Replies

1. 
   Pro-Dek | Apr 28, 2001 06:58pm | #1

   *
   Bill- I normally route the ends of Trex to eliminate any rough butt joints, and have never seen it swell. I also pre-drill Trex with a counter sink bit before I screw it down to eliminate swelling at the fasteners.What your seeing probably is not swelling but the inconsistancy of product thickness,improper butt spacing (if they didn't leave enough space between the joints the ends wil mash together from expansion)and an improper installation.Bob

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Apr 28, 2001 07:24pm | #2

   *bill, my experience with Trex is the same as Pro-Decks..i like it....

1. 
   G.LaLonde | Apr 29, 2001 12:59am | #3

   *I third that motion! Different lengths and different batches are different thickness and width. A pain in the *** when you're installing. I have a Trex deck that is about 5 years old and it looks like the day I installed it. I always try to get pieces of the same length and batch to work with...then you don't have that problem. I like Trex.

1. 
   bill_burns | Apr 29, 2001 03:45am | #4

   *thanks for the replies. i thought it might be an unusual thing, especially since it has one that is thicker next to one that is not. i think the notion that it may be due to batch differences and possibly minor manufacturing variances makes sense. now my next questions are can you sand or plane to get it even, aand would you guy's use it on your own homes?

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Apr 29, 2001 04:22am | #5

   *well.. i've routed it, sanded it, planed it and carved it..i've plugged it, glued it and epoxied it...and i've used it on my own home.. i like trex

2. 
   Mark_"if_I_were_a_carpenter | Apr 29, 2001 06:00am | #6

   *Bill, in answer to your questions... Yes! and Yes!

3. 
   Tom_Moller | Apr 29, 2001 07:18am | #7

   *Trex does expand and contract with temperature change. It's just the opposite of wood in the sense that wood moves more in width and less in length. The plastic moves a lot in the length. If you fit it tight on a hot day, there will be gaps when it gets cold. This is ok.If you fit it tight on a cold day, it will try to expand and buckle when it gets hot. Not good.This is true not only for Trex, but for all of the plastic decking materials. Most of them say in the instructions: be sure to leave enough gap to allow for expansion.

4. 
   Pro-Dek | Apr 29, 2001 08:52am | #8

   *I'll take wood over composite decking anyday.I just think it looks better.Yes, it's more work to keep it looking good,but I just like the appearance of real wood. Bob

5. 
   bill_burns | Apr 30, 2001 03:34am | #9

   *hey everybody, thanks for replies. i went back today to look more closely at the trex deck. the deck is built using a spacing of 16" centers, with the trex laid an the diagonal. this is the first mistake, i believe. additionally, i realized that all of the spots that are raised up are on boards that are only spanning ONE BAY!. this is allowing the board to flex excessively, it is taking a set, and debris is accumulating under the edge, keeping it up!! i think i will use trex, but i will definitely build on 12" centers.i am going to check with supplier for trex recommendation for spans.

6. 
   Mike_Smith | Apr 30, 2001 05:06am | #10

   *trex recommendation is 16" OC for normal to joist..and 12" OC for diagonal to joist..

2. 
   bill_burns | Apr 30, 2001 06:34am | #11

   *
   looked at a trex deck today in front of an ikea store. i noticed the material is swelling at the butt joints! is this normal and expected.
   it was not at every joint, which created a tripping hazard if one board swelled, and the other did not. i was considering using this on my own deck, now i am having second thoughts.
   any input on this and any other synthetic deck products will be appreciated.