Q. I want to replace my shutters in Florida. I do not know whether the wood shutter would be better due to the Florida sun. I worry that the composite shutter might yellow from the sun.

A. I agree, the sun may yellow the composite - though it depends on what kind of composite. If it is the type that composite boards are made from for decks, for instance, that is made to be durable enough not to yellow from the sun for a looooong time. If it's the type like vinyl siding, that yellows fairly quickly (still years, but sooner). And if you go with wood and stain it, keep in mind that the polyurethane you use (depending on oil or water based and brand) can also cause it to yellow in sunlight over many years. From a design standpoint, I prefer wood - to me, it just looks better, and if you change your mind on how you want the room decorated, you can lighten or darken the stain, paint it, etc. Generally there are less options with composite, and less times you can redo it. For an indoor application though where you just have to deal with the sun and not stormy weather etc., you will probably be fine with either. Good luck! (:

Q. Hello. I am planning to replace my deck with a larger one, and plan to use composite floor and hand rail systems to avoid the hassles of constant maintenance. I'm encountering various products, each claiming to be the best. In my area, we have Choice-Dek, Cross-Timbers, Evergrain, Timber-Tech, Trex and Veranda, mostly. Is there a carpenter/builder/remodeling expert, out there who has built a lot of decks and who would know which of these products to recommend? I know of no other source to poll for this kind of information. Also find Xtendex, and GeoDeck brands in my area.

A. Each are good alternative's but don't give up on natural woods they look better an with the right care will last just as long

Q. I saw that the decks that you can build this way are cheaper and I'm interested. Any advice?

A. 1. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot. 2. Buy a book on decks.

Q. Hello, I was needing some help. We are in the progress of building a home. We are not doing the work ourselves, we have hired what should be reputable contractors. My problem is we have just installed a big composite deck which is extremely wavy. They just put the roof up today. I don't know much or understand what the reason for this is. Defective composite? Not properly installed? We have spent a whole lot of money for this mess. My husband just wants to say this happens. But it has me irritated, it is extremely noticeable. The excitement of moving in a new home is gone for me. Any advice appreciated.

A. To say unequivocally that these materials will not warp would be a bit of an overstatement. There is still that possibility, and it's imperative that the manufacturer's rated spans not be exceeded, and that there is sufficient support and an adequate number of fasteners used.

A. Funny you should ask. My husband and I just finished the process of entertaining bids for a composite 12 by 28 foot second story deck. Should be similar. The best bid that we got was about $14,000. That was for a basic deck with rough sawn timber for the posts and beams and composite for the deck floor and railing. The highest bid we got was for about $22,000. We found the contractor that we like best by going to the Trex website and viewing their list of contractors. The deck contractors came in considerably lower than general contractors. We have yet to find the contractor that will replace our window with the french door necessary to access the deck. That looks like it'll come in around $4000, though. Our header has to be replaced because it isn't currently high enough to frame a door. We found that composite decking varies only slightly from brand to brand. The major differences in cost came with the railing and the wood chosen for the posts and joists. Check out deckorators.com. You may find ideas for railing and post covers. http://www.trex.com/Universal/DealerLocator.asp (to find a contractor in your area).

Q. Need rough estimate on how much it would cost to have a contractor build a 1000 sq ft, 2 level deck using composite decking? Wed also be tearing down an existing deck.

A. It would cost you between 14 and 18 thousand dollars to build this deck properly.

Q. We just had a composite deck built (Veranda - color is Jacoba). The builder had to sand the edges near the stairs and benches, obviously, because he had to cut down the boards. As a result, these areas are slightly lighter than the rest, and also you can see sand marks. Is there a way to get the color to match the rest of the deck more? Or will it blend in with time?

A. Start with a lighter color stain on a scrap pc. then work your way darker, let it dry between shade changes. It will all fade over time, but the edge cuts will never catch up with the untouched decking. Use a water base stain

Q. I recently built a deck for a freind and i have no idea how much to charge for my labor. It is a 47' X 12' composite deck with composite railing. How much do contractors charge per square foot just for labor?? Also how much do they charge per liner foot for the railing?

A. As a rule of thumb, take the material cost and add that for labor. This all depends on how good a "friend" you are talking about. When I'm working for friends or family, I charge significantly less. Make sure all of your expenses are covered, and then you will need to figure out how much you want to make per day. Sorry I couldn't be more specific, but this is a very subjective decision. Good luck.