Black locust is like the unicorn of decking woods—everyone talks about it, but good luck actually finding it at a decent price. I managed to score a few boards once from a local sawmill, and yeah, it’s tough as nails and supposedly lasts forever. But man, my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me. As for reclaimed hardwood, I swear you need to know a guy who knows a guy… or just haunt Craigslist and salvage yards like it’s your part-time job. Don’t get discouraged though—sometimes you stumble on a stash when you least expect it.
Black locust is like the unicorn of decking woods—everyone talks about it, but good luck actually finding it at a decent price.
That’s the truth. I’ve been trying to source black locust for a porch repair on my 1920s place, and it’s either crazy expensive or just not available at all. I did luck out once with some reclaimed oak from a barn teardown—took a lot of sanding, but it’s holding up great. Has anyone tried using chestnut or even old pine for decking? I wonder if it’s worth the risk, or just asking for trouble with rot.
Reclaimed oak is a solid win—if you can get your hands on it, that stuff’s like gold. But chestnut? I’d be nervous unless you’re sure it’s true American chestnut and not some random “chestnut” from overseas. The real deal is rare and usually already spoken for by furniture folks. Old pine, though... I’ve seen people try it, but unless it’s heart pine (and even then, only if it’s super dense), you’re probably just inviting rot and carpenter ants to move in.
Have you looked into thermally modified woods? They’re not as romantic as barn wood, but they last and don’t cost an arm and a leg. I used some for a rental property deck—no complaints so far, and it’s been a couple years. Not as eco-glam as black locust, but at least you don’t have to sell a kidney to afford it.
Have you looked into thermally modified woods? They’re not as romantic as barn wood, but they last and don’t cost an arm and a leg.
- Thermally modified is solid, but I’d still lean composite for rentals. Less maintenance, longer lifespan—tenants won’t baby it.
- Reclaimed oak looks great, but sourcing enough for a whole deck is tough (and pricey).
- Black locust is awesome if you can find it local. Otherwise, shipping kills the eco angle.
- For resale, buyers seem to care more about condition than species... just my experience.
For resale, buyers seem to care more about condition than species... just my experience.
Yeah, I’ve noticed that too—most folks just want a deck that isn’t falling apart or turning green. Thermally modified is a solid middle ground, though. Composite’s great for low maintenance, but I’ve seen some fade or get weirdly hot in the sun. Black locust is the unicorn of decking around here... if you spot it local, grab it fast.