we used Modwood for a second floor balcony built on a steel frame and leftover Modwood for a jetty out over our dam...it was only newly available and didn't offer the range of colours now available but aged to a dull concrete grey... only problem over 20 years was a couple of screws in the jetty rusted and a Modwood plank distorted but settled own again when screwed back in position..Despite years of squatting ducks the Modwood never failed and we would happily use it again.. and there's a better range of colours and sizes now available

Thanks! That's good to know. These days they don't use screws or nails—they slot into brackets so they look very smooth. Wasn't sure if they'd scratch easily. This is one of the drawbacks of composite wood apparently.

Hello, Wood/plastics can certainly have a scratching concern. For the top end Composite product take a look at www.millboarddeck.com.au. This range has no timber and is a blend of polyurethanes which you will find very difficult to scratch.

Thanks. This has been recommended to me, as has ModWood and DeckMax. Any advice on the others would be great too. I don't mind paying a bit more if there's a longer guarantee.

yes Millboard has a 25 yr warranty. It is a very different product to the 2 you mention.

A few builders I know have had scratching issues from the composites. None have used Millboard as yet but overall it seems it's a great product to consider over the others. Yes, It's more expensive but it's made in the UK (I believe) and as noted above a 25 year warranty!

I'd always prefer Aussie Hardwood over anything else if you don't mind a bit of maintenance.

I love Aussie hardwood, for sure (have just bought a gorgeous solid Stringy Bark dining table) but we just don't want to worry about the maintenance anymore. I have someone coming over tomorrow who will hopefully help me make up my mind!

Thanks Peta. I have a guy coming over today. Will check all these issues with him. My husband really wants to avoid the maintenance of a wood deck (our deck is large—over 70 square metres) and has a lot of plants of it, so oiling it requires a lot of moving of plants! It's totally exposed too so needs oiling twice a year ($400 just for the oil each time). Each time it takes us two days, working together!

Spotted gum is the go. Agree with Peta above. Have Merabu at home and the leaching was bad (not to mention the environmental issues), and have spotted gum at our holiday house and it is great. How do you repair or refinish fake boards? At least timber can be refinished, and is real.

Hi, I am thinking about using Merabu for a small deck to cover the concrete on my patio to the entrance at my home, although I have been reading how it " leaches " and now I am getting a little concerned as the builder did not mention this to me. It will also be totally exposed to the weather. Maybe I should give it a miss but I like he colour as It matches the colour of my fence, whats your thoughts? Marilyn