Composite Decking

tis · 04-11-2020, 06:19 PM

Azek is not a composite. It does not have wood in it. Trex is a composite. It has wood inside it which makes it heavier and which also makes it hotter and makes it especially susceptible to the dampness around the lake.

ishoot308 · 04-11-2020, 06:31 PM

Azek is 100% PVC, no wood or sawdust in it whatsoever. It is better suited for wet environments over Trex or other “composite” type decking.

Get the Azek and don’t look back!

Dan

Woody38 · 04-11-2020, 07:04 PM

Talked with the building inspector when we were considering building a deck. His recommendation was mahogany. He said he would tell me where to obtain the lumber and just how to put a finish on it. Unfortunately or not the deck was not built as we sold the house, but I believe i would go with the mahogany.
I watched the video on Build and the only thing I have to say is I an not fond of Sikens. Many boat owners on the Cape put it on their teak but others have used other products which I think performed better. However, that is a personal decision.

thinkxingu · 04-11-2020, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Azek is 100% PVC, no wood or sawdust in it whatsoever. It is better suited for wet environments over Trex or other “composite” type decking.

Get the Azek and don’t look back!

Dan

My deck is in direct sun most of the day, so I'm not too concerned with moisture. I think $ will dictate this decision as it appears not to be "a little more" but probably double. I'm still researching products and prices, though.

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ishoot308 · 04-11-2020, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

My deck is in direct sun most of the day, so I'm not too concerned with moisture. I think $ will dictate this decision as it appears not to be "a little more" but probably double. I'm still researching products and prices, though.

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If your deck is in direct sunlight you will rarely even have to clean / power wash it. The sun will keep it clean and mold free.

Yes it probably cost double compared to PT.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Dan

NH.Solar · 04-11-2020, 08:40 PM

Does anyone have experience with hollow composite boards? I'm thinking these might be an especially worthwhile consideration for the decking on removable dock sections because of their claimed reduced weight
https://www.newtechwood.com/hollow-vs-solid-boards/

tis · 04-12-2020, 08:04 AM

Our dock with Trex was in direct sun and it got black with mold.

We have also had mahogany on a deck and it is a beautiful wood but be prepared for constant upkeep. It always looks awful because you just can't keep up with it.

I agree with not liking Sikkens. It is awful, peels all the time.

thinkxingu · 04-12-2020, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Our dock with Trex was in direct sun and it got black with mold.

We have also had mahogany on a deck and it is a beautiful wood but be prepared for constant upkeep. It always looks awful because you just can't keep up with it.

I agree with not liking Sikkens. It is awful, peels all the time.

What was the fix for your black mold?

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tis · 04-12-2020, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

What was the fix for your black mold?

There isn't a fix. You live with it. We bleached it but you can't really get it out.

Biggd · 04-12-2020, 09:11 AM

If you have a lot of shade you will get mold no matter what product you use. The only solution is to cut down trees.

8gv · 04-12-2020, 09:32 AM

I have used two products from Lowe's that have made mold removal easy.

One is for siding and one is for the deck.

I spray it on, wait a few minutes and then hose off the yuk.

In limited areas a light brushing may be needed.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Home-Armor-...ner/1000210743

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mold-Armor-...ner/1000140751

The products seem to be interchangeable for my purposes.

tis · 04-12-2020, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

If you have a lot of shade you will get mold no matter what product you use. The only solution is to cut down trees.

Ours was in full sun and it molded. It just does.

thinkxingu · 04-12-2020, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

There isn't a fix. You live with it. We bleached it but you can't really get it out.

Gotcha. How long ago did you install the Trex? Are today's Trex any different/better?

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ishoot308 · 04-12-2020, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Gotcha. How long ago did you install the Trex? Are today's Trex any different/better?

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Think,

A PVC product like Azek will resist mold better than the sawdust coated composites like Trex. In the shade however, anything will mold slightly.

Dan

tis · 04-12-2020, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Gotcha. How long ago did you install the Trex? Are today's Trex any different/better?

