I looked at a job last Friday that involves replacing a rotted outdoor benchtop on a deck. The bench is 11′ long, 26″ deep, and butts up against the house. Customer said the current top was redwood, under that is plywood. Everything is going to need replaced, minus a few framing members.
I was wondering if Azek would be suitable to use as a new top. I’ve never used it before, and was wondering if anyone on here has used it in this type of application? Thanks for the help.
Mitch
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It is now made as deck board and porch floring, so it sounds like it would work.
Thanks for the reply. I guess I forgot to add: I'm looking at using the 3/4" stock, but in the end it will depend on what the customer is willing to spend.
Mitchhttp://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
I can't explain why , other than a FIF ( Funny Inner Feeling) it ain't such a good idea. It is available in sheet form, and it does need support ( almost continuous, plywood under will never dry).
I think there is a better option, but I can't quite grasp it yet.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Hey Sphere,
I originally thought about using a sheet, but backed away from it because the conduit for the electric drop goes through the top of the bench. After looking at the existing plywood(which has rot on the underside) my thoughts were to use an ice/water membrane to keep that from happening again. The homeowner's concern is to get somehting that will not rot, and something that won't need to be repainted every couple years. I took that as bare minimum maintenance.
Of course my crazy head is already trying to sequence the job, which I don't even have yet.LOL
Mitch http://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
As long as it's supported underneath ie, that plywood, it will work out fine.
I built some benches that are topped with composite deck material, the smooth stuff they sell at Home Depot. Worked great, no splinters, it dries pretty quick, but it does need proper support.
Greg
Reading down through I tend to agree with Sphere. Gut instinct - Azec 1x or 5/4 not a good idea. I got down to the bottom of the posts and realized my original thought about the task was not necessarily right. I was under the impression that there was a water proofing issue. But I think that is not the case. How about eliminating the plywood substrate and going with a composite or PVC deck boards with framing spaced to the manufacturers spec's. 2X redwood or cedar would work well again without the ply retaining moisture. And 2X would probably give a nicer aesthetic because it would eliminate framing due to better structural integrity compared to the man made 5/4.
Up close, it looks like plastic and feels like plastic. As the top of a bench, I would expect the effect to be kind of like a plastic lawn chair. It's great stuff, but I don't think I'd use it in this application.
Pete
Redwood atop plywood, in an outdoor setting, in Indiana?
Not good, unless the ply is marine grade......
Even then......Cuz a benchtop is level, and will not shed water. The ply will hold the water up against the top boards, and will rot them.
I guess you could use PVC, but that plywood is still gonna hold water. Eventually it will rot the ply, and corrode the fasteners.
And without support, PVC can't be used in this application -- it's not strong enough to hold its own weight.
YesMaam,
I was thinking the same thing about the redwood.
All,
Thanks for the replies. I sent the proposal Monday, will do a follow-up by Friday, not sure if I have the job yet. Good points made by everyone. I thank you all for the help.
Mitchhttp://www.freewebs.com/glenndalepedalplane/
Check out this thread.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=108366.1&maxT=17
Andy used PT plywood & Redgard under tile.
Rebuild it like a miniature raised deck. Little joists underneath to support your 5/4 surface. Pitch it slightly, away from the house to shed water.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
It could absolutly be used in this fashion if supported properly. At this time AZEK has introduced a new product that has 4 finished sides to it. Very nict it is indeed. To use a series of members in a supportive cross bonded means would give you the required stiffnes. I would BOND it with Devcon's Trimbonder Epoxy for Azek....
Ah yes I forgot to mention they have AZEK to mill in a greater than 3/4 dimension.