Totally agree on decking—learned that one the hard way myself. Had a deck built about five years ago, and we went mid-grade thinking it'd hold up fine with regular maintenance. Fast forward to now, and I'm dealing with warping boards and splintering edges...lesson learned.
On insulation, I've tried the eco-friendly cellulose stuff in our attic reno last year. Installation was pretty straightforward (though dusty!), and I did notice slightly better temperature consistency between rooms. But honestly, the difference wasn't huge compared to standard fiberglass batts we've used before. Good for peace of mind environmentally, but not sure it's worth the extra cash if budget's tight.
For flooring, we actually went with bamboo in our kitchen/dining area two years ago. At first, loved the look and how easy it was to clean—but durability-wise it's been mixed. Dropped a heavy pan once and ended up with a noticeable dent that's still bugging me every time I walk past it. Still looks great overall, but I'd probably lean toward engineered hardwood next time around for a bit more toughness.
Yeah, decking can definitely bite you if you try to cut corners. I've seen a lot of clients regret going cheaper there—it's one of those areas where quality really pays off long-term. Bamboo flooring's tricky too; looks fantastic but dents pretty easily under heavy use. Engineered hardwood usually holds up better, especially in kitchens. Good call on cellulose insulation though—it's decent stuff, but fiberglass is usually more budget-friendly if you're watching costs closely. Live and learn, right?
