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Anyone used Trex/Timbertech for inter…

| Posted in General Discussion on March 8, 2002 05:15am

*
Hi gang! Haven’t been here in a long, long time … but nothing like an inch of water on the floor this morning to send me right back. Have checked archives first, but no luck on this subject. A broken water pipe put that inch of water over our laminate flooring. Plumber says that it will probably curl, and if nothing else, the foam underlayment will have to go. Since I HATE this flooring anyway, we may replace with something else. And in my never-ending search for the perfect bullet-proof/dog-proof/muddy-boot-proof floor, I recall reading an article somewhere where timbertech or trex type decking was used for interior flooring. Anyone done that? My first thought is that most of that decking, even when tongue-in-groove, has weep holes for drainage incorporated … which could cause a problem when we mop. I’m about to go to the mfgs websites to query there, too, but all the great ideas for our house came from you guys, so where better to start than here?

Hope everyone is well … sometimes hard to grasp the turmoil elsewhere when it’s so incredibly beautiful and remote out here … Tina

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  1. Mike_Smith | Mar 05, 2002 10:14pm | #1

    *
    tina.. don't drive yourself crazy.. it's a great deck but a lousy floor in a kitchen..

    what kind of subfloor do you have.. my first choice for a kitchen would be tile, 2d : epoxy (stamped concrete), 3d : sheet vinyl

    1. Joe_Hennessey | Mar 05, 2002 10:55pm | #2

      *Tina, long time no see. How about more of the endicott tile? Or right down to the slab and stain it? There's a thread on acid staining in the Gallery, or check http://www.acidstain.com/ Joe H

      1. TinaG_ | Mar 05, 2002 11:15pm | #3

        *Wow! Thanks for great responses so fast! And what memories you guys have -- down to the Endicott tile, which is GREAT, by the way. Mike ..Vinyl flooring will probably be the ticket. .. this is just in back hall and spare bedrooms. Subfloor is plywood or chipboard (can't remember which). Doesn't get heavy use, but was intrigued by the decking idea .. good traction, damp mopping, dog-claw resistance...Another thought is floating cork tile I heard about here way back when...Joe -- thought about adding more Endicott. We had a bunch leftover, but am planning to use those in a terrace I hope to set down this summer.Anyway, still curious about using decking indoors (I can dream, can't I?).

        1. calvin_ | Mar 06, 2002 02:52am | #4

          *Tina, it's always such a treat to hear from you. Don't be a stranger. Stop in the tavern whenever you get some time to bs. And maybe even a spring photo from out on the ranch.We are very happy with warm good traction tile on concrete. Darn near everything proof. Remember to find a sheet good that'll take the traffic. Evenso, you won't be able to slop the water on there when mopping. Enough to clean it, not flood it. There's some good looking vinyl.And for the readers, what didn't you like about the laminate?

          1. TinaG_ | Mar 06, 2002 05:41pm | #5

            *Hi Calvin! What's traction tile? And would it work over plywood/chipboard subfloor? And don't worry, we don't make a habit of flooding our floors! (This case was the result freeze/thaw and repeat on water line leading to an outside self-draining (freezeproof) hosebib ... one small section of the water line was along a corner of a north wall and a crawl space below an unheated spare bedroom...just enough to crack it, to the tune of approx 3600 gallons of water before we discovered it).Ah, laminate floor. Main complaint is that it's slick as ice. So it needs to be covered with area rugs to prevent injury to dogs ... and humans in stocking feet. One young dog has blown out a knee on it. Old dog has to be practically carried across it. So why have this fairly nice looking floor if you have to cover it? Cleaning was a challenge until we started using those washable terrycloth flat mop covers -- in fact we use them on the tile too -- the ONLY way to go for cleaning and waxing floors. Put maybe a gallon of water in one small bucket with some spic and span (or whatever), add several terry cloth covers. Use one cover until it's dirty or dry, toss it in the sink, put on a new cover. Never using dirty water on floor. No wringing mop or sponge-mop. No heavy messy buckets of water to lug or drag around. Sorry if I sound like a salesman ... but I can do the entire house in the blink of an eye, relatively speaking to the old way. And I HATE housecleaning, so this is the ticket!Will stop by the tavern .... and may actually be organized enough to post photos of the famous (infamous) two-sided TV cabinet!

