Decking & Structure

Decking & Structural Material Options

The board you walk on is the part you see. What holds it up is the part that decides how long the structure lasts. This page covers both — the structural lumber we build with, and the decking materials we install over it.

Explore Decking Options
Decking & Structure

Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine, Grade No. 1

Sunrise Deck & Dock uses Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Grade No. 1 throughout the structural system of the project — not only in the floor framing. The same grade of lumber carries the pilings, the beams, the bracing, the stair stringers and the roof structure.

Where it goes in the structure

  • Pilings
  • Floor framing
  • Joists
  • Cross bracing
  • Ledger boards
  • Structural beams
  • Header beams
  • Stair stringers
  • Roof rafters
  • Ridge beams
  • Hip and valley beams
  • King beams or king posts, depending on the design
  • Roof fascia
  • Structural edge components

Which of these components a given project actually has, and what they are called on the plans, depends on the design. A gazebo roof has hip and valley beams; a floating dock does not.

Why Southern Yellow Pine

  • Excellent strength for its size, which is why it is the standard structural species across the Southeast.
  • Rigidity — it holds a line under load, which matters on long spans and on anything that carries a roof.
  • Structural performance in the graded sizes we build with. No. 1 is a visual structural grade published under the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau's grading rules.
  • A good ability to accept preservative treatments, which is what makes it viable in and near water at all.

Where it is appropriate

  • Decks
  • Docks
  • Boathouses
  • Pergolas
  • Roof structures

Wood grade vs. preservative treatment

These are two different specifications and they are routinely confused. The GRADE — No. 1, No. 2 and so on — describes the quality and strength of the piece of wood: knots, density, straightness of grain. It is assigned under the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau's grading rules. The TREATMENT describes what preservative has been forced into the wood and how much of it, and it is specified under the American Wood Protection Association's Use Category System in AWPA U1. A No. 1 board is not automatically treated for ground contact, and a heavily treated board is not automatically a No. 1.

Treatment is selected by exposure

UC3B
Exterior, above ground, exposed to the weather — the category behind above-grade framing components.
UC4A
Ground contact, general use.
UC4B
Ground contact, high decay potential or critical components that would be difficult to replace.
UC4C
Ground contact, extreme duty — including critical structural components and severe environments such as saltwater splash.
Marine
Marine and immersion applications are addressed separately, with their own retentions for the marine borer hazard in the applicable waters.

Engineering, code & manufacturer requirements

One treatment level does not automatically apply to every structural component on a project. A piling standing in fresh water, a joist eight feet above it and a ledger bolted to a house are three different exposures and can carry three different specifications. All materials are installed according to applicable engineering plans, manufacturer requirements, and building codes.

The material categories, in plain language

Composite

A blend of wood fiber and plastic, usually with a protective polymer shell over the top and sides. It behaves less like wood than wood does: it will not splinter or need staining, but it still contains wood fiber, so the shell is what does most of the protective work.

PVC

No wood fiber at all — a solid polymer board. That is the whole point of it: with no wood content there is nothing in the board for moisture, mold or insects to feed on. Manufacturers of PVC decking generally position it as their highest-moisture-resistance product line.

Mineral-based composite

A composite whose filler is mineral rather than wood. Deckorators builds its Surestone® technology on this idea and states the material does not absorb moisture and has virtually no thermal expansion or contraction.

Reinforced HDPE and reinforced polymer

A polyethylene or polypropylene board stiffened with fiberglass or mineral filler so it can span further and carry more. WearDeck uses Owens Corning Advantex® fiberglass reinforcement; Lumberock uses a mineral-filled HDPE formula.

Open-panel decking

Instead of individual boards with gaps between them, a molded panel with openings through it, so water, air and light pass through the walking surface. ThruFlow is the system we use. It changes how the surface behaves over water — and it is not a substitute for framing.

Decking options

Beyond Trex, these are the decking materials we work with. They are genuinely different products — not the same board under different labels — and the differences matter most over water.

Pressure-Treated Wood Decking

The traditional Southern Yellow Pine deck board. Lowest material cost, and the one that asks the most of you afterwards.

Material
Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine
Maintenance
Highest of anything on this page — periodic cleaning and re-sealing or staining if you want to hold the color.
Moisture
Preservative treatment protects against decay and insects for the exposure it was specified for; it does not stop the wood absorbing water and moving with it.
Appearance over time
Weathers to grey unless it is maintained. Checking and surface cracking are normal for the species.
Recommended for
Budget-driven projects, large utility structures, and anywhere the deck will be maintained.

2x6 Radius Edge Decking

Pressure-treated 2x6 with rounded edges rather than a sharp arris — a heavier, more forgiving board underfoot.

Material
Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine, radius (round) edge profile
Why the profile
The eased edge is easier on bare feet, sheds water off the corner, and is less prone to the edge splintering that a square-cut board develops as it weathers.
Maintenance
Same as pressure-treated decking — cleaning and re-sealing.
Recommended for
Docks and decks where a solid, traditional wood board is wanted at wood pricing.

WearDeck®

A wood-free polymer board reinforced with Owens Corning Advantex® fiberglass — built to span further and take abuse.

