New maintenance free deck costs/recommendations?

[laminak]

I’m in the process of finding contractors to tear down my deck and install a maintenance-free deck. Would involve removing current posts and underside. Our deck is approximately 17’x10’, second story, with stairs to the bottom.

Does anyone have any estimate of what it’ll cost? Anyone have their deck done recently? Any recommendations in the CR area?

Thanks.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

I’m in the process of finding contractors to tear down my deck and install a maintenance-free deck. Would involve removing current posts and underside. Our deck is approximately 17’x10’, second story, with stairs to the bottom.

Does anyone have any estimate of what it’ll cost? Anyone have their deck done recently? Any recommendations in the CR area?

Thanks.

Please define your expectation of a maintenance free deck.

I ask cuz three years ago I tore my deck down to the framing; installed composite decking, frameless screening, power sun shades and suspended heaters with the intention of using the space year round.

I had the expectation of minimal cleaning.

I still have to power wash the deck 3x a year to remove dust/dirt.

 

[cytor]

If you are going composite decking, there are only 2 brands that are worth your money and last forever: Azek and Trex.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Another vote for Trex. That stuff looks great and is basically indestructible.

 

[laminak]

Please define your expectation of a maintenance free deck.

I ask cuz three years ago I tore my deck down to the framing; installed composite decking, frameless screening, power sun shades and suspended heaters with the intention of using the space year round.

I had the expectation of minimal cleaning.

I still have to power wash the deck 3x a year to remove dust/dirt.

Sorry, I mean composite deck. I don’t want to mess with staining.

 

[stormchaser2014]

Sorry, I mean composite deck. I don’t want to mess with staining.

I never want to paint a deck again in my life. I 'stained' (it was paint, and terrible paint at that) a 50x12 deck where all the boards were rotted, chipped, cracked, splintered, unevenly spaced, and unlevel for the guy I mentioned in the tree thread. Went through like 4 brushes painting in between the boards.

 

[BoxsterCy]

What is the joist spacing on the deck? Lot of decks built for 2x4 decking were 16" o.c. (or greater) and not all of the composite decking will span that. That might narrow your choices. Do agree with all of the peeps here touting the major brands, I'd stay away from cheaper "generics" the big boxes also sell.

 

[carvers4math]

If you are going composite decking, there are only 2 brands that are worth your money and last forever: Azek and Trex.

I always dream of composite decking so when I saw the OP, I googled and Trex came up with all the different factors that come into pricing.

 

[stormchaser2014]

We did work for someone recently who just had a large, multi-level deck built with untreated lumber. I assume it was sealed somehow, but it just looked odd.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

2 years ago we tore out a 12x12 deck and put in a 16x16 Trex deck that is 4 feet off the ground. We paid $12,000 for it and the other bid was $14,000.

 

[mynameisjonas]

What is the joist spacing on the deck? Lot of decks built for 2x4 decking were 16" o.c. (or greater) and not all of the composite decking will span that. That might narrow your choices. Do agree with all of the peeps here touting the major brands, I'd stay away from cheaper "generics" the big boxes also sell.

he won’t have a problem getting over 16 feet of 1 x 6 deck boards.

 

[JP4CY]

What is the joist spacing on the deck? Lot of decks built for 2x4 decking were 16" o.c. (or greater) and not all of the composite decking will span that. That might narrow your choices. Do agree with all of the peeps here touting the major brands, I'd stay away from cheaper "generics" the big boxes also sell.

Yeah when I built mine (treated) there's a great chart out there about sizing, spacing, overhangs, etc. I opted for 2x6s on 12" spacing in case I ever wanted to go to composite.

 

[CloneFanInKC]

What is the joist spacing on the deck? Lot of decks built for 2x4 decking were 16" o.c. (or greater) and not all of the composite decking will span that. That might narrow your choices. Do agree with all of the peeps here touting the major brands, I'd stay away from cheaper "generics" the big boxes also sell.

This is something to be aware of.

My framing was 24” OC and we sistered the joists due to the composite decking.

 

[Zubaile]

I've been in your exact situation before when framing out a deck, and I totally get how those out-of-line joists can mess with everything. When I had to remove nails out of Simpson strongties, I used a small pry bar and a thin-claw nail puller to wedge under the nail heads, wiggling them just enough to finish pulling out with a hammer. There's always some cursing involved because that angle is tough, but patience wins out. After that, I flipped the worst ones so the crook was up, which helps since the deck boards keep everything from sagging anyway. Decks tend to last longer and look so much better if the structure underneath is dead flat, so if the joists were just a bit off, I've also planed them down or added a sistered straight piece next to the bowed ones. If you're interested in deck ideas or troubleshooting stuff like this, there's a lot of solid advice for Central Indiana decks at https://mcfarlandoutdoors.com/, especially if you want to see what pro-built examples look like.