House builders, remodelers and kindred do-it-yourselfers:
This forum looks like a valuable group to learn from and share. I’m new; live/work in Virginia Beach, VA, a registered architect, in business over 25 years, doing plans for waterfront and beach environment, especially houses. My motives for signing up are to get insight into synthetic deck products. The current project is to specify replacement deck planks for an office building complex that currently has salt-treated stoops, porches, handicapped ramps and so forth. The decks are 15 years old, look bad, in spite of occasional treatments with UV protection coating. The decision is to replace the planks. The question is, with what?
One special requirement is that the planks must be rough enough to provide friction, walking up ramps in wet conditions and occasionally ice. (eepay probably is too smooth a surface, don’t know how in holds up in wet conditions)
I have heard rumors that Trex breaks down in time, that it gets limp and leathery, sagging between joists, even at 16†o.c.
I know nothing of Timbertech T&G or Choice Deck.
Looking for ideas and testimony, and opinions. Can anyone out give me some suggestions?
Greg1
Replies
you may have heard rumors about Trex sagging , but i've never seen it or heard of it..
Trex started losing market share because some objected to it's appearnace, so they have remolded it to look more like TimberTeck (tech ?)
it is not quite as thick as it used to be... more like 1 1/8 as opposed to it's former 1 1/4..
if you are concerned about possible sagging , spec 12" oc instead of 16"... i like Trex because it has a rougher surface than most competitors, certainly rougher than most premium woods we've used like Ipe' or mahogany..
also.. the require gapping for trex is 1/4" which also gives it more grip.. and you don't have to do a special edge trim because it is a solid product unlike some of the others..
here's a Trex deck we did this winter..
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike
Nice looking decks (in RI?) what is the age of you first installation of Trex? have you used TimberTech? any pluses, minuses?
thanks
greg1
i think our first Trex deck is about 10 years ago
and i've looked at other products but never used themMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Is this the photo is are weird things happening to the fronts of those steps?Charlie
http://www.home-addition.com
artistic risers
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
what chu mean , willis ?
nah... furring spacers until we could install the Koma risersMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I am a homeowner on the west coast and have two decks made of Trex that I have installed. Both we on 16" centers and dispite my daytime temps reaching better than 100 degrees, I have no sag. If you are building in temp extreems, you must be aware that Trex expans about a quarter inch over 16 feed when exposed to a 50 degree swing. Not a big deal if you take that into account. I have the older version of Trex that has no pattern in board, but it still gives good slip resistance when wet. Our sprinklers hit the decks daily and they do not discolor or stain. Our decks are exposed to dogs and cats and wear well. I would replace the decks with Trex again or use the material if I build another house. I suspect that the wood structure under the deck will need replacing well before the decking itself.
The deck screws I used caused a "mushroom" effect when driven into the boards. There are several new screws available that finish at the surface without the mushroom and are also colored the same as the trex. I would use them in the future rather than the screws I first used, which is not a knock on the decking. Also, be aware that not all synthetic decking and definitly not Ipe, can be screwed directly without predrilling. This can be a major cost consideration during installation.
Re the mushroom effect you refer to, I find that TrapEase screws work great with Trex. No pre-drilling, and a perfect countersink every time. I have tried others and was not satisfied with the results.Matt
I know the only reading we like to do is here, but if anyone takes the time to read the Trex manual, you will see that in commercial applications, they recommend 12" oc spacing(5/4) or 16" for the 2 x 6 decking.
The other unique features of trex is that the floor joists better plane perfectly(and we all know teated is SO dimensionally equal board to board) or the deck looks wavy.
It's taken off in this area, in fact I've yet to do a treated deck this summer, all 5 have been Trex. Price has been steadily increasing all summer too.