Black Locust Outdoor Decking Question

[alanh]

Thanks for the compliments,  and the picture lesson! It`s been a fun (although a tad drawn out) project. I`ve done some inside projects with the locust,seeing as how the stuff is laying around,  a bar top , a corner cabinet, a couple inside steps. The grain looks a lot like red oak when you stain and oil it.

[Steveo]

Thank you all for all of the input.
TYB525 - Thanks for the links
AlanH - Thanks for the photos
This is a great forum - very active and lots of experience around.
I still need to decide between the black locust and the thermo-treated, but at least I have more info - and samples of each on the way.  Starting to get excited about swinging the hammer again - (and the wife is tired of looking at the sea of undecked joists.)

[Magicman]

And keeping the Lady happy is very important.   

[711ac]

New member here -

I am trying to choose the decking material for the outdoor deck that I am building (450 SF in Sterling VA).  I do not want to use the common PT SYP#2 boards, I want to stay away from the exotic rainforest lumber, and I am not a big fan of composites/plastics.  In researching cedar/cypress and a few others, I have come across Black Locust - which seems promising, but there doesn't seem to be alot of info or ready suppliers.  Here are a few questions:

1) Does anyone have any comments on how it performs as residential decking.  I know that it will last a long time, but I am interested on how much it checks, splinters, warps, etc.  Does it look any good in place.
2) I have read that it can be installed green and tight, but am curious if that can lead to problems later as it shrinks.  If so, what treatment is best (air dried, kiln dried, or something special).
3) I understand that it does not need treatment, but if I want to hold off the patina grey look as long as possible - does anyone have experience with any product that have performed on this species.
4)  If this is a promising material, does anyone know of a supplier within a reasonable distance of Northern Virginia (or DC).  Even better, does anyone know of any projects within an hours drive of me so that I could see how it looks itsitu, in person.
5)  Any other suggestions on local, sustainable, green options for lumber species would be welcomed.

Thanks
Steve

Steveo, a friend of mine has a mill up by Frederick MD, not too far from you and If you give him some time to collect the logs, and he'll cut anything that you want. Locust is pretty wood, I have sanded and finished it for interior trim and the old timers used to use it for the sill of windows and doors. Not sure how to keep it pretty outdoors but Sikkens make some real nice products for siding, not sure about how it would hold up to foot traffic. I'm not sure if he's in the phone book under this name but he goes be "Wood Eye wood products" and his name is Keith

[Steveo]

Steveo, a friend of mine has a mill up by Frederick MD, not too far from you and If you give him some time to collect the logs, and he'll cut anything that you want. Locust is pretty wood, I have sanded and finished it for interior trim and the old timers used to use it for the sill of windows and doors. Not sure how to keep it pretty outdoors but Sikkens make some real nice products for siding, not sure about how it would hold up to foot traffic. I'm not sure if he's in the phone book under this name but he goes be "Wood Eye wood products" and his name is Keith

Thanks 711ac - I just looked him up and found his website - he is just across the river from me, less than an hours drive.  I will ring him up tomorrow.
Steve