Pressure treated or redwood for outside stairs?

[Tommy2000GT]

I like the looks of redwood better but my main concern is durability and rot resistance.

So is pressure treated wood or redwood better for durability and rot resistance?

 

[Greenman]

Redwood looks a lot better than PT. They should both last many years with proper maintenance.
Note that when PT is cut the exposed wood needs to be coated with coppergreen or a similar product, otherwise it's just Dugfir and will rot.

How's the remodel going? I assume it's near complete if you're building exterior steps.

 

[Tommy2000GT]

Redwood looks a lot better than PT. They should both last many years with proper maintenance.
Note that when PT is cut the exposed wood needs to be coated with coppergreen or a similar product, otherwise it's just Dugfir and will rot.

How's the remodel going? I assume it's near complete if you're building exterior steps.

Another option my contractor present me was the Trex composite material. I lasts 25 years and is maintenance free so I might go with this. However, he is going to use ground rated PT for the support and stringers.

The remodel is tied up right now because they city says we need fire sprinklers since too much work was done. There are not many companies that will do residential fire sprinklers so I had to go with a company that has like a 1 month back log. So in the mean time my contractor is now working on the stairs.

 

[sphenodont]

Trex feels like crap underfoot. Yes, it's maintenance-free, but that just means you'll hate it for twenty-five years until you can justify replacing it.

 

[Greenman]

Trex feels like crap underfoot. Yes, it's maintenance-free, but that just means you'll hate it for twenty-five years until you can justify replacing it.

I'm not a big Trex fan either, I don't like the look or the fact that they've had major problems with it in the past.

 

[lxskllr]

Trex feels like crap underfoot. Yes, it's maintenance-free, but that just means you'll hate it for twenty-five years until you can justify replacing it.

I always liked the foot feel; no splinters. Looks are alright. I'm not a fan of typical wood decking in the first place, so that's a wash.

 

[NutBucket]

Wow, fire sprinklers for a SFH? I haven't heard of that one.

 

[Greenman]

Wow, fire sprinklers for a SFH? I haven't heard of that one.

Common in the Bay Area. In Contra Costa County where I work sprinklers are required if 50% of the house is demolished.