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Trex – can it be curved like in mag. picture , has anyone done this ? Please state method use. 2. Can Trex be purchased in Canada ? Randy 37
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I did not get a chance to read any of the replies to my recent post about Trex decking or similar products. Once again if anyone has any advice or tips, they will be greatly appreciated. Is there any difference in framing, do I need to predrill, anything to watch out for?
*A quote, I think from AJ. Trex=garbage, recycled garbage.I agree.L
*...keep spans short, no need to predrill, auger-tip ss screws preferred, nail holes can be pounded closed or filled with trex dust/PVC cement filler.It's not clear all-heart redwood, which I used for railings (you need something for visual interest, trex is so bland) and would have preferred, but since you've chosen to use it more power to you. It is one of the biggest uses for old shopping bags and commercial plastic wrap (that stuff they bind pallets up with); in fact, the company is so desperate for more that they are encouraging more supermarkets to start collecting bags. I liked that. Recyclables are valuable items rescued from garbage!And AJ likes TimberTech! Blech, now THAT'S plastic.
*....been using Trex for about 5 years...would'nt go back to P.T. unless the owner insisted. It naturally weathers to silver grey...Don't exceed 16"oc for the 5/4 x 6 . watch your stair stringer spacing too, if you use it for rail caps, give it continuous support.The countersink / bang over is personal preference, we do both depending on visual effec. We use SS 2 1/2"#10 as our standard fastener, sq.drive.We also use Trex for casing trim, and sill stock, we've made octagonal casings and glued it up with epoxy, you can use biscuits, it likes epoxy, gorilla glue and even yellow glue..We use it for benches and garden furniture too, at least the built-ins...Trex machines well, cutting , routing and sanding...Drawbacks are : heavy, non-structural, and costs a little bit more than P.T. (say 20% -25% more than Prem. grade)..The cost should come down because there are several competitors out there now ....
*I guess I am outnumbered by opinions I do respect.Could it be that it ages more gracefully in the warmer climates? Could it be frost causing damage, puckers to be worse, instability caused by freeze thaw cycles in canada, causing it to sag between joists 16" o.c. Since it is non structural rail strength is in question, (building dept).It is just that I have seen 4 or 5 projects, 3 to 5 years old, (one of which was in magazines), which did not impress me. In my meager mind, it looked like the value would be questioned upon resale. The prospect of usine 2 different materials, one for decking, and one for railing, and not being able to stain one of them, letting it grey where the sun shines, is unappealing to a picky guy like me.Still just sitting in my adirondack chair, watching everyone else build with trex.L
*Hey, did you know you can make an adirondack chair out out of Trex? :-)
*Trex may or may not prove to be a great solution to weather exposed material. But the bottom line is, these composits are getting more common all the time. They are the way of the future. We can embrace change and grow with it, or get left behind.
*Just replaced the deck on our cabin built with native spruce about 1976 and faithfuly opaque stained every year (not by me mind you).Here's the one I'll be sittin on with my grandchildren 30 years from now (the cabin might not be there but the deck will)
*My wife took me house-shopping two years ago. It was a premium place, only a few years old, with high-quality interior and exterior trim, spiffy kitchen cabinets, etc. In the back was a deck with this weird dirty-gray planking - Trex? I was underwhelmed.We didn't buy the house.
*I can't say the choice to use this is mine, that responsibility goes to the homeowner. I am a big WOOD fan, just something about building with plastics. I have used composite materials such as MDF millwork, so I know how they tend to pucker up when fastened. I was just curious to see if there was any major downfalls. Sounds like spans are going to be my big concern. Thanks for your input, I'm sure things will go along fine, somehow they usually do.
*Andrew? Eh tu? LOL Sounds like an idea, however I want to paint them white ok? You guys are right, as usual, especially jim, has he ever been wrong? Oh, Mike, I envy your climate and lifestyle. It looks like a pretty nice deck. 25 years is certainly a long time for a spruce deck, it didn't owe you a thing did it?L
*Careful you don't lose any grandchildren through that guardrail! Geez, our code is so strict that you an barely see through a compliant railing.
*Lawrence.......no..25 years was OK...just could have used the time and money doing something else instead of RE building something...kind of like why I'm switching all my customers that care to listen to the low maint. items...40 years roofing instead of 25, clad windows , ...ah....you know..as to Paint / Stain: Trex loves paint...and SHOULD stain up real good too, I'd let it weather and then try a sample . but of course, for low maintenance, painting or staining deck surfaces doesn't fit my style....Railings and Trim..absolutely...Kai....thanks for the "¢" signKermit
*Yes, it takes stain ... interesting look, no idea how it weathers -- probabaly similar UV degradation ... problem is that waterproofing trex makes it slippery ... are there stains that DON'T waterproof (non-oil-base?)?
*Trex - can it be curved like in mag. picture , has anyone done this ? Please state method use. 2. Can Trex be purchased in Canada ? Randy 37
*....I'm not sure what picture you're referring to...but ...yes it can be curved (bent) ABOUT the same as woodit can also be curved by cutting a curve into it just like plywood....it does appear to ave a slight grain... if you cut across the extrusion it is very dense...whereas cutting in line with the extrusion the wood particles appear somewhat larger, almost as if the process somehow aligns them....something to do with plastic mfr. process or something they do on purpose... I have no idea...
*There's an FHB article on a circular trex deck built maybe four-five years ago -- check the index. Easy to bend it on the thin direction, harder across the board. It can also be sliced and laminated using PVC cement.I'm sure trex can be smuggled into Canada. Visit the http://www.trex.com site.
*article was FHB Aug./Sept. 1997, pp.64-69