I'm considering making a couple of deck/patio chairs for front porch or back patio.   Couple of questions

Anyone have any favorite plans?   I have plans for "Jake's Chair" that is an Adirondack-style chair, Family Handyman Adirondack, Draw-rings for Nahm's Adirondack chair, Rietfeld's Crate chair, PopWood 2019 patio chair, and another Adirondack style chair (but it has a flat back).

Recommendations for a good, not too expensive, available in the mid-west wood?

I kinda like that Jake's chair. I'd like to have a couple for our yard and I may give that one some thought. No idea about what wood though. It will be interesting to see the suggestions.

Recently rebuilt all our deck furniture. Used cedar. Hope it outlasts me. My own design. 

Built a grill table and a couple of side tables using composite decking.  Heavier than wood but truly maintenance free.

 

 

The composite decking looks like it might be a good choice for long life and no maintenance. Seems like I saw an article somewhere on using it a year or 2 back.

What I have heard about the composite decking is that it is not quite as stiff as wood.    And I'm not sure how well I could rip and shape it.  Isn't some of it hollow?

 

Years ago, my BIL took his business class to the Trex plant nearby.   He was hoping to snag some cutoffs or seconds.   They told him that they have none.   Cutoffs and seconds just get tossed back into the grinder for another round.

We investigated Trex for a deck up in Snowflake, AZ. We visited several installations, both older and newer. We found that your joists better be 12" on center, otherwise the material will sag. Especially on an open deck, exposed to AZ's UV. The exposed ends of many older installed planks were deteriorating badly. Also, likely due to UV exposure. We ultimately went with redwood. I would hesitate to build much of anything that would be used outside and/or exposed to the heat of the sun...or a grill, for that matter, with Trex or, any composite. 

16 minutes ago, kmealy said:

What I have heard about the composite decking is that it is not quite as stiff as wood.    And I'm not sure how well I could rip and shape it.  Isn't some of it hollow?

 

Years ago, my BIL took his business class to the Trex plant nearby.   He was hoping to snag some cutoffs or seconds.   They told him that they have none.   Cutoffs and seconds just get tossed back into the grinder for another round.

 

It does depend on brand.  Some are solid and some have channels running through them.  I used the Facia boards which are thinner and wider.  I added aluminum angles for support under the top and shelf.  I also screwed the boards through the braces from underneath so there are no screws showing.  It is holding up very well and still looks like the day I built them.  They are under roof and never see direct sun light.

 

It works just like wood as far as cutting is concerned.

 

 

 

 

I've done several decks with different composites, all 16" oc with no problems.  Of course, that AZ heat is another consideration.  Step stringers, however, were 12" oc or less.  Some planks are solid, some are hollow and some are fluted on the back.  And many come in solid edges or grooved to receive the invisible fastener system.  Some brands do offer end caps, but AFAIK it doesn't take well to shaping.

10 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

 

It does depend on brand.  Some are solid and some have channels running through them.  I used the Facia boards which are thinner and wider.  I added aluminum angles for support under the top and shelf.  I also screwed the boards through the braces from underneath so there are no screws showing.  It is holding up very well and still looks like the day I built them.  They are under roof and never see direct sun light.

 

It works just like wood as far as cutting is concerned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for showing that.  I was curious how you attached it.

These chairs were for a friend. Ours are the same but had to have "hearts"

 

 

Our Love Seat (with hearts)-

 

We thought about composite decking but that stuff gets so hot, when in the sun.

I built two A-chairs, one design from Yella Wood, one from Steve Ramsey.  I modidied the SR version to have a tilted back:  5 degree tilt is needed for comfort.  I made both from HD select pine, pocket screws.  Key to finish:  paint everything, especially end grain, with two coats BEFORE assembly, then I did a 3rd coat after.  "Runner" cushions on back/seat help a lot.  My wife really likes a footstool.  I splurged and bought covers for them.  We've had them outside in Phoenix for 4 years, and they look almost new.  I learned that end grain will find water unless it's well protected when I built my gazebo (and replaced all the corner braces about 4 years later).  I painted all the wood post-assembly on the gazebo, but where ends but against other wood, water finds a way, and rot soon follows.

I agree Dan, its maintenance free. This porch on wifes shop was some left overs when I bought many 12 foot 2 x 6's back in 1985 or 6 to change out the benches at the go cart track and mini golf. This was recycled plastic I ordered from back east and it had been sitting out in the weather stacked up here when we moved to the lake in 1999 but it all has been out in the weather since we bought it in eighty something... The only thing different to regular wood decking is it needs 1 foot supports under it....now the exact heat here might be different from other places but one year they registered 60 days straight over 100 degrees. So I'm thinking cost up front is more the deciding factor than someone saying it won't last. 

This is the same plastic floating around in the oceans folks that know it all says will be with us for hundreds of years or the same plastics laying in garbage dumps. I have lots of 2 foot cut off lengths I still use from time to time and they saw like cutting soft wood.

   The guy on the phone asked what color I wanted and I said this is supposed to be a fun place so send some of all the colors you have. This stuff seems to be the exact same colors like when we first unloaded it in the eighties....

  I bought some white oak for it seemed to have a good reputation for out door use so I got enough to go as slats in two cast iron park type bench ends that sit out in the weather.....The wood has decayed so bad the bench has not been useable for a number of years......and compared to the plastic recycled stuff there is no decay showing yet....

   So it seems as if my story and others here are a world of difference when comparing plastic wood..and yes there is Trex out here around us that has not decayed?

 Another thing when it rains it is slicker than snot and a railing will be added some day I hope before its needed and not after..

  But the worst thing is I have 1806 sf. of deck on six areas around my house and they are all wood with only half are under a roof but still outside. Plus a covered boat dock thats  24 x 36  with a slip in the middle thats also woodor about 258 sf.

13 hours ago, HandyDan said:

 

It does depend on brand.  Some are solid and some have channels running through them.  I used the Facia boards which are thinner and wider.  I added aluminum angles for support under the top and shelf.  I also screwed the boards through the braces from underneath so there are no screws showing.  It is holding up very well and still looks like the day I built them.  They are under roof and never see direct sun light.

 

It works just like wood as far as cutting is concerned.

 

 

 

 

Now that is what I call well done! Excellently reinforced and, expertly designed and built. 

Been looking around at my new neighbor's homes and, those around Tucson in the mountains, where decks abound. Composite deck material appears to not be the choice out here. I do believe that the intense UV saturation has a lot to do with it's lack of longevity around here. Although, both Home Depot and Lowes carries limited supplies of the material. Both caution about joist spacing, though. Recommending 1' spacing. That expense alone might be a factor for some. Redwood and Cedar seem to be the choices. Some, are even mesquite or Ipe. Talk about expense!