Composite decking. Does it hold up?
May 20, 2020 12:42:23 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
Look into using Ipe. It's an ironwood and guaranteed for about 50 years. Atlantic City redid its boardwalk with it.
Trex is good, too
Trex is good, too
May 20, 2020 14:18:21 #
May 20, 2020 14:32:32 #
TheShoe
Loc: Lacey, WA
Wingpilot wrote:
We had the wood decking replace with Trex boards last year. I think this stuff is great, and a lot of people here in Alaska have done the same thing. I’ve never heard of it warping or sagging. The key to keep it from sagging is to make sure the support joists/crossmembers are close enough together to prevent it from sagging. I think 24” apart is recommended. You’ll love it, as you’ll never have to maintain it, other that to wash it off with a hose, or sweep it.
Be sure to verify the spacing, it may be closer than 24 inches, it will probably depend on the thickness. Great stuff, and it also resists insect damage.May 20, 2020 15:23:31 #
We had it at our house in VA for 12 years before we moved and I highly recommend it. Needs no stain, multiple colors, and best of all... o splinters so bare feet are fine. There are a couple of issues to consider.
It does tend to sag more than same thickness wood decking boards...so it really just needs the supports for things like long railings closer than wood...for the deck itself the standard 16 inch stringers are fine. Leave 3/8 inch gap between the boards to make it easier to clean. If you use it for the vertical supports which I recommend...the stiffness relative to wood means more and closer together supports. It only comes in (back in 2000) 4x8 and not 8x8 so that means more supports...I think that Trex recommends essentially about 40% more vertical support.
We would use it again in a heartbeat...a little scrub with bleach to kill the mold (ours was in a very shady yard) and pressure wash about annually is almost it needs.
It does tend to sag more than same thickness wood decking boards...so it really just needs the supports for things like long railings closer than wood...for the deck itself the standard 16 inch stringers are fine. Leave 3/8 inch gap between the boards to make it easier to clean. If you use it for the vertical supports which I recommend...the stiffness relative to wood means more and closer together supports. It only comes in (back in 2000) 4x8 and not 8x8 so that means more supports...I think that Trex recommends essentially about 40% more vertical support.
We would use it again in a heartbeat...a little scrub with bleach to kill the mold (ours was in a very shady yard) and pressure wash about annually is almost it needs.
May 20, 2020 17:06:31 #
NewBEE161
Loc: Olney, Maryland
There are advocates that strongly support 12" on center for Trex flooring.
24" on center could produce unwanted sagging.
24" on center could produce unwanted sagging.
May 20, 2020 19:17:37 #
Seems better than real wood. Will get moldy/dirty just like wood but that is about all. Two of my rentals have a composite deck. I like the darker colored one better - the tan one shows dirt and stains much faster. The dark one is a grey. Tenant never mentions if it gets hotter than wood due to color. The color is stead fast.
My own deck is treated pine and I keep it pressure washed for a nice appearance. It does get frayed after pressure washing and will one day need replacement (30 years now).
My own deck is treated pine and I keep it pressure washed for a nice appearance. It does get frayed after pressure washing and will one day need replacement (30 years now).
May 21, 2020 00:34:21 #
Country Boy wrote:
I would guess there are various thicknesses and different materials. I helped a friend use it on his new deck 2 years ago and the material was about an inch thick and very solid. It looks as good today as when it went down and no painting etc.
How is it held in place?.....Nails, clips, screws....?
May 21, 2020 00:51:31 #
kerry12 wrote:
I used it when I built my deck 8 years ago. It still looks good. Used regular tools with it. It works just like wood. I have no warping or shrinkage. I'd say go for it.
How did you attach it?
May 21, 2020 08:01:23 #
Paul Diamond
Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA
One advantage to living in the same home for 34 years (this weekend) is that I have seen how it holds up to the rain, wind and sun we get in abundance in GA. About 12 years ago I replaced my original wood deck with planking in Ipe (Epe), a Brazilian cherry wood. Extremely dense, it bends almost all hammered nails. So the holes have to be made with a drill and then use wood screws. (I also have finished Ipe hardwood floors in the main level of the house. Beautiful rich, warm color was what I wanted, as a lover of beautiful wood.) The deck wood, in 12+ years has been low maintenance except that the wood does not really absorb a stain to protect it. So, it needs to be painted with a semi-transparent stain every 4 or so years. Very happy.
May 21, 2020 09:45:00 #
HOHIMER wrote:
How did you attach it?
I used ceramic coated deck screws. They're made for composite decking. They have a smaller head than a regular deck screw. I also used the torx drive head.
May 21, 2020 10:44:32 #
GEL wrote:
Predrill not predilection
Heating not hearing
Heating not hearing
Don't you love spell check.
May 21, 2020 11:04:14 #
apacs1
Loc: Lansdale, PA
The boards are held in place with special clips. No screws or nails are shown through the boards except sometimes in perimeter boards. There are several youtube videos on the subject. It's a great product. There are many "Trex like" manufacturers - probably all are very good.
May 21, 2020 11:05:53 #
May 21, 2020 15:44:45 #
I'm a builder/remodeler in NC. We've used Trex and several other composites. So far no complaints. I do like the hidden attachment systems.
May 21, 2020 22:37:14 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.