OneHammer

The one thing I don't think I've seen mentioned is what happens if the synthetic decking catches fire. I had my home (two acres, lots of trees, arid environment) inspected by my local fire department (they come out for free and tell you whether they consider your home defensible or not)and had a conversation about decking with the firemen that came out. I was told that if a fire occurred, firemen would rather confront wood decking than synthetic because they have a lot of trouble actually extinguishing the fake stuff. It burns extremely hot, releases more toxins into the air, and has a tendency to reignite for days after the fire has been extinguished. I'm guessing that there may be a fire rating with the composite products but I've never checked it out.