09-29-2010, 05:31 PM
Carol - taking into account all that has been posted so far:
Mildew
Stains
What has not been said is that TREX and some others are WOOD based products with resin/plactizers to keep it together and discourage insect attack - BUT it WILL rot and warp in this environment; especially in direct sunlight. My mainland TREX deck was problem free - lived in a fog belt - minor mildew and built on 16" stringers. Here - excessive warping, expansion, checking and actual splitting - minor mildew. AZTEX is ALL plastic - no stains - etc. IPE and IRONWOOD are builtproof hardwoods. IF doing a small area (14 steps) the cost of a higher quality material might be acceptable.
P.S. Even TREX now has different "grades"!
Mildew
Stains
What has not been said is that TREX and some others are WOOD based products with resin/plactizers to keep it together and discourage insect attack - BUT it WILL rot and warp in this environment; especially in direct sunlight. My mainland TREX deck was problem free - lived in a fog belt - minor mildew and built on 16" stringers. Here - excessive warping, expansion, checking and actual splitting - minor mildew. AZTEX is ALL plastic - no stains - etc. IPE and IRONWOOD are builtproof hardwoods. IF doing a small area (14 steps) the cost of a higher quality material might be acceptable.
P.S. Even TREX now has different "grades"!