Anybody have any luck using a combination of materials for their patio and or deck? We have a raised slab patio (8x20') with a PT deck built around it. The patio has has had indoor / outdoor carpeting since we moved in which I recently removed and the patio is in decent shape. I plan to replace the deck with another next year and am trying to come up with a game plan.

I'd like to keep the patio and build around it. My ideas for the patio are tile, staining or pavers (may have enough clearance for this - not sure).

For the deck I'm open to anything but looking probably at a composite or ipe (or similar wood). I know about all the concerns with composite but I also am not thrilled at the thought of having to clean and stain the ipe yearly.

One consideration is our dog who is capable of scrathing a soft deck. Our current PT deck is scratch from him where he runs on/off the deck when we let him out. I was thinking if I tiled the patio then I could extend a strip of it out to the steps so he wouldn't be able to scatch any decking material. I know that is not common but I have researched and it's very possible to built a stable substrate for tile outside. Then I could use the decking of my choice for the rest of the deck without worrying too much about him scratching it up too much. Because of my concern with the dog I think the deck would need to be either ipe or one of the harder composites.

If anybody had any input, ideas, or links to pics please let me know.

Thanks