Composite decking

[Fanatical Meat]

Last week my wife noticed we have some wooden deck boards that are rotted or very soft. I need to replace at least 3 to make it safe and 5 to do it right.
With the current cost of wood and some leftover stimulus money I am thinking I’ll replace with a composite board. Nothing fancy just straight runs, I do not want to frame the deck or anything crazy it simply doesn’t match our 1960 built houses simplicity.
Obviously I’ll need to pull off the rotted boards and inspect what is going on with the base but assuming that isn’t a complete mess which I suspect it isn’t a rotted mess, what should I look for?I don’t want to head into the $85 per board pvc range or the other funky engineered woods. Below are what I am thinking of.

I like the color of this, I think I like the grain of this but I am not sure because I haven’t seen it in person.
Also I am not sure if the square board (see below) I will need is being made. No store near me carries it. Seems kind of weird to end with a groove. I do not like how it is a Home Depot exclusive

Veranda 1 in. x 6 in. x 16 ft. Gray Grooved Edge Capped Composite Decking Board TABRDVCGG16 - The Home Depot

Veranda Composite Decking by Fiberon offers more homeowners the benefits of capped composite decking at a price closer to wood. Available in 2 popular, solid colors, Brown and Gray. Veranda Composite Decking is capped on 3-sides and backed by a 25-year Stain and Fade and 25-year Performance...

www.homedepot.com

I like the longer warranty, I like how I can get a square board with three finished sides board for the end, I like how it is not a Home Depot exclusive. Don’t like the color as much, I have seen this in person.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trex-Enhance-Basics-16-ft-Clam-Shell-Grooved-Composite-Deck-Board/1000763522

**square board is for the end so you have a normalize rounded end piece, not the whole deck**

Any advice guys?
any suggested fasteners?
any aftermarket caps for the ends of the boards? I’m not against painting them just not sure if the scalloped effect will get on my nerves.

facts deck is 16’ wide
16” on center appears to be I haven’t measured
Per my quick measure deck appears to be 9 1/2 feet long which seems sort of weird. I’ll get a better measure later.
My maths says I will need 19 or 20 boards in total does this sound right.
gets a moderate amount of sun but not full sun.

final most important thing, from day one my wife wanted to replace wood with composite boards, she is terrified of splinters.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

^^I would prefer not to do a facia board seems to add complexity and looks like that would be a massive water trap imo.

 

[Greenman]

The Trex you linked looks like it has it's own fastener system, I'd use that. Face nailing is ugly.
You can always use a wood facia board on the perimeter, done right, it adds a nice contrasting frame to the deck and hides the funky looking edge.

I would avoid any material that's a home depot exclusive. It's all price point driven and the main criteria is cheap.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

The Trex you linked looks like it has it's own fastener system, I'd use that. Face nailing is ugly.
You can always use a wood facia board on the perimeter, done right, it adds a nice contrasting frame to the deck and hides the funky looking edge.

I would avoid any material that's a home depot exclusive. It's all price point driven and the main criteria is cheap.

Sort of what I thought. I haven’t had good luck with Home Depot exclusive stuff.
Always the same thing, lasts for a while but not a long time then something stupid or easily replaceable breaks and it is impossible to repair or yeah it still has a warranty but fulfilling that warranty service is waaaaaay more work than I want to put into it.

Edit: just left Home Depot moments ago and the Veranda they have in stock appears to be the same color as Trex. This was more expensive so it may be from a different line.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

@Greenman would adding a facia board be a water drainage problem? As in water gets trapped between the front base lumber & the facia board which causes rot.
That is my main concern and a little about it is a pain in the ass job to cut around the stairs and bolts on the decks legs.
I guess I could always end without an overhang then decide if a facia board needs to be done a few months later.

 

[Greenman]

Pad out the exterior side of the frame with some 1x2 pt. Use vertical pieces 16" O.C. That solves the water trapping problem, and moves the facia board out past the bolts.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Pad out the exterior side of the frame with some 1x2 pt. Use vertical pieces 16" O.C. That solves the water trapping problem, and moves the facia board out past the bolts.

