"Honestly, I was leaning toward natural wood at first because I love that worn-in look, but maintenance seems like a real hassle, especially near the ocean."
I totally get the appeal of natural wood, but from experience, composite decking was a game changer for us near the coast. The salt air and humidity really do a number on wood, and the upkeep difference was huge—no more sanding or staining every season. To keep things feeling beachy and natural, we added some rope accents, seagrass baskets, and potted palms...really softened the modern lines nicely.
Composite decking definitely cuts down on headaches near the ocean. Still, if you're really set on natural wood, maybe consider something like cedar or ipe? Pricier upfront, but they hold up better against salt and humidity...just a thought.
I renovated a beach house about five years ago and went with cedar decking. It was definitely pricier upfront, but honestly, it's held up remarkably well against the salt air and humidity. Composite is great for low maintenance, but if you're set on natural wood, cedar or ipe really are worth the extra investment. Just make sure you factor in regular sealing or staining every couple of years—otherwise, even the best wood can deteriorate pretty quickly near the ocean.
"Just make sure you factor in regular sealing or staining every couple of years—otherwise, even the best wood can deteriorate pretty quickly near the ocean."
That's a really good point about maintenance. I'm currently planning my first beach house renovation, and honestly, the budgeting part has me a bit overwhelmed. Did you find the ongoing maintenance costs for cedar decking manageable overall? I've been leaning towards natural wood myself because I love the look and feel, but I'm a bit worried about underestimating how much upkeep will add up over time.
Also, when you say cedar was pricier upfront, do you remember roughly how much more expensive it was compared to composite or pressure-treated lumber? I've seen some pretty wide price ranges online, so it's hard to get a clear picture of what to expect realistically. I'm trying to avoid surprises as much as possible (though I know that's probably wishful thinking with renovations...).
One other thing—did you run into any unexpected expenses related specifically to being near the ocean? I've heard horror stories about salt corrosion on fixtures and hardware, so I'm wondering if stainless steel or marine-grade materials are worth the extra cost upfront. Did you go that route?
Sorry for all the questions! Just trying to get a better handle on what to expect before diving in headfirst. Your experience is super helpful.
We went with cedar too, and honestly the upkeep hasn't been terrible...just kinda annoying to remember every couple years. Definitely spring for marine-grade hardware though—learned that lesson the hard way after replacing rusty hinges way sooner than expected, lol.
