Robert wrote:Sorry to be a bit negative but I don't know anyone that has successfully kept softwood decking in good condition for a number of years.
Our close friends have a large decking area in their garden and have done for a quite a few years. They got fed up with replacing rotten planks and failed supports and had the whole thing replaced with composite decking.
That has been my experience as well, hence the new
Replacement Composite Decking thread.
I built this in 2008 .......
- (384.11 KiB)
..... and despite regular treatment, it had turned in to this by earlier this year.
- (493.66 KiB)
It was so bad that we daren't walk on it for fear of going through it. That's why I've opted for composite decking this time. There are a number of different grades out there, but the solid stuff is guaranteed for 25 years. We used
Millboard, which is only distinguishable from treated hardwood upon close inspection, and cheap it ain't, but anecdotally it doesn't fade or become slippery. Time will tell.
I hope you have better luck Michael. Our deck was in full sun, and had both wooden and ceramic planters on it which had to be kept watered, so probably ensured the deck was permanently damp underneath. The rot was less severe ( but still present) in areas away from the planters.