In my estimation IPE Hardwood is the best material for deck construction. It is a beautiful wood and it is also incredibly hard and durable. The only draw back to IPE is it’s cost, and that it can be difficult to source from sustainable FSC Certified forests.

Other options that are popular and widely available are composite deck materials, however, I think that IPE ages much more beautifully than composite materials do. The problem is that composite materials tend to get bleached by the sun and fade over time. However, there are a variety of composite deck products available and they are constantly reformulating them. The products can generally be classified by the nature of their petroleum component. Some examples are:

Polyetheylene: Trex, Weatherbest, Timbertech, ChoiceDek

Polypropylene: CorrectDeck

PVC: AZEK / Procell, DeckLok

Update 6/2/08: I just ran across this nice list of environmental ratings for synthetic/composite decking materials.

For new green building products, the main supplier in the Portland area is Ecohaus, which was formerly known as the Environmental Home Center. They offer a good selection of FSC Certified flooring and decking, low VOC paints, sealers and adhesives, cork and marmoleum flooring, earth plasters, low flush toilets, energy saving lights, and water conserving plumbing fixtures.

Another important local resource is the ReStore which is run for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity and offers the largest inventory of used building supplies. Some of their products include windows, interior doors, bathtubs, toilets, sinks, appliances, lighting/electrical hardware, cabinets, flooring, drywall, tile, and assorted hardware, etc. They also offer a full service demolition crew which can help with material recovery.

If you are just looking for flooring options, then you can try Eco Floors on Milwaukie Ave. They carry low VOC carpet, recycled carpet, Bamboo floors, and FSC certified wood floors.

For lumber, several of the local lumber yards carry FSC Certified lumber in stock and most can special order it.