer.

synthetic is horrible for the environment. before installation, while it's in the environment around you, and after it goes to the dump.

I just removed a 50 year old cedar deck. It was still fine sturcturally, but at the point where making repairs was not as sensible as re-joisting and re decking. So, Cedar can do really well in a 4 season place like Southern Alberta despite not being stained in 35 years. That 70s lumber was probably older growth.

Very informative, Dr. Deck! Can you also compare a PVC such as Vintage to a laminate such as Trex Signature? Thanks.

So helpful!

Question. My dad built our 16 inch raised deck 30 years ago and sadly passed away 2 yearsago. The pressure treated posts seem solid. I believe the were treated with arsenic and seem pretty solid. Would you recommend leaving them? They seem like they will last longer than what is produced now as far as PT wood. Thanks. Also thoughts on No 1 MCA (0.15) pro deck boards from McCoys?
Thank you

How to find good deck contractor?

2 x 6 cedar is 1/2 price than cheap trex composite and 1/3 price medium grade product in BC.

From what I've found doing some homework, newer deep-penetrating stains have removed the need for maintenance sanding on cedar planks and now only really require a cleaning and re-application. This also protects against greying if you choose one without a clear finish so you keep that color longer.

Had no idea there were so many options. Sick and tired of redoing the deck every few years. I rather spend a bit extra and make it last long

Great video. Any thoughts and/or experience with thermally modified wood products?

You lost me at plastic deck board

That PVC board stains very easily. That is a significant drawback. And the bend easy. I saw new boards arrive like noodles.

One thing you don't talk about is with all colors and worst if darker colors of PVC and other composite decking is hot hot it gets if exposed in the sun, even if you live in the Pacific Northwest.

Can you provide a link to the pvc board?

I'm pretty sure you can stain your cedar with penetrating oil stain and put 1 or 2 coat of uv resistant varnish,this should be ok for few years and won't gray out

I have heard the composites scratch quite easily? Would you say the Azec is easily scratched say by dragging furniture across it?

Replacing decking with 24” on center framing can I use a composite board? The 2x6 that is being torn off is 30 yrs old and past it’s life.

can't get cedar deck boards in my area in california. only option is redwood and douglas fir 2x6 deck boards. What do you think about the longevity of doug fir for deck boards?

I’m so confused. I’ve heard cedar requires less maintenance than pressure treated wood (or none but may not last as long). And if no annual treatment to treated wood it will split and warp much quicker. I’ve also heard that cedar can last 25 years.

Was looking at Azek for my front porch project but my neighbor installed it last year and it looks scratched in many places ( without a dog) so I started narrowing down to trex transcends, timbertech, or potentially wolf decking. Let me know if any experience, or what your hear on those 3? Thanks! No sun, north facing porch....

Can butyl joist tape be used under PVC decking? Ive read some weird stuff saying butyl joist tape interacts with PVC to make it brittle over the years? Is that just some wacky internet FUD?

Can I powerwash tye composite deck to clean?

Thoughts on redwood as a deck board? It's $1.93 a board, and looks beautiful. A decent looking composite is at least 2 to 3x that cost. Even if I pay someone $600 a year to sand and seal, it would be 10 years until i break even at cost. I dont know.

In Florida the Home Depot pressure treated will last about 6-8 years on a dock. CCA from Decks and Docks probably gets you up to more like 10-15 years. Lag screws will eventually corrode away to nothingness. The dock contractors use stainless steel screws banded in strips so they can use the stand up screw installer. In Florida they say not to seal the pressure treated.

Cedartone pressure treated..best value for dollar.

Hi Dr Deck. I love your explanations and have been educating myself as I look ahead to 900 SF DIY single level deck board replacement in 2024. Some questions if i may? Walk out basement, and deck suspended off main level of house. After stripping deck boards, cleaning up and leveling joists I'll need some type of work surface to start from. (So we don't fall through the joists) Like a sheet of OSB, temporarily secured and moved as we progress. How do you do this? Thanks again!

Great video. I'm about to install welldone ash 5/4" it's baked to remove sugars and enzymes do you have any experience with that type product? I'm considering hidden fastener also wondering if it's worth the trouble or should I just fasten from the top side?

Very helpful. What do you think about Tanzite deck flooring or even the mineral based composites like Deckorators Voyage line? Is it worth the upgrade?

In Canada, we are looking at $14.50 per sq.ft. for pvc as opposed to $3.50 per sq.ft for 5/4 x 6 pressure treat.

On a 500 sq.ft. deck the cost difference is $5500. Even with annual maintenance of $150 in materials (stain, wash products, etc), pressure treat is still more affordable for most people, as pressure treat will last 15 plus years.

I do agree with you though, that pvc will outlast pressure treat while still looking the same after 15 plus years. Great option if you can afford it.

Just chatting to a friend the other day and he is on a job and the architect specked clear kiln dried cedar boards , all sides primed and painted and then pocket holes up through the framing to mount the deck boards. He thinks it’s stupid but the client is paying time and materials for a 4 man crew to do this on 2200 sq feet haha.

I only offer AZEK pvc to my clients now. Too many bad experiences with pressure treated and I hate working with capped composite.

Thanks for explaining your weird West Coast wood. I always wondered why it had those markings

i install cedar deckboards, frame cedar screen porches etc, 4x4s, 6x6 brackets, sometimes we do decks also but i feel everything checks. and that's crazy your PT looks so much different - here in georgia there are no incisions or anything. we use e-pay somtimes (dont know the correct spelling but that's for high end people). like 10M $ atlanta houses.

How about 850 miles from Tacoma?

Thanks DR. MANY many thinks to think over, looking forward to your Metal framing video

I used pressure treated on my deck 23 years ago and it still looks good. I just can’t afford the composite one.