Finally finished my backyard deck using reclaimed wood and some composite boards made from recycled plastic. Took way longer than I thought (and my back is still mad at me), but it feels good knowing I didn’t just buy a bunch of new lumber. The boards have this cool weathered look, too. Anyone else tried something like this? Curious if you ran into any weird surprises or found clever ways to keep things eco-friendly.
Took way longer than I thought (and my back is still mad at me), but it feels good knowing I didn’t just buy a bunch of new lumber.
- Used reclaimed wood for a shed last year. Biggest headache: uneven board thicknesses—had to plane everything twice, and some pieces still didn’t fit right.
- Found composite boards can expand/contract more than expected. Left a bit more gap between them, which helped with drainage too.
- Tried using stainless screws to avoid rust stains, but honestly, regular coated deck screws held up fine after two winters.
- Was curious if you treated the reclaimed wood for pests or rot? I had to soak mine in borate solution since some boards came from an old barn.
What did you do about fasteners or hardware—reuse anything or stick with new?
What did you do about fasteners or hardware—reuse anything or stick with new?
Tried saving some old hinges and brackets, but most were too far gone. Ended up buying new coated screws and joist hangers. Reclaimed wood’s great, but I don’t trust old fasteners for structural stuff. For pest treatment, I just hit everything with a borate spray—quick and easy, didn’t bother soaking.
Honestly, I tried reusing a bunch of old screws and brackets from a fence demo, thinking I’d save a few bucks. Half of them snapped or stripped right away—total pain. I gave up and bought new hardware too. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle or risk, especially if you want the deck to last more than a couple seasons. The borate spray trick is smart though... I might steal that idea next time.
I totally get where you’re coming from—sometimes reusing hardware just isn’t worth the frustration, even if it feels like the greener choice. I’ve had similar luck with old screws snapping, and it’s a headache. Have you ever tried sourcing reclaimed lumber or hardware from architectural salvage places? I’ve found some surprisingly sturdy stuff that way, and it feels good to give materials another shot without sacrificing quality. Curious if anyone’s had better luck with that route, or is new hardware just the way to go for decks?