Material
Fiberglass-reinforced polymer decking (WearDeck's GLAS-POWERED™ construction). No wood fiber.
Performance
WearDeck states the board resists termite and fungal decay and will not split, splinter or warp.
Warranty
Limited Lifetime warranty to the original purchaser, which the warranty document excludes for commercial, institutional and association use. We pull the current document for your project.
Colors
Ask us for the current WearDeck color card — we do not publish a color list we cannot verify against the manufacturer's current literature.
Recommended for
Docks, boat houses and heavy-traffic waterfront decks, subject to WearDeck's installation requirements for span and support.

TimberTech® / AZEK®

Two families under one brand: TimberTech AZEK Advanced PVC, and TimberTech Composite.

Advanced PVC
Vintage® and Harvest collections. No wood fibers, which TimberTech positions as highly resistant to moisture, mold and mildew, and states will not splinter, crack or cup.
Composite
Legacy, Reserve, Terrain, Prime+, Prime and Premier collections — polymer with reclaimed wood fiber.
Warranty
Advanced PVC: Limited Lifetime Product warranty plus a 50-Year Fade & Stain limited warranty. Composite: 35-Year Fade & Stain limited warranty.
Colors
Varies by collection — TimberTech publishes a distinct palette per line. Ask us for the current cards.
Recommended for
Residential decks across the whole budget range; the PVC lines are the ones to look at where moisture exposure is the deciding factor.

Fiberon®

PVC and polyethylene composite decking in two clearly separated families.

PVC lines
Promenade™ and Paramount®. Solid-core PVC, which Fiberon states resists splintering, rotting, cracking, insects and mold. Promenade is offered in six beach-inspired colors.
Composite lines
The Concordia® family — Astir (rustic cathedral grain, three multi-tonal colors), Symmetry® and Horizon®.
Warranty
PVC decking: lifetime physical integrity plus a 50-year stain and fade warranty, residential. PE composite: lifetime physical integrity; confirm the current stain and fade term with us.
Recommended for
Residential decks; the PVC lines where moisture and staining are the priority.

Deckorators®

Mineral-based composite built on Surestone® technology — a genuinely different material from wood-filled composite.

Material
Mineral-based composite with Surestone® technology, used in the Voyage®, Vault® and Summit® lines.
Manufacturer claims
Deckorators states Surestone gives the industry's best strength-to-weight ratio, virtually no thermal expansion or contraction, and that the material does not absorb moisture, with a polymer cap that will not stain or fade.
Colors
Voyage: Costa, Sierra, Khaya, Tundra, Sedona, Mesa.
Warranty
Covered by Deckorators' US and Canada decking, porch flooring and composite railing limited warranty. Terms vary by line — we confirm the current document rather than quoting a year here.
Water applications
Deckorators publishes moisture claims for the material, but we do not represent it as dock- or marine-approved without the manufacturer's own installation guidance for that use. We check before we specify it over water.

Lumberock®

A mineral-filled HDPE board the manufacturer markets specifically for docks, marinas and waterfront.

Material
Mineral-filled high-density polyethylene polymer. No wood fiber.
Water
Lumberock states its marine-grade decking is waterproof, can be submerged indefinitely, and works in both salt and fresh water environments.
Resistance
Lumberock states the material resists mold, mildew and insect damage.
Colors
Twelve natural colors across its collections, including a Coastal Collection.
Warranty
Confirm the current term directly against Lumberock's warranty document — we do it as part of the estimate.
Recommended for
Docks, marinas, piers and waterfront structures.

ThruFlow®

Open-panel decking: a molded panel that lets water, air and light pass straight through the walking surface.

Material
Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene (FRPP) on the Legacy XP series.
Panel sizes
Legacy XP is offered in nominal 1x3, 1x4, 2x4, 1x5 and 1x6 ft panels, roughly 1.2 inches thick.
Support requirements
The panels are not the structure. ThruFlow specifies support centers by panel size — for example 3 ft panels at 18 in on center, 4 ft panels at 16 or 24 in, 5 ft panels at 15 in, 6 ft panels at 18 or 24 in. The framing below has to be designed for the system.
Recommended for
Docks, marinas and waterfront structures where drainage, light penetration to the water below, and wave relief matter.
Colors
Ask us for the current ThruFlow color options for the panel series you are considering.

What ThruFlow is, and what it is not

ThruFlow is an open-panel decking system designed to allow water, air, and light to pass through the decking surface when installed over an appropriately designed supporting structure. It is a surface, not a frame. It does not replace joists, beams or pilings, and its published support spacing has to be met by the structure underneath it.

Decking over water

Material selection for a dock is not the same question as material selection for a backyard deck. What actually drives it:

What drives the decision

  • Fresh water, brackish or marine exposure — and the borer hazard that comes with each.
  • Ground contact and immersion, which change the treatment specification for the structure entirely.
  • Pool environments, where chemicals and constant wet-dry cycling matter.
  • Drainage — whether water should sit on the surface, run off it, or pass through it.
  • Sun exposure, which is what surface temperature comes down to.
  • Structural requirements: span, live load, and what the board is being asked to carry.
  • The manufacturer's own installation requirements, which are what the warranty actually depends on.

