OT: deck building..need some ideas on originality

p.t. wood has no allegiance to 'stay put'. it will crack, shift, cup, and shrink. you can count on that.

the plastic stuff is nice, but will it hold up the uv light? that is the real question. it hasn't been with us long enough for me to believe the hype.

if you want to do something original why not use pipe railings and lexan panels? cheaper in the long run and will add more value to your house than anything wood or plastic. mud

Try deleting your ytMag cookie then accept a new cookie. Maybe that'll help.

Here in AZ wood just doesn't last as the heat destroys wood so fast. I also don't like chemicals around my food as kids are always dropping food then eating it before you can correct them.

I like concrete with mixing in color to what ever I like then make a patteren to whatever design I like. It's not hard to make the crete look like tile with grout or rustic rocks. You can use sand with portland as you don't need any strength or add large rock and sand.

T_Bone

We planted this little one made from green treat last summer and then put this really, really HEAVY cooker on it. I was really worried about the weight of the thing and wheather the wood could handle the load, but so far, so good.

Smacked 'er with the sealer this spring and all is well.

Good luck with your project,

Allan

Have you looked at Ipe??? (pronounced E-pay)It's a "real wood", that is grown in SA for just this purpose. The lumber is about as rot resistant as treated lumber, and looks just beautiful!!!

You will truely have something spl. if you use IPE, and it will look SUPER!

Do a google search..

Robert

We have Ipe tongue and groove now on our covered porch floor. It has weathered to a natural teak gray.

My father and I built him a new deck on the water in Maryland. He used special EB-TY hidden fasteners and sealed it. Looks like mahogany . . . almost too nice to walk on.

If use pressure treated lumber, keep on top of cleaning and sealing, so don't waste money.

My sister and brother-in-law used that plasticy (composite) stuff on their deck. Might be the greatest thing in the world, might not. Brother-in-law tried to talk me into using those boards for the horse fence I just put up, instead of the treated 1"x6" deck boards I used and painted twice with oil based barn paint. I sent him home to Sis - tired of always being upstaged by the brother-in-law. Nice guy, but I've never been one to top the Jone's - they constantly battle the jone's, or vica-versa. I aint got no Jone's live out here by me, just neighbors and friends with livestock and horses.