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It was quite a while ago. Today it is encapsulated on the face to help prevent the mold but that only would help on the face. In the long run, spend a little more and you will be happy. I wish I knew then what I know now. Of course back when Azek wasn't around.

loonguy · 04-12-2020, 04:44 PM

The Trex we installed last year was top of the line. It was installed in a shady part of the house where the wood tends to show mold, but so far the Trex has not.

Biggd · 04-12-2020, 04:45 PM

I just did a deck over that I built 20 years ago. I built the frame like a rock with 2x10' so that was fine. I used Mahogany for the decking and the first 5 years I treated it with Thompson's water seal and it looked great. The next 10 years it was rented so I never went over to treat it. Many of the Mahogany boards dried out and split. Some rotted in spots that held water. I managed to buy some used Mahogany boards on Craigslist that were already weathered and I replaced the boards that were bad and treated the decking again with Thompson's.
The railing I made out of fir and painted white. It needed to be washed every few years as it would get black with mildew. It eventually rotted away and I replaced it with Pressure treated 2x4's and black aluminum balusters. I don't plan on staying here much longer so I wasn't going to spend the extra to do it all over in plastic.

Winilyme · 04-12-2020, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

I just did a deck over that I built 20 years ago. I built the frame like a rock with 2x10' so that was fine. I used Mahogany for the decking and the first 5 years I treated it with Thompson's water seal and it looked great. The next 10 years it was rented so I never went over to treat it. Many of the Mahogany boards dried out and split. Some rotted in spots that held water. I managed to buy some used Mahogany boards on Craigslist that were already weathered and I replaced the boards that were bad and treated the decking again with Thompson's.
The railing I made out of fir and painted white. It needed to be washed every few years as it would get black with mildew. It eventually rotted away and I replaced it with Pressure treated 2x4's and black aluminum balusters. I don't plan on staying here much longer so I wasn't going to spend the extra to do it all over in plastic.

Hey Biggd...hoping you aren’t leaving the lake or the forum. I enjoy your posts.

Biggd · 04-12-2020, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winilyme

Hey Biggd...hoping you aren’t leaving the lake or the forum. I enjoy your posts.

No, that house is in Waltham, Ma.
I just retired so I'm trying to convince my wife to move up to the lake full time.

Winilyme · 04-12-2020, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

No, that house is in Waltham, Ma.
I just retired so I'm trying to convince my wife to move up to the lake full time.

Now that sounds like a plan. My only problem with that is I hate cold weather. Imagine we’ll be snow birds one day. For now, CT will be our ‘warmer’ winter home.

I spent one or two days a week in Waltham for quite a few years when I was with FleetBoston Financial. They had a large corporate office there. Bank of America may be in that building now.

smith point boater · 04-13-2020, 07:30 AM

We've had both Trex and Azek. Go with Azek. Our deck is 20 years old. The Azek has a nice grain molded in. Every Spring (like I did yesterday) all I have to do is power wash it and it looks like a new deck!!! Amortized over time well worth the expense

tis · 04-13-2020, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smith point boater

We've had both Trex and Azek. Go with Azek. Our deck is 20 years old. The Azek has a nice grain molded in. Every Spring (like I did yesterday) all I have to do is power wash it and it looks like a new deck!!! Amortized over time well worth the expense

It seems everybody that has Azek loves it, doesn't it ? I guess we could say those who don't have it don't know what they are missing!

thinkxingu · 04-13-2020, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

It seems everybody that has Azek loves it, doesn't it ? I guess we could say those who don't have it don't know what they are missing!

Yes, and I might prefer it, too, but as best I can tell so far, Azek is 2-3X more expensive and all I can see is weight and a bit more cleaning for Trex.

