What are some downside considerations of using TREX decking? I’m building a deck for my daughter and son-in-law in Seattle and we are wondering if a synthetic decking would be a better choice than cedar or pressure treated lumber.
Thanks, 73pickup
What are some downside considerations of using TREX decking? I’m building a deck for my daughter and son-in-law in Seattle and we are wondering if a synthetic decking would be a better choice than cedar or pressure treated lumber.
Thanks, 73pickup
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Replies
I can't think of any reason not to use Trex.
It is quiet to walk on
doesn't get hot to walk on in your bare feet
easy to clean
easy to cut sand and route
I guess the only downside is it is so dang heavy to work with.
Bob
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
I have two TREX decks. One is 4 years old and the other is fairly new. Great product!! Easy to install and maintenance free. Wouldn't have anything else. A little spendy to install, but you will quickly recover the cost difference since it doesn't require annual treatments.
Jack Lindsey
I too like and have used the product. One downside is that the colors will fade over time. This is not usually an issue for most people as it fades evenly.
The weight factor is something to consider. It's about 20% heavier than wood. This can be a factor if you're redecking an existing structure.
I predrill all my screw holes - more time consuming. I know there are some screws out there that claim not to need it, but the square-drive stainless steel screws that I like require it.
Of course a final drawback is that it doesn't look like wood. It looks nice, but different. At my own residence (a Queen Anne Vic.) I have used it on some of the upper porches (out of site), but I don't think I'd use it in areas in plain site from the street or yard. Still, the advantages of never fussing with the material again is great.
Best,
Seth
There are very few down sides. This product falls into the "too good to be true" catagory, except that it really is. 1) It is heavier than wood so you need to follow the recommendations for runner spacing. 2) It is expensive but if you take into account all the problems Trex solves over wood you quickly forget about the cost. One thing I don't agree with is Seth's post about not using it in areas where "it can be seen from the street." Yes it's true that Trex doesn't look like wood but it's not supposed to. Trex has a list of product claims and "looks like wood" is not one of them. Besides, after you pull a couple of splinters out of your feet or your kids' feet from your wood deck Trex is gonna look a whole lot better!!!
I don't understand why they try to make the stuff that's not wood look like wood. I can do without Cedar Mill Hardiplank and the wood graining on some of the composite decking. I mean, in the old days when they only had wood, the people who were trying to be high-falutin' had smooth siding. That's what made them look rich. They could afford planing and paint. I guess that bead on the edge was like a diamond brooch. I just don't understand the imitation grain. I'm using Harkiplank smooth to replace my cedar.
But I'm waiting on the wood fiber and recycled plastic decking to FEEL better. I understand they made it to be non-slippery, but it kind of grosses me out. My brother-in-law has a pressure treated deck with a Trex rail. I guess so don't get splinters in your hands but they assume you have on shoes? It's just so weird feeling. Clammy and bumpy or something. It reminds me of pulling gum off your shoe after you walked through dirt.
I guess I want a handrail that feels like velvet. I'll look for that at next year's trade shows....
B
BReese,
I completey agree with your sentiments on wood-like grain. It's not, everyone who cares knows that it's not so why try to fool anyone? I'm glad that Trex makes no attempt to look like wood. Jon Blakemore
The best reason to use it is no maintainence. I just spent a day and $90 restaining my treated deck, as I do every other year...and it looks shabby by the end of the year, even with Sikkens stain. How many gallons of stain and hours will I spend over the lifetime of my deck? Cedar and redwood are no better. I refuse to install any of these now. I have replaced cedar decks less than ten years old. Composites or Ipe are the only way to go. Acorn
Just did a 3000+ sq. ft deck with trex. Downsides are that you need 12" on center framing, it is very flexible, which makes it a pain to carry around, and the mushrooming you get with most fasteners. There is a screw made by FastenMaster that takes care of that problem but, each screw must be put in one at a time (as opposed to using a stand up screw gun with collated screws). With FastenMasters you will see each head just below the surface. We used the standup screw guns and then hammered down the subsequent mushrooming to give a slightly "hidden look" to the fasteners. Oh, and by the way, Trex does get hot. Really hot. The deck we did was around a pool, and in direct sun light. On the plus side, it won't rot, splinter, or need any maintenance. Four colors to choose from, and nice and smooth. Good luck! D.
D.,
12" oc framing? Here's how I understand the breakdown (attach to a min. of three joists):
5/4 x 6
12" oc for commercial decks, broadwalks and marinas
16" oc for residential decks and light duty decks
2 x 4, 6, 8
16" oc for commercial decks, broadwalks and marinas
20" oc for residential decks and light duty decks
These are spans suggested in the Trex Contractor Handbook.
I very much agree with you regarding the difficulty of carrying because of the flexibility. Pulling 16' 5/4 planks up two stories ain't no fun!
Best,
Seth"Nothing is a
mistake. There is no win
and there is no fail . . . there is only
make."
John Cage
Seth, We read that in the literature also, but, we were using the 5/4 x 6 material, and when you feel the flex in that size, 16"oc. really seems to far. Even with the 12"oc., slight variations in the framing are visable, (to us in the trade). D