It is one of the best materials for exactly that environment. The boards lock together with a pressure-lock fulcrum joint that includes an integral gutter in each board, carrying water away rather than letting it pool or get trapped. There is no caulking or rubber gasket in the joint, which means nothing to break down over time from Niagara’s humidity or Ontario’s freeze-thaw cycles. The boards are watertight from installation day and that does not change with age or weather exposure.

Less than you would expect. Our boards were independently tested in direct sunlight. On a hot summer afternoon, the standard Desert Sand and Grey boards run at surface temperatures comparable to composite decking. The lighter colours reflect heat rather than absorbing it. Bare feet on a typical Niagara summer day are fine.

Wood decks in Niagara rot and require refinishing faster than in drier regions, because the lake humidity accelerates the process. Composites handle moisture better than wood but can fade, go mouldy in damp corners, and go brittle in cold weather. Aluminum does none of those things. It will not warp, mildew, splinter, or discolour regardless of how humid the Niagara summer gets or how hard the Ontario winter hits. The trade-off is the upfront cost. For local homeowners who want to build it once and be genuinely done with deck maintenance, aluminum is the right answer.