Alternatives to Wood Decks

My aunt is thinking of changing out her wood deck.

I am thinking about 5 different alternatives and would appreciate some feedback.

The following require permits. The railings will be wrought iron as I have access to lots of it and a brother who can weld what is needed.

1. Using the same pylons, change to steel posts and beams, use a lattice work steel flooring. Open lattice work would allow for the snow to pass through but I am concerned about the bounce even without a large span. We can do all the work ourselves, the expense would be the materials.

2. Pour cement posts, use steel or aluminum joists and pour a cement floor. Would have to have the cement part done.

3. The lower level is a cement wall with no windows. Build a retaining wall out of cement with a lip to have rock exterior and fill and tamp with dirt. Use rock for the flooring and steps. Have a sister than can lay the rock, we have equipment to back fill and tamp but would have to have the cement poured.

4. We have plenty of fill so a hill of dirt, which will have to packed could be done. That's a huge amount of dirt. Plus side is that it would insulate the lower level. The drawback would be that it would easy for wildlife to walk the hill to the deck. Flooring and steps would probably be rock. We could do all the work ourselves.

5. Don't think this part requires a permit, leave everything the same but change out the railings to wrought iron, which i don't really think helps much with a wood deck and cut more trees to extend the mitigated area.

Any other thoughts or suggestions? We prefer to do as much of the work ourselves to keep costs to a minimum, look esthetically pleasing and actually help with wildfire issues.

Thanks.

trekker, not sure this is helpful but your use of wrought iron for the railings reminded me about a friend who has wrought iron fencing/railing and wrapped his decking in embossed metal sheeting. It meant taking it all apart. No guarantee that it wouldn't burn but his intent is to slow it down. Don't know ultimately what that does to the wood that is wrapped. Embossed so it isn't as slick. So far requires minimal care.

Thanks akilina. Wonder how it will wear long term.

Went down to the salvage yard to get some estimates on steel, aluminum, etc. I think costs helped my aunt define what she wants done. Looks like we are going to enlarge her parking area and use the materials for backfill next to the house. She wants the same size deck or larger surrounded by tall wrought iron to keep the deer/elk out so that she can also have a garden. Barring unforseen circumstances looks like her only cost will be purchase of rock and cement for the deck flooring and steps.

So much for other ideas. I was hoping to learn a few more so even though she has decided please don't hesitate to throw out some ideas or thoughts. I'm still wondering how wrapped sheet metal would work on wood decking. Interesting to think about.

I have to wonder if the woodpeckers and Northern Flickers wouldn't have a field day with the embossed sheet metal wrapped in wood, Akilina. Have to give it more thought.

In the meantime, a family member from the city wants the decking and will be dismantling it early this morning before he has to go to work.

Would appreciate hearing other alternatives. Thanks.

From firewise.org

Elevated wooden decks should not be located at the top of a hill. Consider a terrace.

Makes all the work worth it.

Wow! Don't know a place up here located at the top of a hill that doesn't have a wooden deck. Cruise Conifer Mtn.

We can make railings, and anything out of steel, aluminum, etc.
38 years+.

I like the thinking of the OP.

I have an old wood deck, but would love to replace it with something fireproof where I could smoke cigars and put a a chimera(SP?) on.

Yep I am thinking I want to take ours out. Just don't know how to replace it.

Maybe Martin Ent Inc has some thoughts on what to use for the decking, joists, poles. Already have a grasp of what could be used for the fencing and railings.

We have used channels, and angle for the under support joist in the past.
We built a deck in the city for a guy using steel posts, channel frame, and then coreform decking with light weight concrete floor with some sort of cool seal on top.