Porch Decking

[Chad Fabry]

I installed this decking after replacing all the framing for a porch at my house last week.

It looks very appropriate, machines nicely and will hold paint. Even unpainted it looks like wood. When it's painted I'm pretty sure even the most discerning eye won't pick up on the fact that it's recycled pop bottles.

I ordered the ogee trim too; it's identical to what I (and the wdo's) took off.

I'll post some pics when it's painted.

[Tom Raymond]

Good to see someone picked up the line, Tendura was a cool product that I was sad to see go away. I hope you followed the instructions, particularly the ventilation requirements. You'll be sorry if you didn't.

Tom

[Chad Fabry]

I hope you followed the instructions, particularly the ventilation requirements. You'll be sorry if you didn't.

I follow directions. I even used the $60 stainless steel screws w/ a T10 Torx head that'll strip if you let the impact driver beat that one last time.

[kurt]

Cost per sf?

I'm doing my bungalow backporch this year, and might use that stuff. I was thinking traditional fir with marine finish, but I could be convinced otherwise.

[Chad Fabry]

Cost per sf?

It's expensive ~$12 with screws. I paid $31.50 for each 3-1/8" x 12' board and I had to work the supplier like a sore rib to get that price. If any of you buy it cheaper than that, don't tell me.

You could put all my waste in a 1 gallon paint can and I'm trying to figure out what I can use it for... I can't make myself throw it away.

[Tom Raymond]

Cost per sf?

I'm doing my bungalow backporch this year, and might use that stuff. I was thinking traditional fir with marine finish, but I could be convinced otherwise.

If you're gonna finish it bright mahogany would look better. Around here it's cheaper too.

Tom

[Marc]

I follow directions. I even used the $60 stainless steel screws w/ a T10 Torx head that'll strip if you let the impact driver beat that one last time.

Why would you use an impact driver Chad?

Marc

[Chad Fabry]

Why would you use an impact driver Chad?

Because drills are as crude as rocks once you get used to these.

[gtblum]

Why would you use an impact driver Chad?

Because drills are as crude as rocks once you get used to these.

I'll second that!

I had a Makita Combo issued to me by a contractor I worked for. When I finally got laid off, I cried because I had to give it back. Not because I was laid off.

[kurt]

Ouch.

You can still get fir, mahogany, tropical hardwood, the works, cheaper than the plastic stuff. That's the conundrum.

Yeah, the 18v impact driver phenomenon. You can just ram stuff clean and neat with those suckers.

[hausdok]

Cost per sf?

It's expensive ~$12 with screws. I paid $31.50 for each 3-1/8" x 12' board and I had to work the supplier like a sore rib to get that price. If any of you buy it cheaper than that, don't tell me.

You could put all my waste in a 1 gallon paint can and I'm trying to figure out what I can use it for... I can't make myself throw it away.

Yikes,

I can get 3/4 by 3-1/4 T & G Douglas Fir here which is an exact match to the original old porch flooring for $2.05 a linear foot.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Tom Raymond]

The last time I did mahogany it was 60 some cents a lineal foot, 1x3 T&G, flat one side, mini bevel the other, virtually clear. It was a wierd species though, very similar to spanish cedar but more open. The tropical species start around $2, and ipe machined to match the plastic stuff is around $3 a lineal.

Tom

[Chad Fabry]

Yeah it's 30% more than select fir. I looked at the select fir and wondered who selected it though.

[John Kogel]

I had a scary experience about a week ago with these recycled plastic 2X6's. I thought they were just well-painted wood, was more interested in the roof at that point. I got up to about the fifth rung and the ladder started to skid out from under me. I just caught the edge of the gutter to save myself and pull the ladder up straighter so it would stay put. My Jaws ladder doesn't normally slip on wood decking, but vinyl or this hard plastic doesn't give the same grip.

The client was delighted, though. One part of the shack that didn't need work. []

Well, except for the missing railings, that is.

If the prices came down a bit, I know we'd see more of this stuff. It's a great product.

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[Marc]

No argument about that plastic being slippery but your ladder doesn't have much bearing area on the porch. The ladders that I've seen have these pivoting rubber pads that pivot to make full contact with the floor, regardless of the angle of the ladder.

Of course, you already know that.

Marc