Ah that makes sense.
I love the simple solutions for carpentry. This is definitely an art and definitely something someone needs to have ability and practice at to understand.
Simple but complex interesting stuff.

 

[Greenman]

Ah that makes sense.
I love the simple solutions for carpentry. This is definitely an art and definitely something someone needs to have ability and practice at to understand.
Simple but complex interesting stuff.

It's a mind set. The simple method of expressing it is this. "If you can't fix it or hide, decorate it".

 

[Torn Mind]

My totally unprofessional reading of the interwebz is that you might get mold on composite decking....which kind of defeats the purpose of spending more money only to still require maintenance and cleaning.

Trex Decking Problems – Disadvantages of Composite Decking

If you are considering adding a new deck onto your home, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. That’s partly due to the number of options available to homeowners today, but also because of installation issues and decking problems across the industry.One of the more common questions we get from...

www.flooringclarity.com

 

[Fanatical Meat]

My totally unprofessional reading of the interwebz is that you might get mold on composite decking....which kind of defeats the purpose of spending more money only to still require maintenance and cleaning.

Trex Decking Problems – Disadvantages of Composite Decking

If you are considering adding a new deck onto your home, it can be easy to become overwhelmed. That’s partly due to the number of options available to homeowners today, but also because of installation issues and decking problems across the industry.One of the more common questions we get from...

www.flooringclarity.com

Yeah I have thought of this however I haven’t had a problem with wood and even if I do I typically wash at least one side of the house once or twice per year. This really wouldn’t be enough of a problem for me to be concerned with.

I am more concerned with my wife using a warped metal blade shovel to remove some snow or ice. I’ll leave a shovel out for her to use but she sometimes does weird things like grab an old metal shovel in the basement.
She scratched up the wood deck using a shovel that had half its edge fall off our first winter. Why she choose the super old shovel in the basement the previous owners left behind that also visibly had a piece hanging off of it when there was a new shovel next to the door is beyond my understanding.
HOWEVER this is something she has wanted and it is semi important to her, it is more likely she will follow care directions very specifically regarding shoveling.

 

[bbhaag]

Not sure what your budget is but if you're looking for low maintenance and durable decking take a look at https://www.deckorators.com/. Marches issue of The Family Handyman had a blurb about it. It costs more up front but apparently over time it costs less. IDK as I've never used it but just one more option to consider.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Not sure what your budget is but if you're looking for low maintenance and durable decking take a look at https://www.deckorators.com/. Marches issue of The Family Handyman had a blurb about it. It costs more up front but apparently over time it costs less. IDK as I've never used it but just one more option to consider.

Thanks & yes this is on the list to check out. Unfortunately the Lowe’s near me did not have any.
I have a feeling it is going to be Trex basics color appears to be what my wife would like.
In my area deckerator would add about $6 per board which isn’t too bad.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Pulled up the worst (most soft) board today.
What is everyone’s opinion of the underside?









There are more but they all appear mostly new. These are the worst boards.
I don’t like the splits in them I assume I could fix that with wood fill or wood hardener and the butt(whatever) roofing tape. Part facing the ground appears nearly new on all. Worn part goes down a little bit from the top of the board.
I haven’t checked how level they are because I don’t have any string long enough.

@Greenman @sdifox

I’m not looking for this to last forever but I would like at least 10 years out of it.

 

[Greenman]

Doesn't look all that bad to me. Is the wood soft? If it will hold a screw, shoot on some coppergreen and call it good.

You could go over the joist with this stuff as well.

DeckWise JoistTape 3 in. x 75 ft. Self-Adhesive Joist Barrier Tape JST-TAPE-3-INx75-FT - The Home Depot

JoistTape Self-Adhesive Joist Barrier Tape adheres to the top-side of deck joists prior to installing deck boards. Also for use around deck support posts as well as over ledger boards. This self-adhesive

www.homedepot.com

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Doesn't look all that bad to me. Is the wood soft? If it will hold a screw, shoot on some coppergreen and call it good.

