Trex Enhance Basics Saddle Composite Deck Board Reviews
While owning a nigh one hundred twelvemonth old home on the harsh Oregon coast, the time finally came to replace the rotted covered front end porch deck and stairs. This was 1999 and a brand new production was just making its style into the decking and railing industry. Hither'southward my product review of Trex decking.
1999: Deck #1
With really zilch else available every bit a comparison, I chose to employ Trex, a deck lath made from recycled plastic and forest composites. In preparation for the elevation decking, I subsequently replaced the porch joists with 2x8 fir boards spaced 12 inches autonomously, even though the company recommended a xvi inch span, to minimize the flex that naturally occurred with Trex lumber.
This kickoff generation Trex, referred to as Trex Origins, measured approximately 1 inch thick, did not take side grooves for a hidden fastener system, and came with a light simulated wood grain finish on one side. I chose the cherry-red colored Madeira, which was a role of the Trex Accents line, in 20 pes lengths. I also purchased railings, additional 2x2 in. lengths of textile to cut into balusters, and 4x4 in. end posts and post caps; all in Trex material. Although a hidden fastener system was offered, it was expensive and labor intensive, given that there were no side grooves to install the fasteners into this early on product. I chose to use square slotted deck screws, specifically designed for composite decking and in the same carmine color as the decking itself. I installed the decking with the assist of a small-scale framing foursquare with a i/iv in. thick edge which I slid between each deck lath to create the proper spacing between them. I used white washable chalk to snap chalk lines forth each joist length and used the framing square to marking exact screw drill points on each Trex board.
This deck has now been installed at this coastal home for eighteen years. Other than a yearly lite washing with my pressure washer to remove dirt and a small accumulation of mold, the deck has kept its integrity. It has faded a scrap just the grain is still intact and the railing is secure. As you read on, this has not been the case with further Trex experiences, and I attribute the overall condition of this deck to being primarily under a covered porch, subjected to only rain and limited direct sunlight.
2006: Deck #2
In 2006, we congenital a home in central Oregon, a high desert area known for common cold winters with snowfall, occasional sub-nix temperatures and summers with intense sun and extremely dry humidity. The house included a 900 foursquare foot elevated deck, partially covered, with southern exposure. My wife and I decided to install the deck boards ourselves and subsequently comparing various composite deck products that were now on the market, we again chose Trex, primarily because of our satisfaction with the deck installed at our littoral domicile. In 2006 Trex was still offer the first generation Trex Origins.
Considering of snow load considerations, our contractor installed the deck joists 16 inches apart using 2x10 in. fir beams. We subsequently installed the Trex deck boards in ii 20x23 foot sections using a single Trex deck board at an adjacent angle to separate the two sections from each other. Nosotros chose Saddle as the color and although a more user friendly hidden fastener system was now on the marketplace, we again decided to screw the deck down from the acme. I decided to use screws again, not as a cost saving issue, but rather that I had concerns near the deck'south movement due to snow load and the substantial wrinkle that occurs with a composite deck subjected to extreme temperature changes, all of which I was afraid might compromise the hidden fasteners. We therefore installed the deck using the same technique mentioned earlier.
This deck has now been in place for 8 years. We take found that all of the decking direct exposed to the elements has lost all of its simulated grain. The colour has faded, as the company stated it would, unfortunately leaving the deck with a rather plain tan unattractive finish. The areas nether comprehend notwithstanding retain the forest grain look. To the DeckMate screw company's credit, the screws, although having now lost well-nigh of their original saddle color, still expect indistinguishable from the deck itself. By researching Trex, I learned that the company faced 2 lawsuits for their first generation Trex decking, brought forth by allegations that their Nevada constitute, between 2003 and 2006, manufactured a board that was discipline to splitting, staining, bubbling, warping, discoloring, etc. This lawsuit has been settled, with Trex paying for fractional replacement of their faulty product and no longer offering the first generation boards to consumers.
We have been lucky. Our deck has non suffered any of the mentioned issues, other than several very modest flecks of white plastic that has shown through in a few areas and a couple of barely noticeable bubbles that have not blistered through. We practise accept a friend who had a Trex deck professionally installed in a dwelling house they purchased at the same time nosotros installed ours. Their deck almost immediately began to bubble with large chunks of the deck actually flaking off. They received rempensation from Trex and ultimately had to have the deck replaced, bearing the cost of installation themselves.
2012: Deck #three
Despite these recent Trex concerns, in 2012 nosotros decided to build a pocket-sized patio deck in the backyard of the coastal abode were we had originally built our showtime Trex porch deck in 1999. Wanting to lucifer the original porch and rear Trex entry step'due south color and cloth, nosotros again chose Trex in Madeira cherry. This is when I learned that the original Trex I had first used was no longer available. Instead, Trex was offering its second generation product, and nosotros chose the Trex Select line. This Trex, which thankfully did lucifer the Madeira colour perfectly, now came in a slightly thinner version with side grooves for withal some other improved fastener system and a much deeper simulated grain. This new composite decking claims to be more than atmospheric condition and stain resistant just unfortunately cannot exist butted upwardly to the original Trex because of the thickness deviation. I was forced to supersede some of the original steps with the new production to create the new thickness needed and I again installed this decking with top mounted screws. To appointment this decking is showing superior habiliment to the original Trex product.
Equally a side note, in 2011 I assisted a neighbour with the installation of a TimberTech deck, also made from recycled plastic and forest composites. This decking, installed in an unprotected area and subject to the central Oregon conditions extremes, is similar to the 2nd generation Trex deck I installed on the Oregon coast. Subsequently encountering some problems with that company's hidden fastener system, we again installed it using composite decking screws in a matching color. This deck has now survived three seasons of snow, freezing temperatures, and direct, all day summer lord's day. It looks exactly as it did the mean solar day it was installed with admittedly no fading or surface blemishes.
Conclusion
I have built numerous cedar and composite decks over the last 40 years. A blended deck is far superior to a cedar deck in terms of seasonal ease of maintenance. Nothing can compare with the beauty of a new cedar deck, merely that beauty is fleeting, and and then the work begins. The modernistic composite deck can remain cute for years with minimal budget; although you will always have to admit that you are standing on plastic, not real wood.
A composite deck is non trouble free all the same. It can be stained by grease and suntan oil, just like wood, and it can be scratched past dragging deck furniture across information technology. Never use a colored Strait-Line chalk when mark joist lines as they tin exist permanent and simply removed with solvents. Hidden fasteners are now a preferred installation system, but screws, and even nails, are still an option in certain situations. If screws are used, I recommend using either a professional deck screw gun or pre-drilling each hole to prevent stripping or breaking them.
Would I cull Trex over another product today? Not necessarily. If I were building a deck today I would research all the available manufacturers and pick one that has positive consumer reviews and the color and stop most desired. I would simply buy a solid core product that does non demand a cap affixed to the stop to make information technology wait finished. Lastly, if possible, I would avoid the ribbed underside style as it will e'er demand a butted fascia board to give the deck a finished wait.
Source: https://www.timbertown.com/trex-product-review-two-decades-of-decking/
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