Replies

1. 
   Pelipeth | Oct 14, 2008 03:34am | #1

   Could be all of the above. I might add that it may also look better and you would NOT have any joints with 8' runs. Shoot it in w/15 gauge SS nails(?).

1. 
   sawdust58 | Oct 15, 2008 03:30am | #3

   thanks for the tip, I never thought of full lengths - good point

2. 
   frammer52 | Oct 14, 2008 04:24am | #2

   ASteve, Piffen was talking about doing that in Maine, and with the fir available an the market, he was having to go back and replace several pieces a year.

   I just recently did a front porch for my stepson and used Tenduraplank.  Liked it.  Made of recycled materials, for the green in us.  Just don't go into sticker shock!!

1. 
   sawdust58 | Oct 15, 2008 03:31am | #4

   thanks for the tip on the synthetic stuff, I will propose fir to the customer and if they don't collapse at the cost, I will upsell the good stuff

1. 
   frammer52 | Oct 15, 2008 03:38am | #5

   I think you have it backwards.  Sell the expensive stuff first, then the fir as a fall back!  Good luck!!

2. 
   Shep | Oct 15, 2008 04:39am | #8

   Tendura was bought by someone, I can't remember who. The name is different now.

   I used Tendura on my own small front porch 6 years ago. Its held up very well, especially considering I still haven't painted it yet.

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 15, 2008 04:49am | #9

   correct-deck in Biddeford, ME 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Shep | Oct 15, 2008 05:43am | #11

   Thanks.

   My lumber yard has it, but I couldn't remember the name. CRS disease.

3. 
   Piffin | Oct 15, 2008 03:43am | #6

   It facilitates drainage.
   Run that stuff lengthwise and I doubt it would last four years before major rot repair time.

   Even running it perp to house, you need to be sure and preseal all six sides before installing.

    

    

   Welcome to the
   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   MikeSmith | Oct 15, 2008 03:48am | #7

   all the fir t&g that i've seen goes from the house out

    

   AND  it is pitched from the house out

   i would still do it just like the old ways... with 2 changes

   first i'd only use ss fasteners  (we have a bostich floor stapler and i can get ss staples for it

   2d... i would back-prime and edge prime all the fir before i laid it, and i'd cover the joists with 30 lb felt to aid in drying the backside

   Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
1. 
   timkline | Oct 15, 2008 04:56am | #10

   cover the joists with 30 lb felt to aid in drying the backside

    

   Huh ? ? ?

    carpenter in transition

1. 
   MikeSmith | Oct 15, 2008 06:24am | #12

   if you have wood to wood it is hard to dry.... the felt works as a wick

   ever take a deck board up ?  if the joists are capped with felt , the bottom of the decking and the top of the joists are in pretty good shape...

    no felt.... you will see a lot of rotMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   timkline | Oct 15, 2008 04:34pm | #14

   i don't think i have ever seen felt run over the joists on a deck tearout to know whether or not it helped.

   good idea though.

   thanks for the tip.

    carpenter in transition

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 15, 2008 04:39pm | #15

   I have torn off or replaced decking several times on humdred year old decks and porches where they had used tarpaper over the joist. The joists themselves were almost always fine. The tarpaper protected them well for all that time.The decking itself only showed rot from the backside, immediately over the tarpaper, but my memory was that this was only in locations where water runoff or snow pile up were extreme. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   mmoogie | Oct 15, 2008 06:51am | #13

   I've done them with mahogany the last few times. Don't know what the long term difference will wind up being, but they seem to have weathered pretty well in the short run. A little pricey, but not as expensive as the synthetics.

   Did one in grey colored T & G synthetic, I think it was tendura, about 6 or 7 years ago that has held up great, but it does look plastic, in spite of the marketing that says otherwise.

   STeve

6. 
   recycling rob | Oct 15, 2008 05:12pm | #16

   I second Piffin's input about pre-priming the fir before you lay it. Make sure to get all four (pain in the ####) sides or it will soak up moisture and either rot or mold. I've used Cabot's penetrating oil before and it looks awesome, better than painted, in my opinion.

   Good luck. Rob

1. 
   johnharkins | Oct 15, 2008 06:04pm | #17

   what is cabot's penetrating oil
   is that the olde good standby semi transparent stain or different product

7. 
   MGMaxwell | Oct 15, 2008 08:21pm | #18

   tar paper over the joists has served me well in Florida on my dock that is subjected to horrific sun and rain. Whereas everything else weathers gray and splinters, the covered edge of the joists retain the original color and integrity. BTW, these are pressure treated SYP.