Hello,
I am going to build a deck (12) x (16′). The customer wants to use Trex
lumber for the flooring. I saw on a small landing where another builder used
some king of condtruction adhesive and finish nails to hold the boards to the treated
joist. It looked really good with no screws. Will this hold up over time?
John Keller
Replies
Welcome to Breaktime. Hope you enjoy your time here.
I built a deck this summer with Trex and PL Premium Adhesive. Although the web site says it is OK http://www.trex.com/products/railing/artisan/installation.asp> it did not work.
You might try a PL 400, or smething like that, but unless I see something concrete from the manufacturere, I'll use screws.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
I use GRK torx drive trimhead screws, these are much smaller than deck screws, but are approved for composite decking. Far less obvious.
I do glue mitered corners of trex together with Gorilla glue, but in general composites probably expand and contract too much to be glued to the joists.
I was asked by a client for whom I built a nice trex deck to make a matching cutting board and possigly countertop from resawn trex. I experimented with glues, including gorilla, and they all failed. I could snap them apart by hand easily. Ended up going with hardwood. I would check into the PL though, they have differing formulas where one may work.
Thanks evertone ,
I think I will try the trim head screws. I do not want to come back in six months to find a bunch of loose boards. The eb ty will be too time consuming and drive
the price too high .
John
Here's the link to the screws I use:http://www.grkfasteners.com/composite_decking_screw.htm
You can get the screws color matched to most synthetic decking to help them blend away a little more too.
I wouldn't recommend using a construction adhesive and finish nails. If you don't want face fasteners I recommend you use EB-TY (http://www.ebty.com) you use a biscuit joiner and stainless screws, it will be time consuming, but it will look great! If you need to use screws try TreapEase (http://www.fastenmaster.com) I use them, It doesn't need to be pre-drill just line up the decking and screw away!
I recently replaced my deck with Trex. I too did not like the idea of using a fastener that would show; what I ended up with was a fastener system that worked from the under side. I used a system called 'Deckmaster', http://www.deckmaster.com. It was not inexpensive but I really like the look. It has been in place now for three years with no signs of failing.
Has anyone tried solvent weld adhesives on Trex? That's the best way to glue plastic to itself. Gluing plastic to other things is far more difficult, and usually better avoided.
But if you could screw down sleepers of Trex, and then solvent weld the deck to them, that would be solid and easy to do, and no visible fasteners.
-- J.S.