You could go over the joist with this stuff as well.

DeckWise JoistTape 3 in. x 75 ft. Self-Adhesive Joist Barrier Tape JST-TAPE-3-INx75-FT - The Home Depot

JoistTape Self-Adhesive Joist Barrier Tape adheres to the top-side of deck joists prior to installing deck boards. Also for use around deck support posts as well as over ledger boards. This self-adhesive

www.homedepot.com

Per tapping at it the worst board feel firm to me. Not brand new firm because of the crack but I am sure a screw would hold in there.
Look at you passing simple carpentry knowledge again. Screw test is simple and makes sense.
I have a few more to remove but if it all looks like this I’m going composite.

 

[Greenman]

The joist tape will get you a few more years out of the deck. Worth doing.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

The joist tape will get you a few more years out of the deck. Worth doing.

Yeah that’s the but(whatever) tape name I was looking for.

 

[Torn Mind]

They make epoxy based wood hardener. https://resin-expert.com/en/guide/best-wood-hardener

Woodlife Classic apparently treats wood.

 

[Greenman]

They make epoxy based wood hardener. https://resin-expert.com/en/guide/best-wood-hardener

Woodlife Classic apparently treats wood.

Not worth it on joists that are already uncovered to replace the decking. Rip the junk out and replace it.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Rut Roh
I hope I do not find more spots like this.
Soft spongy and crumbly
Fortunately it is only on the top of the stringer



Side

 

[Greenman]

Dig out the rot, shoot it with coppergreen, fill it with bondo.
If more than 25% of the material is decayed you should replace the joist.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Dig out the rot, shoot it with coppergreen, fill it with bondo.
If more than 25% of the material is decayed you should replace the joist.

When you say Bondo you mean something like this and not the car Bondo correct?

Bondo 12 fl. oz. Wood Filler 30081 - The Home Depot

Bondo Wood Filler is a permanent, fully paintable repair material for a broad range of projects inside and outside the home. Ideal for almost any wood surface, the 2-part wood filler forms a permanent

www.homedepot.com

 

[Greenman]

Car bondo works just fine. All you're looking to do is fill the void so it supports the deck board and doesn't hold water. I would use whichever is cheapest.

 

[paperfist]

Yeah I have thought of this however I haven’t had a problem with wood and even if I do I typically wash at least one side of the house once or twice per year. This really wouldn’t be enough of a problem for me to be concerned with.

I am more concerned with my wife using a warped metal blade shovel to remove some snow or ice. I’ll leave a shovel out for her to use but she sometimes does weird things like grab an old metal shovel in the basement.
She scratched up the wood deck using a shovel that had half its edge fall off our first winter. Why she choose the super old shovel in the basement the previous owners left behind that also visibly had a piece hanging off of it when there was a new shovel next to the door is beyond my understanding.
HOWEVER this is something she has wanted and it is semi important to her, it is more likely she will follow care directions very specifically regarding shoveling.

Watch out on the Trex, most of it just has a top layer if you're looking at the stained look kind. You can cut through that and there's no way to repair it. They aren't as pretty, but the solid color type is usually the same color all the way through.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Watch out on the Trex, most of it just has a top layer if you're looking at the stained look kind. You can cut through that and there's on way to repair it. They aren't as pretty, but the solid color type is usually the same color all the way through.

Yeah, I have noticed that. The foggy wharf version is similar color thru the whole board. I am likely just going to leave the scalloped end as is if it bothers me I will figure something out. The deck door is our main entrance so there is a good chance it will get on my nerves. Framing just adds to much to the job and I really don't want to go down that road.
Per my reading Trex has changed how they make their boards a few years ago appearently they are far more scratch resistant and less likely to fad after 3 months. I think it was something like the majority of fading will happen in the first 90 days then it slows down so it is possible to replace one board in the future and after 90 days the color should be comparable