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04-11-2020, 06:31 PM	#2
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,534 Thanks: 2,455 Thanked 5,468 Times in 2,143 Posts	Azek is 100% PVC, no wood or sawdust in it whatsoever. It is better suited for wet environments over Trex or other “composite” type decking. Get the Azek and don’t look back! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

04-11-2020, 08:40 PM	#6
NH.Solar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Jackson Pond, New Hampton Posts: 248 Thanks: 48 Thanked 142 Times in 79 Posts	Does anyone have experience with hollow composite boards? I'm thinking these might be an especially worthwhile consideration for the decking on removable dock sections because of their claimed reduced weight https://www.newtechwood.com/hollow-vs-solid-boards/ __________________ Peter NH Solar

04-13-2020, 07:30 AM	#21
smith point boater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: West Alton,NH Posts: 221 Thanks: 342 Thanked 101 Times in 60 Posts	Azek We've had both Trex and Azek. Go with Azek. Our deck is 20 years old. The Azek has a nice grain molded in. Every Spring (like I did yesterday) all I have to do is power wash it and it looks like a new deck!!! Amortized over time well worth the expense

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04-11-2020, 06:19 PM	#1
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,945 Thanks: 795 Thanked 1,493 Times in 1,040 Posts	Azek is not a composite. It does not have wood in it. Trex is a composite. It has wood inside it which makes it heavier and which also makes it hotter and makes it especially susceptible to the dampness around the lake.

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
tis (04-11-2020)

04-11-2020, 07:04 PM	#3
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 584 Thanks: 45 Thanked 110 Times in 81 Posts	Talked with the building inspector when we were considering building a deck. His recommendation was mahogany. He said he would tell me where to obtain the lumber and just how to put a finish on it. Unfortunately or not the deck was not built as we sold the house, but I believe i would go with the mahogany. I watched the video on Build and the only thing I have to say is I an not fond of Sikens. Many boat owners on the Cape put it on their teak but others have used other products which I think performed better. However, that is a personal decision.

04-12-2020, 08:04 AM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,945 Thanks: 795 Thanked 1,493 Times in 1,040 Posts	Our dock with Trex was in direct sun and it got black with mold. We have also had mahogany on a deck and it is a beautiful wood but be prepared for constant upkeep. It always looks awful because you just can't keep up with it. I agree with not liking Sikkens. It is awful, peels all the time.

04-12-2020, 09:11 AM	#10
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,421 Thanks: 2,428 Thanked 1,270 Times in 813 Posts	If you have a lot of shade you will get mold no matter what product you use. The only solution is to cut down trees.

04-12-2020, 09:32 AM	#11
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,193 Thanks: 63 Thanked 764 Times in 497 Posts	I have used two products from Lowe's that have made mold removal easy. One is for siding and one is for the deck. I spray it on, wait a few minutes and then hose off the yuk. In limited areas a light brushing may be needed. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Home-Armor-...ner/1000210743 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mold-Armor-...ner/1000140751 The products seem to be interchangeable for my purposes.

The Following User Says Thank You to tis For This Useful Post:
thinkxingu (04-12-2020)

04-12-2020, 04:44 PM	#16
loonguy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Moultonborough near the Loon Center Posts: 198 Thanks: 60 Thanked 69 Times in 47 Posts	The Trex we installed last year was top of the line. It was installed in a shady part of the house where the wood tends to show mold, but so far the Trex has not.

04-12-2020, 04:45 PM	#17
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,421 Thanks: 2,428 Thanked 1,270 Times in 813 Posts	I just did a deck over that I built 20 years ago. I built the frame like a rock with 2x10' so that was fine. I used Mahogany for the decking and the first 5 years I treated it with Thompson's water seal and it looked great. The next 10 years it was rented so I never went over to treat it. Many of the Mahogany boards dried out and split. Some rotted in spots that held water. I managed to buy some used Mahogany boards on Craigslist that were already weathered and I replaced the boards that were bad and treated the decking again with Thompson's. The railing I made out of fir and painted white. It needed to be washed every few years as it would get black with mildew. It eventually rotted away and I replaced it with Pressure treated 2x4's and black aluminum balusters. I don't plan on staying here much longer so I wasn't going to spend the extra to do it all over in plastic.

The Following User Says Thank You to Winilyme For This Useful Post:
Biggd (04-12-2020)