Deck Board Replacement ???

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Our 17 year old pressure treated 5/4 x 6 deck boards are in poor shape. Guess when you do not maintain the boards with regular application of sealer that’s what happens. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Soo going to rip the top boards off and apply new ones. I figure I need about 100- 16 footers at $25 apiece for the Lowe’s product it adds up quickly. Looking at some the deck cover options on the market now. Seems like a lot of wood plastic products on the market. Anyone use these new products, Lowe’s has Weyerhaeuser Choice Dek Premium, limited lifetime warranty. How are these products holding up? I think they have been on the market for just a few years, so field experience must be limited. Does anyone make a product to put over existing decking to cover the boards? Any other options??

Thanks for your help.

 

[Bird]

Tom, I haven't used any of it yet, but have looked at several brands at local lumber yards. It looked pretty good to me, and the way the salesmen described them, it sounded good, except for two points: (1) it cost more, and (2) you need the floor joists under it closer together; not as strong. So, that's just what I've been told; no personal experience. And I decided to use 2 x 6 instead of those thinner boards like you have.

 

[OkeeDon]

On my new house, I plan to use one of the manufactured decking products -- if the budget permits by the time I get to that point. We're going to have lots of decked porches and pool deck, almost 2400 sq feet.

I've seen some of this that has been installed for a number of years (at a time-share condo on the beach where we stayed), and it looks good after time. However, where they did not put the joists close enough, as Bird said, it sagged badly. Minimum is 16"; better would be 12" on center.

At my cabin in the mountains, we used 2x6's on joists spaced 24" on center, and they look great, without maintenance, 14 years later. The thing is still strong enough to drive a car onto it. Also, at my former shop, we built a maintenance area on a deck built with 2x6's; just the other day I drove my tractor across that deck to move some engine blocks. 2x6's don't look as good as 5/4 because they don't have the radiused edges, but they sure are strong.

The plastic wood decking looks like it will cost almost double the 2x6's, and if I install the joists 12" on center, that's double the number of joists. I really like the look and low maintenance of the plastic, but if the budget chokes by that point, I'll go to the 2x6's with little hesitation.

 

[DocHeb]

I used Trex 10 years ago for my deck. It has held up well, but even though I think I spaced it as directed, the boards have swelled some and trap leaf debris. This lets the boards stay wet too long - which leads to mildew. It cleans up well with bleaching deck cleaner in the spring, but isn't as "no-maintenance" as I expected.

They make some great new screws for composite (man-made) decking. They have two separate areas of thread that have different pitches. They pull the boards down TIGHT, and then counterbore the heads neatly, ending perfectly flush with the deck surface.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I've used 2 different plastic decking matials and am satisfied with both.

Because we are on a slope, my built in pool is only 1/2 built in, so on the downhill side we built up a deck that runs 8' by 42' with a dark brown plastic decking material. It is thin and did require support every 12" but it is totally no-maintainence as it is totally a plastic product. One down side is while the dark brown color looks good, it does get hot on your feet. That decking has been down for 6 or 7 years and NOTHING has been done to it and it still looks new.

We also have a smaller deck area that we used a plastic/sawdust composite decking. It has greyed nicely and looks very natural. It is also about 1.75" thick and is very stiff. It was put on 16" centers and is showing no signs of sagging after 3 years. I spaced the deck boards apart using 16 penny nails as spacers to allow for water and snow to drain through.

Of the 2 decks we have, I prefer the heavy composite deck better because of the looks, because it doesn't get so hot, and because of the strenght. There are so many different decking materials out there that I think it is safe to say that you get what you pay for. And some of them cost a lot but those expensive types come with much longer warrenties.

My brother as a wood deck. Based on what I see him do, and what I know I do NOT do, I would rather pay the money up front, than pay money and labor (his own) for cleaning supplies and deck stain every year or two. In the long run, I think a good quality composite deck is cheaper. But I am the same guy who will use concrete instead of decking whenever possible so I have 3 patios and a large conceret porch . . . talk about NO MAINTAINENCE . . . I don't mind building things, but I don't want to spend my life taking care of them, I'd rather just spend time enjoying them. So what is your time worth to you?

 

[Junkman]

I am having the same problem with my deck and I am going to be replacing all the boards, plus adding onto the deck with the new material. If you are going across the joists, then 16 o.c. is OK. If you are doing it in a diagonal pattern, then it needs to be 12" o.c.. I am using a plastic biscuit that has a stainless steel screw in the middle to hold mine to the joists. I prefer not to have any top fasteners this time. The biscuits are $100 per box of 200 and in the end, the fasteners alone are a small kings ransom, but in the end, the clean look is worth it for me. They are also self spacing. The only problem that I can envision so far is that the new boards are thicker than the old 5/4 boards. The other thing that I am not sure that I care for, is that no matter what the color is when you put the decking down, it will soon weather to a grey finish. I was told that the boards will take a stain, but it will wear off quickly and that it is best to just let it weather.

 

[DocHeb]

I bought two boxes of those biscuits to put in my dad's front porch last fall, but when he found out how much they cost, he made me send them back. They are ridiculously expensive (considering that they are just injection molded plastic), and seemed to be made of a light enough plastic that they would "creep" or bend with time.

 

[Junkman]

You are correct that they are expensive, but I have seen decks that have been put down with them, and they are still in great shape and no problems 5 years later. My guess is that they will add about $1200 to the cost of my deck, less the cost of conventional fasteners. In the end, if it will keep the wife happy, that is what counts. Besides, the more that I spend, the less the government will take in inheritance taxes when I die. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DocHeb]

They sure do make for a nice appearing deck surface.

Have you looked at "Ipe", a rainforest wood (said to be grown on sustainable plantations?) The local LumberLiquidators sells the 3/4" x 6" stock for $1.39 a foot - it is a really solid piece of wood. They say the 3/4" can go on 16"oc, while the 5/4" can go on 24"oc. Considering the local Orange store is selling cedar for $1.25 a foot, the Ipe is a much denser/harder wood for not much of a price difference. They claim it will last as long as ACQ lumber, and outlast cedar.

 

[cisco]

If I could find evne a 10 year guarantee of the composite stuff, I'd use such for my next deck - but, I can't - seems the "limited" lifetime warranties offered locally are things like a 50% discount after 10 years of use for board replacement, and no labor reimbursement involved. No thanks.
I've a large deck, and a boat dock, surfaced with 2 X 6 treated (CCA) pine. I initially sprayed them with the Olympic 3 year deck stain, and every 3-4 years lightly pressure wash them, and then use a spray gun to re-apply the deck stain. So far, 15 years and counting.
When folks get out to 20 years on some particular brand of composite decking, which has required no treatment except a periodic hosing or pressure washing with anti-mildew stuff, I'll, gladly, buy the same stuff.