If you're building a deck on the Gulf Coast, the first real decision is wood or composite. After 41 years on the bayou, here's how I help people choose.
Pressure-treated pine is what most of my customers pick. It costs less up front, takes stain well, and with yearly washing and re-sealing every two to three years, it holds up fine. It's the honest, proven choice.
Composite resists rot and splintering and needs less upkeep in our humidity. You won't be re-staining it, and it won't cup or split the way wood can. It costs more up front, but some homeowners prefer the lower maintenance — especially on a deck they plan to keep for a long time.
Here's the part most contractors won't tell you: the decking material matters less than the fasteners and connectors underneath. Near salt air, plain nails back out and rust, and that's what loosens a railing or a stair over time. Every Protech deck uses polymer-coated, corrosion-resistant screws and galvanized carriage bolts, with railing posts through-bolted inside the rim joist. That's the Bayou-Built Standard, and it's what actually decides whether your deck lasts on the coast.
So: pine if you want the lower price and don't mind a little upkeep, composite if you want less maintenance. Either way, I'll frame it to hold up to salt air and storm wind. Call me and we'll walk your options in person.