Need to replace my deteriorating deck. Stone or wood?

What about PVC deck? That is if you want to keep having a deck. We replaced our rotten deck last summer with a PVC deck and couldn’t be happier.

kayceedee wrote: ↑ What about PVC deck? That is if you want to keep having a deck. We replaced our rotten deck last summer with a PVC deck and couldn’t be happier.

I didn’t know this was an option. I’ll have to look into this. Thx!

Roxxxy wrote: ↑ I didn’t know this was an option. I’ll have to look into this. Thx!

My only word of caution on this is to check about the temperature of the PVC - it tends to get a lot hotter than wood, and you don't want a deck that is uncomfortable to be on. Typically lighter colours are easier, and check the specs for a few lines to make sure you get one that's noted to keep cool.

Personally I prefer the look and feel of real wood, but I can understand why people might go plastic. Stone is typically significantly more expensive than wood and is typically located at ground level and not raised.

Roxxxy wrote: ↑ I didn’t know this was an option. I’ll have to look into this. Thx!

Wood (PT or Cedar) is still the cheapest option by far, but also will require the most maintenance going forward.

If you're looking to spend more, can look into Ipe, Tigerwood, or Composite. I really like Ipe, but you can see the prices. Tigerwood is about half the price of Ipe last I checked.

For stone it will be the most expensive option by far. Also in most cases your deck (or now patio) will not be sufficiently below your sill plate/brick ledge/foundation, so you would have to build a retaining wall on the hoouse side and not just pile crap against your house.

Stone is the way to go, pretty much maintenance free. Doesn’t get too hot in summer and looks good.


Pay once and your set

We went with PVC a few years ago. It's not without its limitations but it's pretty much maintenance free. Ours is anchored by screw piles and a traditional joist set-up of PT lumber and wrap-around stairs. Cost about double what a cedar deck would have cost. Ours is on the north side of the house but in the middle of the summer, much of the deck gets direct sunlight for most of the day and, yes, it gets hotter than wood but pretty much about the same as stone.

Never considered stone given the grade we have.