Thermally modified ash is actually what I used on a little rental flip last year—held up better than I expected, and didn’t feel like I was burning through the Amazon. Only thing, it still needed a sealer after a season. Anyone tried cedar with a marine finish? I’ve heard mixed things about how it weathers near the coast.
Cedar with a marine finish is kind of a mixed bag, honestly. I used it on a client’s deck about five years back, right on the coast. Looked gorgeous for the first year, but even with the fancy finish, it started to gray out and get patchy by year two. The salt air just eats through most coatings faster than you’d think. If you’re after low maintenance, I’d lean toward thermally modified woods or even composite—less drama in the long run. Cedar’s great, but it’s not magic near the ocean.
The salt air just eats through most coatings faster than you’d think.
That’s been my experience too—coastal projects are a whole different beast. Have you ever tried ipe or any of the tropical hardwoods? I’ve heard mixed things, but curious if they hold up better than cedar.
Have you ever tried ipe or any of the tropical hardwoods? I’ve heard mixed things, but curious if they hold up better than cedar.
I’ve actually used ipe for a deck right on the water—crazy dense stuff, and it’s held up way better than cedar in my experience. The only thing is, working with it is kind of a pain... burns through saw blades faster than anything. Did you ever run into issues with fasteners corroding, even with stainless? I feel like the wood lasts but the screws just don’t.
Ipe is a beast, no doubt. I’ve put it down on a couple decks and docks, and yeah, it’ll outlast just about anything else—if you can actually get it installed without losing your mind (or your tools). I swear, I went through more saw blades and drill bits than I care to admit. That stuff’s like working with petrified wood.
On the fastener front, I’ve had mixed luck. Even with “marine grade” stainless, I still get some weird staining or minor corrosion after a few years, especially right up against the ocean. It’s not as bad as regular steel, but it’s not perfect either. I tried those fancy coated screws once—supposed to be even better than stainless—but they didn’t hold up much longer. The wood’s fine, but the hardware always seems to be the weak link.
One trick I picked up: pre-drill everything, and if you can swing it, use hidden fastener systems. They’re a pain to install but at least you don’t see the screws rusting out on top. Some folks swear by silicon bronze screws, but those are pricey and not always easy to find.
Honestly, if you’re right on the water, nothing’s truly maintenance-free. Ipe holds up better than cedar for sure, but you’ll still be swapping out screws every so often unless you want rust streaks everywhere. At least the deck boards themselves will probably outlive us all...
