Fair points, but honestly I've had pretty good luck with mid-range composite decking at our beach place. It's held up surprisingly well through storms and salty air, way better than the wood deck we replaced. Sure, it faded a bit after a few years, but nothing major or ugly—just looks kinda weathered in a natural way. Hardwood's beautiful, no doubt, but sanding and refinishing every couple years? No thanks...
Totally agree about composite decking—it's been a lifesaver for us too. One thing I'd add is to budget a bit extra for quality fasteners and hardware. We learned the hard way that salty air can really chew through cheaper screws and brackets, even if the decking itself holds up fine. Stainless steel or marine-grade hardware costs more upfront, but trust me, it's worth every penny to avoid rust stains and loose boards down the road...
Couldn't agree more about the hardware—learned that lesson myself when we redid our outdoor shower area. Thought we'd save a bit with regular screws, but within months they rusted out badly. Switched to marine-grade stainless steel and haven't had an issue since...worth every cent.
"Thought we'd save a bit with regular screws, but within months they rusted out badly."
Been there... salt air is brutal on hardware. A few extra bucks upfront for marine-grade materials always beats constantly replacing stuff. Learned that the hard way with deck railings—lesson permanently noted.
Definitely can relate to that learning curve—I'm about to tackle window replacements myself. Do you think vinyl frames hold up well enough in coastal conditions, or should I consider aluminum or fiberglass instead?
