Ken Moiarty wrote:
I'm trying to decide whether to go with inexpensive pressure-treated
evergreen wood decking or low cost 1" thick (approx.), radius edge, cedar
(which is must less expensive than standard patio grade cedar decking). I
kind of prefer the cedar option, but I'm unsure about whether it's wise to
go with cedar that is only half the thickness (hence, half the strength) as
standard patio grade cedar. My concern is not about safety per se so much
as it is about structural rigidity, solidness, etc. I don't want it to feel
like I'm 'bouncing on planks' when walking on the deck. Any suggestions,
advice, experiences? Thanks...

Ken

What is your joist spacing (16", 12")? What exactly is the thickness of
the cedar (5/4, 4/4?)? Is there a snow load? Does your roof line slope
onto the deck? For example, my deck has doug fir tubaten joists on 12"
centers with sixbasix supports holding up tubasix redwood decking. Even
though the roof slopes to the side of the deck, we had from two to six
feet of snow on it for several months this year. Until this year, I had
thought that that deck was way overdesigned. A LOT of decks in my town
ended up on the ground.
mahalo,
jo4hn