TP & ipe, it's about the same cost as most composites anyway. None of them will look as good or last as long.

Al

Man I would like to see that,SS standing seam pannels under the whole thing, That outta do it!!!

Of course the stringers have to be higher than the standing seams and inbetween them hmmmmm plastic lumber comes to mind but it just wont hold the screws even using 490 adhesive I am thinking thats out same thing with composite.

Bayou City Lumber in Houston, I do some business with them, they have .60 and above treated lumber also they might still treat with cca thats a much better long life choice to go over that kind of money. Anyway I recomend treated for the stringers and agree with Al,ipe for the decking. J

I'd planned on using a 2x4 acq 60 for my runners and placing them over my metal roofing material (I'd even considered buying some saltwater contact acq250 material). This should offer me a half inch of vertical clearance. I kept my slope next to nothing (3on18) in an effort to keep a flat as possible upstairs deck and soffit underneath. I was told it was overkill by the owner of the metal company and the mechanic who did the work. Even after negotiating for many multiple thousand dollar bills in cash his price came out much much more than I'd of ever dreamed it would have been.
In my line of work (pool construction) you have no idea of how many piss poor leaking flat upstairs sun porches I've seen, even behind million dollar plus home builders. I was told by one of the mechanics working on one that it's because the builders will do anything to save a buck. He said they'll use galvanized panels to save coin and by the time it rusts out the buyers warranty period has expired. He suggested primer then ice and water shield covered with copper or stainless panels. Then he said that if you really want the best go with a short standing seam to channel water directly ahead. I don't think I'm going to have any problems down the road.
I've thought about cheaping out with a 5/4 treated pine prerouted decking board because I really don't feel that I'm going to get any airflow at all underneath and will probably end up replacing the decking sooner than I'd expect to, so I'd be better off with the cheapest lumber I can find.I'm fixing to surf ipe on the web and see how it'll compare on price to the pine.
I'm curious, if I seal/stain my ipe on all four sides while on the horses do you think it'll last a pretty good while in an application like this. I hate to drop the coin for an upgrade lumber and be disappointed just as quickly as I'd of expected the pine to last. I plan on using screws, letting them show, and having a slight gap between boards. I really don't want to have a tongue and groove material, I'd be more worried about the residual birdbath laying on top of the lumber after a rain than the roofing due to the lack of slope.

See ya,
Kelly

Like John says get cca treated lumber, it will last much longer, acq or that 3rd generation stuff. The cca treated lumber was outlawed by EPA in anything smaller than 2x6's, but is still available in 2x8's & up, also 4x4's & 6x6's.

Al

deckman22 - I didn't realize you could get cca in the larger sizes. Do you have to special order it or do you find it local? I'll have to keep my eyes open for it.

Do the experts here go out of their way to get cca lumber for structural components? Just curious.

Riles

CCA is not stocked local over here in Cow Town,I get it from Bayou. The green mafia had limited sucess in baning it all together for a lot of reasons. J

Here all the 4x4's & 6x6's are treated with cca, you have to special order the 2x8's ect. Bayou is a good choice to order from as there are 2 treatment plants in Htown I believe. Most any lumber yard can order the cca treated lumber, notice I said lumber yard, not HD or Lowes.

Al

Thanks John/Al,

Do you guys use any ACQ or do you use only CCA?

I never kiss and tell. CCA has been baned from Res use no one would ever go against the green mafia's wishes. J.

My last post may have been misleading, here in Austin all the big box stores sell acq, even for post. I just don't buy any post material there (or anything else if I can help it), but at Austin Wholesale they still get the cca treated post so I buy it there.

If you are closer to San Antonio than Htown then call Fernando @ Austin Wholesale, he can help you out getting the cca treated lumber & they have a yard in SA so you could pick it up there or get it delivered.

I know what you mean about home builders cheaping out, I looked at a flat roof that was 3 years old & all ready rotting on the corners. The guy used roll roofing, tar, & some sort of thin plastic w/torched down seams, not the good stuff that's 1/2" thick, but paper thin. Heck, I could even see exposed osb that I could poke my finger thru.

Al