Not sure if that would be compatible with Trex decking boards design but it’s worth looking into.
Building a deck
- Thread starter legi
- Start date
Can’t. Wife wants it done asap. I will yield in this battle.
Yeah that’s one of the concerns I have that hopefully isn’t as bad. Decking is light color so that should help some. And the way it’s made according to Trex, it’s not supposed to get hot, so we’ll see. Deck will face SW so that doesn’t help.
Well hopefully you are wrong cause the material has already been ordered and paid for.
The footings are going to be the biggest PITA of the building process. The rest is pretty easy. Make sure you have enough of them to support the span of the joists and that they’re level, plumb and square. Decks are an easy target for a home inspector if you ever try to sell. Make sure everything is up to code.
Just make sure you have extra so in the future if for any reason you need to replace a damaged piece or two it will be an exact match. Other than that.......keep it clean and watch as time goes on if it starts to absorb moisture. When/if that happens you will need to seal it with something like Defy. Good luck.
This,
When I did mine, digging the post holes to below frontline, setting the posts and pouring the concrete was by far the biggest PITA for the whole deal. The steps on my first deck were a challenge as I cut the stringers myself but after doing it once, I found that the menards and other shops around prefab stringers that makes life much easier.
Take a look at TimberTech pro series. It is much more scratch resistant than Trex. After seeing how much labor went in to the replacement of a 12x20 deck, I'd never touch that project. 2-4 guys working 4-6 hours for at least 5 days.
We are a year in and have been happy with composite. No mold issues so far. It could use a light power wash after the winter.
We are a year in and have been happy with composite. No mold issues so far. It could use a light power wash after the winter.
As long as the decking is PVC capped, you shouldn't have worries about warping. Be sure your joists are 16" on center (or less), or you will have sagging problems with the decking. Hidden fasteners are awesome, the only drawback is if you have to replace one board it's tedious.
One thing you need to remember is the fascia (the wide, thinner piece that covers the outside joists) should NOT be screwed tightly without drilling holes through it first that are slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded part of the screw. The key is that the fascia only hangs on the screw....that way if heat causes minor expansion, it has room to move and won't become misshaped. (I learned this the hard way.)
Which Trex line did you use? Enhance?
One thing you need to remember is the fascia (the wide, thinner piece that covers the outside joists) should NOT be screwed tightly without drilling holes through it first that are slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded part of the screw. The key is that the fascia only hangs on the screw....that way if heat causes minor expansion, it has room to move and won't become misshaped. (I learned this the hard way.)
Which Trex line did you use? Enhance?
Don't rush on the framing, spend time to get that done right. Make sure you use the correct size hardware to attach the ledgers and beams.
The hidden fasteners for the trex makes it look really clean, plus you aren't opening up a bunch of holes for water and dirt to get in and ruin things. They also act as spacers.
The hidden fasteners for the trex makes it look really clean, plus you aren't opening up a bunch of holes for water and dirt to get in and ruin things. They also act as spacers.
FYI, FWIW, we added a 22' x 26' deck sounding similar to your plan in 2018. We did it ourselves. We purchased Trex for the decking - so far so good, very satisfied, no mildew or mold problems, would do it again. Ours is on the NE corner of the house, so it gets sunlight likely half the day (which will combat moisture buildup that could cause mold/mildew concerns). One big area to address is joist spacing - follow the recommendations. For example, if you plan to run the deck boards diagonally (as we did), you need to narrow up the joist spacing. Enjoy the challenge - good luck.
hah!
im the other way around.. id rather do it now but my wife is the one wanting to wait
This. We did Timbertech (AZEK) on our deck a few years ago and haven't regretted spending the extra money one bit. The JIG it comes with made it extremely easy to put on as well
I don't had personal experience but I've often been told not to fasten to house. If deck settles it can move or damage whatever it is fastened to. I'd be curious as to the experience of others.
Cyclone Fanatic: "Oh, it's great to do it yourself. Will save so much money."
Also Cyclone Fanatic: "Here are 15 paragraphs of things to watch out for that will royally screw up your deck and ruin it in the long run if you don't do it exactly right the first time!!!"
Also Cyclone Fanatic: "Here are 15 paragraphs of things to watch out for that will royally screw up your deck and ruin it in the long run if you don't do it exactly right the first time!!!"
If you're spending that kind of money go with cedar decking. Composite is garbage. And for the footing to deck posts go with 6×6 and notch them.
