Recently I have received some inquiries about our LockDry deck that I wrote about last year. So, I thought that I would give an update. We also installed the LockDry aluminum railings around the decks. Installing the railings was the hardest job and most time consuming but they are very sturdy and look terrific.
On our small enclosed screened-in porch we installed the LockDry waterproof decking to eliminate any bugs coming up from beneath and we have an indoor/outdoor area rug on top. The screened-in porch is delightful and bug-free! LOL.
We replaced the wood on our old deck with the new NextDeck product from LockDry since we didn't need the waterproof aspect on our outdoor deck. The Nextdeck is about $2 per linear foot cheaper than the Lockdry and is the same weight and grade as the original Lockdry decking. The only difference is that it is not waterproof since there are spaces between each plank.
One important suggestion that I have is to make sure that after you take the old wood deck off that the framework is level -- check various areas with a long level and shore up any areas that are not level. Of course this would be an important step when replacing the top of any deck.
I wanted to compare the temperature of the LockDry aluminum decking with our old wood deck because many people have said that the aluminum decking would be HOT and so (even though the company said it wouldn't be) I wanted to see for myself. So, when we had the new aluminum decking on the new construction done and still had our old wood deck in place (they were side-by-side), I felt the NextDeck aluminum decking and our old wood decking while both were in the blazing sun. The NextDeck aluminum decking was about the same temperature as the wood decking, both were quite warm but not unbearable. It was a relief to find out that the aluminum decking and the wood decking were about the same temperature.
Some people have asked if we have had any issues about the aluminum decking expanding and contracting with the cold weather. Well, we just came through our first cold winter (we live in New York State) and we did not have any problems, not even with lots of snow! (We certainly got more than our fair share this year!)
Another concern that I had was about how loud the aluminum decking would be when it rains, well we have had many downpours and it really isn't loud at all (what a relief!).
The sound while walking on it is slightly different than walking on wood but hardly noticeable. We have checked out the sound with my husband's hard-soled shoes and my heels, it wasn't bad at all, more noisy than soft-bottomed shoes (but that is to be expected). It's that way on wood decks as well. The sound is slightly different but not very much.
I did have them mail us some of their special spray paint to finish the bare edges of the metal when we cut them, and just to have on hand in case of any scratches, although powder-coating is supposed to be very durable.
John - I am a real person and have been a member of Gardenweb since 2002 (check my Gardenweb page). I am just trying to share my experience with aluminum decking. When we first considered LockDry it was because of the Consumer Reports report which top-rated it for decking. While I do like the look and feel of real wood I don't like the upkeep, expecially as I am getting older. I don't want to have to be power-washing and applying deck stain when I'm in my 70s and older. Being able to just hose down or occassionaly mop the deck is a blessing.
Certainly the south American hardwoods are beautiful but the upkeep isn't something that I want to have to contend with. After evaluating various decking materials we decided that we liked the sturdiness and easy care of the aluminum decking.
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Aluminum Decking
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