Rebuilding a deck

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lml999

lml999

Minister of Fire
Oct 25, 2013
636
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
We're buying a house on Cape Cod that has a 22x10 deck, plus a 12x10 porch that shares the same flooring.

The deck may be 22 years old and is structurally sound. The PT planking is a bit rough on the deck, so I'm planning on replacing it.

I'm thinking about either mahogany or epe wood...learning toward the mahogany as it's less expensive, in stock, and easier to work.

We plan to be in the house for quite a while, and I'd like a relatively low maintenance option. (Not going composite though).

Would appreciate comments on the pros/cons of mahogany for the deck. We'll be in the house year round.

Also, btw, the PT wood that I take off the deck will be repurposed in building my new wood shed!
 
Hello
Mahogony sounds expensive and the stain and finish coating adds a lot more to the cost not only in cost of the stain, brushes and your time too! Plus yearly re-treatments.
Our old cedar deck rotted and the brick and Morter stairs crumbled!
We rebuilt our deck and stairs last summer and now we are free! ! !
I got fiberon railings and the very best Azec Decking and a couple 12 vac low voltage post caps with the Merlin control. No more costly maintenance and ugly deterioration, like the Maytag repair man! Sit and relax as it always looks brand new! just my 2 cents

See pics. Click on pic to Enlarge:
How does it look now?
 

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What direction is the the deck facing, amount of daily sun? Are you face nailing or hidden fasteners?
 
mass_burner said:
What direction is the the deck facing, amount of daily sun? Are you face nailing or hidden fasteners?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay...been a bit busy with the move!

Deck faces southwest and gets sun most of the day. Thinking about hidden fasteners...it gives a very clean installation...
 
South facing is a blessing/ curse, especially for wood decks. Do you want to keep your stain color or are you letting it weather?
 
Unfortunately for me...I love the look of a clean, well stained deck. I'm afraid I'm going to learn exactly how much work that will take! :)
 
lml999 said:
Unfortunately for me...I love the look of a clean, well stained deck. I'm afraid I'm going to learn exactly how much work that will take! :)
Click to expand...
I just got done pre staining all six sides of 80 1/4 mahogany boards, took 16 hrs, messy, smelly work. I like the stained look also. I'll be reapplying annually.
 
Local lumber yard on the cape has prestained (oiled?) Mahogany in stock. Might not need to do that first part of the job. :)
 
lml999 said:
Local lumber yard on the cape has prestained (oiled?) Mahogany in stock. Might not need to do that first part of the job. :)
Click to expand...
What's the $ per ft on that?
 
Since you are in MA, it is a damp climate. Bacteria eats oil. Oil is fine in an arid climate, but not in the NE.

Do you have the option of just doing a nice hardscape instead of a deck? A nice hardscape with a railing around it can look amazing. Then you can integrate a firepit right into it. If on ground level, that's what I do.
 
sportbikerider78 said:
Since you are in MA, it is a damp climate. Bacteria eats oil. Oil is fine in an arid climate, but not in the NE.

Do you have the option of just doing a nice hardscape instead of a deck? A nice hardscape with a railing around it can look amazing. Then you can integrate a firepit right into it. If on ground level, that's what I do.
Click to expand...
Our deck is an extension of the patio, 18" off the ground, on higher ground, yard slopes down, end of deck is 30" off ground.
 
sportbikerider78 said:
Since you are in MA, it is a damp climate. Bacteria eats oil. Oil is fine in an arid climate, but not in the NE.

Do you have the option of just doing a nice hardscape instead of a deck? A nice hardscape with a railing around it can look amazing. Then you can integrate a firepit right into it. If on ground level, that's what I do.
Click to expand...


Yes, somewhat damp. Thanks for the heads up on the oil...

Our deck is elevated, 10' off the ground at one end. That would be a lot of rock. :)
 
How about some outdoor carpet. I have a porch covered for 25 years in outdoor carpet ind it just now getting ratty.
 
Seasoned Oak said:
How about some outdoor carpet. I have a porch covered for 25 years in outdoor carpet ind it just now getting ratty.
Click to expand...

How much do you want for it?

:)

No, really, this application calls for a nicely finished wood deck. :)
 
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