Aluminum Deck. Anybody here have one?

teflon6string · May 27, 2018

Okay guys and gals. I'm reaching out off-topic to the broad based membership here, hoping to group-source and learn from others who've been down this road already. It's time to replace the decaying wooden deck around two sides of my house. Also doing siding and windows. It's going to be a busy and expensive summer.

A buddy of mine just did his own deck in aluminum and I'm thinking I might go that way as well. But I'll have a contractor install it, acknowledging my inexperience with decks, new footers, uprights - everything. My friend went with aluminum given his neighbor's satisfaction with one he's had for 30 years, with ZERO maintenance. Another big plus I see there is the fact that it's dry underneath allowing storage for mowers, tillers, washers, grills, tools and kayaks in the shade.

Spoke to a few Washington County area deck contractors and none of them so far have ever done a deck in aluminum. I appreciate their willingness to research it for me and take a stab at it, but I'm far more inclined to go with an outfit that does a lot of them, maybe with pictures to show, or local referrals who'd let me see theirs. Obviously, I haven't looked far enough yet, and I'm uncomfortable just calling every ad I see on Google.

Appreciate any ideas you folks may offer about who to talk to that will do a competent job for a fair price. Thanks in advance!

GOG · May 27, 2018

Interesting. I never heard of an aluminum deck. It makes a great deal of sense but it's likely out of my price range.

Coincidentally I started a full remodel of my place a little while back and when the interior is done, the deck, exterior paint and new roof for the house and the shop will be the last jobs. I live in the woods, so there will be some landscaping, but not much. I like it natural.

I can't help with your information search, but I'll be following along.

Geardo · May 27, 2018

If I had an aluminum deck, I would be too tempted to rip it out and try to build a jet boat out of it

IronMonster · May 27, 2018

Seems cost prohibitive.... But if there is a produced product specifically for that purpose that may not be the case. I would be interested to see where this goes

The Heretic · May 27, 2018

what is the cost per SF?

I have three different wood decks (one large, two small), and yes, there is maintenance, especially out here in the woods. The first couple of years I pressure washed them, but then once I painted the two small ones with non-skid paint they lasted a few years without maintenance - and they need another coat now. The large one really needs to be sanded and then painted.

It would seem to me that an aluminum deck would get hot - especially if you had bare feet. Are we talking plate - like diamond plate - or are we talking a grill type of surface? Never seen one (except industrial).

DirectDrive · May 27, 2018

Versadeck Aluminum Deck Products - Decking and Railing for Decks Outdoors
Find out who is selling and installing it locally.
Then go from there.

CHLChris · May 27, 2018

How is it dry underneath? Does the rain flow off to the ends of the runs, and go into a gutter? Does the deck need to have a slope, then?

L84Cabo · May 27, 2018

Tagged! I have no idea about decks. I don't even own a home currently. But I like decks...and want one! And I never even knew an aluminum deck was an option. I've heard lots of problems with both wood and composite materials. Aluminum strikes me as being very low maintenance and lasting longer. Seems to me it might also be hotter and going on it barefoot in the summer might be problematic. Anyway, I'm interested in what other have to say on this.

Geardo · May 27, 2018

DirectDrive said:
Versadeck Aluminum Deck Products - Decking and Railing for Decks Outdoors
Find out who is selling and installing it locally.
Then go from there.

I am suspicous of the coating? Seems like thermal expansion and contraction over time may cause it to flake or peel?

teflon6string · May 27, 2018

That was my first question too, the heat. Aluminum canoes are awful for that, but a canoe hull is also shaped like a parabolic mirror reflecting heat from many angles directly at the underside of anything that might be dangling from the leg of your shorts. Yikes!!! My pal and his brother did most of the aluminum cap install last weekend on a super hot day on bare knees with no discomfort (from the heat anyway - a day on knees would cripple me).

The brand he went with is Nexan. Aluminum Decking, Railing, Fencing, Pergolas and Deck Framing by Nexan Building Products

He reports that walking on it, it looks/feels like a regular trex or plain wood cap with standard gaps. But it's solid underneath so rainwater runs off to one end and then into a standard gutter routed to a drainpipe. He had to jack and lower the outboard end of the whole deck 2" so it flows away from the house to the gutter.

Very appealing the idea of dry square yardage underneath.

He's not done yet, but the rails will be standard on top and then steel cables below. I'll try to get a pic and post here the next time we visit there.

Regarding wear and tear, the neighbor's deck is 30 years old. I'll try to learn more about that (and I hope I don't live that long anyway, truth be known).

DirectDrive · May 27, 2018

Taco_lean said:
I am suspicous of the coating? Seems like thermal expansion and contraction over time may cause it to flake or peel?

Bare or painted aluminum is probably going to get hot.
(gotta have bare foot comfort)
So that might be the driver with the coating.
Service life ? Don't know about that.

The key will be to find someone that has had it for a few years.

Geardo · May 27, 2018

teflon97239 said:
That was my first question too, the heat. Aluminum canoes are awful for that, but they're also shaped like a parabolic mirror reflecting heat from many angles directly at anything that might be dangling from the leg of your shorts. Yikes!!! My pal and his brother did most of the aluminum cap install last weekend on a super hot day on bare knees with no discomfort (from the heat anyway - a day on knees would cripple me).

The brand he went with is Nexan. Aluminum Decking, Railing, Fencing, Pergolas and Deck Framing by Nexan Building Products

He reports that walking on it, it looks/feels like a regular trex or plain wood cap with standard gaps. But it's solid underneath so rainwater runs off to one end and then into a standard gutter routed to a drainpipe. He had to jack and lower the outboard end of the whole deck 2" so it flows away from the house to the gutter.

Very appealing the idea of dry square yardage underneath.

He's not done yet, but the rails will be standard on top and then steel cables below. I'll try to get a pic and post here the next time we visit there.

Regarding wear and tear, the neighbor's deck is 30 years old. I'll try to learn more about that (and I hope I don't live that long anyway, truth be known).

That stuff looks great. I really want the aluminum fence they show about 8' tall.

The Heretic · May 27, 2018

If it is anodized then it won't peel or flake.

DirectDrive · May 27, 2018

That is a nice looking.
The stainless cable railing system appeals as well.

A top-notch installer would be a must.
Your garden variety sliver picked might not be able to handle it.

DirectDrive · May 27, 2018

The Heretic said:
If it is anodized then it won't peel or flake.

If it's anodized, it will burn like the hubs of h3ll on a hot summer day.

The Heretic · May 27, 2018

DirectDrive said:
If it's anodized, it will burn like the hubs of h3ll on a hot summer day.

Anodizing won't make it any worse or better than bare aluminum in that regard.

DirectDrive · May 27, 2018

The Heretic said:
Anodizing won't make it any worse or better than bare aluminum in that regard.

That point was already made above.
The manufacturer has a "cladding" that was being discussed in regards to its service life.

To have a successful deck product, they know that they need to provide a product that is bare foot comfortable on a hot day.