My wood deck is 17 years old and the part exposed to sun and rain is rotten. The boards are on joists with 16" centers. Because we have such harsh summers here in Austin, TX, I think I will replace the rotten boards with one of the brands of synthetic deck materials, preferably composite -- Trex and ChoiceDeck are the two brands available at Home Depot and Lowe's, respectively. How do the composites hold up in strong UV conditions? Any recommendations as to brands? ChoiceDeck Premium has a limited lifetime warranty, Trex a 10-year warranty. If they don't last at least 10-15 years, maybe treated wood is the best way? We are mainly concerned that it (1) look nice, and (2) need little or no maintenance, and (3) last a long time! Please give me your advice based on your experience. Thanks. Jo Wilson

I thought I read somewhere that you need to protect lag bolts from coming in contact with the new ACQ treated lumber because it will cause them to rust. Does anyone know if this is true? Is so, what is the best way to do this. Thanks