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Looking for suggestions for manufactured decking that does not get super hot in the sun. Anyone have experience with any?
this is a Mountain home with large wrap around deck, most of it on the west side, and fully exposed. Many local people are suggesting NOT to consider Trex, as it has a lot of plastic in it and gets so hot underfoot you cannot walk on it on a sunny summer day.
I have heard there may be some other brands that have more woodfiber in them that stay a bit cooler...at least in lighter colors.

We are trying to decide whether to just replace the dry-rot boards with more Pressure Treated or bite the bullet and go with manufactured. Just don't know about the different types available and the **$ of course.
Any suggestions?

I don't know a lot about this but have you checked out cedar? As a wood product it would be cooler but the price may be too high (but maybe not compared to some of the plastic wood).

I built a light brown TREX deck and screened porch a few years ago for a co-worker. I asked her and she did agree it would get pretty hot for bare feet. No splinters though!

I stained my deck with an opaque latex stain, it can be pretty hot in bare feet too. Mine is pressure treated yellow pine, stained a sage green. When/if I redo my deck and build a screened porch over part of it I'm going with some sort of manufactured decking.

Conrad, if you decide what doesn't get hot let us know so I can file it away in the back of my mind. Who knows when I might build/repair a deck. thanks.

Well, I have been asking around. I now know of two homes where the trex decking was actually removed (or in one case covered) within a year or two after installation, due to hot toes.

Seems the synthetic decking materials all have some maintenance issues, not unlike wood. So the search is on, but we may end up with just more pressure treated wood products, unless I can find something worthy and more carefree.

Our deck is 9 years old, but prior owners did not keep up with the restain/reseal so much of the wood has dry rot and we are gradually going to need to replace it. Always something, eh?

How about aluminum? http://www.lockdry.com/

Thanks Sparky, looks interesting, but I am very cautious about "new products" and new companies?
Observation: With the cost of aluminum...bet this stuff is more commercial than residential? Also it would require a slant and the slats would need to go out from the house rather than across so new supports would be necessary. Slick in winter? Feet (dog and human) stick to the metal in sub freezing temps? Powder coating is good, but does not last forever either. We have a metal roof now and it pops and makes some noises in the spring and fall, so I'm thinking this decking would be talking too.

Conrad,
They have the water proof version, which is nice if you have a porch below your deck but if you don't you can go with the other style which would allow you to have the slope you currently have with the decking away from the house instead of side to side.

They've been around for a number of years. I got a sample from them at least 5 years ago. Nothing is maintenance free forever and nothing lasts forever.

Do you recall any price comparisons, Sparky? Wondering about how winter slick it is too, as we use our deck year round.

Sparky, how do you find out about these things?

quote:

Originally posted by metwo:
Sparky, how do you find out about these things?

Google and a misspent youth watching too many home improvement programs.