Deck Materials for Colorado Sun and Snow

Composite

Capped composite boards do not rot, do not need staining, and hold their color for twenty-plus years. They cost more up front, get hot in full sun, and the framing under them still has to be pressure-treated wood done right. For a deck that gets full sun and snow, it is usually the answer.

Cedar and redwood

Real wood, beautiful, naturally rot-resistant, and cooler underfoot. They need a penetrating finish every two to three years or they go gray and check. For a covered deck or a shaded one, cedar is a great choice. The porch columns and ceiling on this site are cedar for that reason.

Pressure-treated pine

The framing under every deck. As a deck surface it is the cheapest option and looks it within a few years. Fine for a utility deck; not for one you want to photograph.

Hidden fasteners and railings

Hidden clips keep the surface clean and are worth it on composite. Railings decide the look more than the deck boards do: black metal balusters with a wood top rail is the current standard and matches most houses.

Snow

Colorado decks carry snow load. Framing is sized for it, and ledger attachment to the house is where most deck failures start. Ask how the ledger is flashed and bolted. It is the one part you cannot see and the one that matters most.