Heat and direct sunlight

Every decking material on this page can get hot in Florida sun. What varies is how much, and what you can do about it.

  • Color is the single biggest variable you control. Lighter colors generally reach lower surface temperatures than darker ones under the same conditions.
  • Some manufacturers offer specific technologies intended to reduce heat absorption — Trex SunComfortable™ is the one we install most. Those products are described as cooler than the manufacturer's own standard boards, not as cool.
  • Certain colors and technologies may help reduce heat accumulation or provide lower surface temperatures compared with darker or traditional materials under comparable conditions. That is the honest ceiling on the claim.
  • Shade changes surface temperature more than any product decision. A pergola or a covered section is the real fix for a hot deck.

Suitability over water

Not every decking product is suitable for a dock, and we only present a product as appropriate for water when the manufacturer's own information supports it. Lumberock and ThruFlow are marketed by their manufacturers specifically for docks and marinas; WearDeck is a wood-free reinforced polymer built for that kind of exposure. For the rest, we confirm against current manufacturer documentation before it goes on a set of plans.

About heat and direct sunlight

No decking material stays cold in direct sunlight. Every outdoor decking surface — wood, composite, PVC or mineral-based — can become hot in the sun. Certain collections, colors and technologies are designed to help reduce heat accumulation, or to reach lower surface temperatures than darker or traditional boards under comparable conditions. Lighter colors generally reach lower surface temperatures than darker ones. Take care with bare feet, children and pets on any deck on a hot day.

Material comparison

Where a characteristic depends on which collection or color you choose, this table says 'varies by product/collection' rather than averaging it into something misleading.

Pressure-treated pine

Material type
Treated softwood
Maintenance
Highest — clean and re-seal
Water resistance
Treated for its specified exposure; the wood still absorbs water
Stain & fade
Weathers; hold color with finish
Typical applications
Decks, docks, structure
Warranty
Varies by treater and treatment

Trex

Material type
Shelled wood composite
Maintenance
Low — soap and water
Water resistance
Shelled composite; follow Trex install requirements
Stain & fade
Fade & stain warranty, 25 or 50 years by collection
Typical applications
Residential decks, outdoor living
Warranty
25–50 years by collection

WearDeck

Material type
Fiberglass-reinforced polymer, wood-free
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
Wood-free polymer; resists termite and fungal decay per manufacturer
Stain & fade
Varies by product
Typical applications
Docks, waterfront, heavy traffic
Warranty
Limited lifetime, residential

TimberTech / AZEK

Material type
Advanced PVC and wood composite
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
PVC lines carry the manufacturer's highest moisture positioning
Stain & fade
50-yr (PVC) / 35-yr (composite) fade & stain
Typical applications
Residential decks
Warranty
Limited lifetime (PVC) / varies

Fiberon

Material type
PVC and PE composite
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
Solid-core PVC lines resist rot and mold per manufacturer
Stain & fade
50-yr stain & fade on PVC lines
Typical applications
Residential decks
Warranty
Lifetime physical integrity

Deckorators

Material type
Mineral-based composite
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
Manufacturer states the material does not absorb moisture
Stain & fade
Polymer cap; will not stain or fade per manufacturer
Typical applications
Residential decks
Warranty
Varies by line — confirm document

Lumberock

Material type
Mineral-filled HDPE
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
Manufacturer states it is waterproof and can be submerged indefinitely
Stain & fade
Varies by product
Typical applications
Docks, marinas, piers
Warranty
Confirm current term

ThruFlow

Material type
Open-panel FRPP
Maintenance
Low
Water resistance
Open panel — water passes through rather than sitting on it
Stain & fade
Varies by product
Typical applications
Docks, marinas, drainage-critical
Warranty
Confirm current term

Project application guide

A general starting point for narrowing the field — not a substitute for project-specific engineering or the manufacturer's own requirements.

Residential decks

  • Trex, TimberTech / AZEK, Fiberon, Deckorators
  • Pressure-treated pine where budget leads

Docks and waterfront

  • Lumberock and ThruFlow, both marketed for marine use by their manufacturers
  • WearDeck's wood-free reinforced polymer
  • Pressure-treated pine, with the treatment specified for the exposure

Pool areas

  • Lighter colors first, whichever brand
  • PVC and mineral-based products for constant wet-dry cycling

Boathouses and covered structures

  • Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine No. 1 throughout the structural system
  • Decking selected for the exposure under the roof and at the open edges

Pergolas and outdoor structures

  • Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine No. 1 for rafters, beams and posts
  • Deck surface chosen to match the adjoining deck

High-sun environments

  • Lighter colors and heat-mitigating product lines
  • Shade structures, which do more than any board choice

Engineering, code & manufacturer requirements

Final material selection, structural configuration, and installation are subject to the project design, engineering plans, manufacturer requirements, site conditions, and applicable building codes.

Docks and structures we build

Sunrise Deck & Dock project photography — not manufacturer catalog imagery.

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Not Sure Which Material Is Right?

Tell us where the structure sits, how it gets used and what it has to survive. We will bring samples and give you a straight recommendation.

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