It is one of the best materials for exactly that environment. The boards lock together with a pressure-lock fulcrum joint, and each board has an integral gutter that moves water along and off the deck rather than letting it pool. There is no caulking or rubber gasket in the joint, so nothing cracks or breaks down from Hamilton’s humidity or Ontario’s freeze-thaw cycles. watertight from installation day, and it stays that way regardless of weather or age.

Less than most people expect. Our boards were independently tested in direct sunlight. The standard Desert Sand and Grey colours reflect heat rather than absorbing it, running at surface temperatures comparable to composite decking on a hot Ontario afternoon. Bare feet on a typical Hamilton summer day are fine.

Wood decks in this climate rot and require refinishing faster than in drier Ontario cities, because the lake humidity keeps the wood moist for more of the year. Composites handle moisture better than wood but can fade, mildew in damp corners, and go brittle in sustained cold. Aluminum does none of those things. It will not warp, mildew, splinter, or discolour regardless of the season. The trade-off is upfront cost. For local homeowners who are done with deck maintenance, aluminum pays for itself.