Mayven

I agree with mike, :it's all about the attributes" of the product you want to use. They all have their favorable points. It depends on what's important to you.

In the last 30 plus years, I've used a number of varied products on decks and porches here in the mid-west. We have a high humidity rate and extreme temperatures. My preference is western red cedar. It just seams natural to me. It feels and looks great, especially with a hidden screw system.

Composite or synthetic decking looks good, ask the mfg., but I've found too many restrictions. The hidden screw systems have a tendency to pull through the material easily, and you have to take more time during installation as to not ruin the deck board. It's too expensive to pitch a board. Screwing through the deck board doesn't look good for it mushrooms, no matter what type of screw I've used (sometimes stainless steel finish screws work well). Lastly, the cost is a lot greater than any wood other than Ipe.

Ipe's great, but is it really renewable? I don't believe it is and I don't want to be a part of its harvesting to find out later they lied about its abundance.