Composite decking??? worth it

[bucktaker]

Eddie,
Using these Gold Deck Screw | Deck Screws - WholesaleBolts.com
Again a compromise vs Stainless Steel

Beltman
where is your lake house?

 

[Beltman60]

Lake Cumberland in KY
about where in SW Ohio are you?
I'm in Warren Co

 

[Graysonn]

Agree with the fact that it is essential to find companies that can provide you with decent work services. This is how you are sure that everything will go smoothly. Every time I get just some seek advice from consultants, others from friends through their own experiences. For example, some years ago, when I needed to grow the house, I was recommended to use the services of Fencing contractors Maidenhead, Marlow & Windsor . It really was a good company that I had the pleasure of working with. But is where other great companies too?

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'm not a big fan of trex decking, especially the first generation of it's design, yes it was hot to the touch and slippery when wet, Although the market has re-designed the composite decking, They offer it with textured surfaces and V-grooves texture that helps to provide a none slippery surface, But I'm not sure that anything has been changed as far as it heating up goes,

Have you explored the Ipe wood? it's a beautiful material to use on decks and is almost comparable to cost of trex, perhaps 10% more,

3rd option would be to use a good grade of P/T materials, being sure to keep it sealed at least every other year, if the decking boards ever were to become in rough condition, There is a product now on the market that's call Restore,
Though actually I haven't found anyone who has tried it to provide feedback, so I couldn't be sure of how long it will last or if it's just another gimmick,
I may have to try it out on my own deck to see how it does,

It helps to install a lighter colored decking. Dark brown in the sun is always a big mistake. I installed a light gray composite in 2004, and it's still looking great with only occasional pressure washing. It does get hot in the sun, but not hot enough to burn my feet. It's on the south side of the house where it gets over 100 degrees on a sunny summer day, so I don't spend much time there. I also built a gazebo out of the same material, and it stays cool in the shade, and mold is not a problem like it is with wood. Treated lumber is pretty toxic stuff with a high arsenic content, so I don't use it where human contact is possible.

 

[oosik]

My dock with its Trek decking has been in place for 17 years now. Still as good as new - still have to wash off the goose poop every so often. It's light tan and does get hotter than blazes in the afternoon sun. What you see in this picture is wind blown dirt and silt.
It's just too darn dry hereabouts for any type of mold.

 

[sandman2234]

All of your comments have made my decision for me. I have a Big Tex 5th wheel trailer to haul my tractor, and the deck was getting rotten. I busted through it in a few places last time I used it, and you should have seen my inlaws when I went to load the tractor back up on the trailer with the busted floor. They didn't realize that the cross-members would hold the tractor! I have purchased some semi-trailer aluminum decking to put back on it, to go with some that I already had. The issue is that it requires two pieces of strips to go between a couple of the runners. Didn't really want to add wood, because of future rot, that is why I went with aluminum, but now that I have read this page, I will probably go with wood anyway. The spacing on the cross-members is too far apart for this material, which would it to cause sag and probably not hold up under an 8,000 pound tractor, even though the weight would be distributed onto the aluminum as well.
Thanks for the help!
David from jax

 

[txdon]

The spacing on the cross-members is too far apart for this material, which would it to cause sag and probably not hold up under an 8,000

Agreed. Not a good material for a trailer hauling a tractor because of it's flexibility.

 

[RalphVa]

In the planning stages for a floating boat dock @ my place on Norris Lake. PT wood framing over encapsulated floats.
10x26 single slip with a 12x32 sun deck all told about 575 sq feet decking.

I have run the numbers for either #1 grade PT 2x6's or Premium Grade 5/4 decking vs the cheapest composite decking.

Composite is still at least $2 a running ft . I have read lots a negatives about the low end composites with mold and such. Any one have any experience or care to cast a opinion?

composite @ lowes $26 per 12 ft piece
#1 grade PT 2x6 8.35 each 12 ft
premium 5/4 9.75 each 12

Will need 115 boards.

Good luck. This new treated lumber stuff stinks. It corrodes screws unless they're stainless. It also rots out easily. Have replaced several boards on the deck redone around 2011ish and at least half the screws.

Don't know anything about composites, but I'd be leaning towards using them. If you could afford the PVC lumber, I'd ever go for that. It WILL NOT rot out.

 

[check]

Good luck. This new treated lumber stuff stinks. It corrodes screws unless they're stainless. It also rots out easily. Have replaced several boards on the deck redone around 2011ish and at least half the screws.

Don't know anything about composites, but I'd be leaning towards using them. If you could afford the PVC lumber, I'd ever go for that. It WILL NOT rot out.

Wow, Ralph, that is a surprise. I have had great luck with the new (brown) PT decking. And I love the color! Much better than the old green stuff.