          2. Jeff_Keeney | Mar 07, 2002 05:17am | #6

            *Hi Tina, I worked with a guy once, who put Trex on a set of interior stairs. The building inspector here (RI) made him rip it all out. It gives off highly toxic fumes if ignited. Something to consider. Especially in a kitchen.Jeff Keeney

          3. calvin_ | Mar 07, 2002 05:27am | #7

            *I'm sorry Tina, for maybe misnaming a little when I mentioned traction tile. I mean, ceramic but not glossy, slip on it tile. We have two different tile in our downstairs. One actually has a non slip (not big chunks like some quarry tile) surface that really gives good gription when wet. It doesn't look like it has an anti slip feature. Dry, the regular matte finish 8 x 8's we got from daltile have good footing for the dog. Either would work over plywood, probably over OSB ( if thick enough ), the proper underlayment were used, and the joists didn't have much deflection. If you would tile over it, there are ceramics that would foot the bill. These two tile cost $3 per sf and 1.85 (12 yrs ago)repectively. With the underlay, the tile and mastic you'd be adding some height and you would have to yank up the laminate so figuring finish ht should be something you think about. With 1/4" underlay and vinyl, you'd be a tad lower than now. The vinyl would be a little slick too if those dogs like to rip/tear around the corner. Never a dull moment.

          4. TinaG_ | Mar 07, 2002 05:24pm | #8

            *We don't have ANY code requirements out here, Jeff, but you bring up a good point. I know the different composite decking materials have varying amounts of plastics, etc. Something to look into. And really, we are so remote I guess the state figures if we want to burn ourselves down, or asphyxiate ourselves, it's our own problem. We didn't even have to get a building permit. (We did have the house inspected on our own, however -- never hurts to be careful).Calvin -- now I understand. We could put down more endicotts, but labor intensive. Know we'll have a height change across thresholds if we go to vinyl, but we already have a difference going from the tile to the laminate.Should we take a wait-and-see attitude on the laminate buckling, or is it a given that we'll have to replace it? The water was on it for only a couple of hours.And why does everyone assume I'm talking about a kitchen floor?

          5. Amy_Sw. | Mar 07, 2002 06:53pm | #9

            *Tina, They probably assumed kitchen because of the presence of a water pipe. In addressing your question, I just went out and looked a little more carefully at the Trex on my deck. While it is durable, looks good, and comes in a variety of colors, I don't think it would make a great interior floor as is because it would be very difficult to clean. The side edges are rounded - presumably the boards are intended to be spaced so that water can drip through. If you but the boards together as a floor would be, you will have these grooves as mud collectors. When you mop, they will be water collectors as well. If you space them as intended, you'll just have wider grooves to collect more mud. If you rip the edges off the boards to create tongue and groove - more power to you (and blades - this stuff is hard on equipment, I'm told). This seems pretty labor intensive to me.I haven't seen the other brand you mention, so cannot comment.Good luck in your search for THE floor.

          6. Craig_Turner | Mar 08, 2002 01:19am | #10

            *Tina:As a city fella I'd have to say Brown Cows (www.browncowphoto.com)are a sight wider that I would've expected. Is that a fat one or am I just not used to the "head on" profile?

          7. Craig_Turner | Mar 08, 2002 01:22am | #11

            *Tina:As a city fella I'd have to say Brown Cows (www.browncowphoto.com)are a sight wider that I would've expected. Is that a fat one or am I just not used to the "head on" shot?

          8. TinaG_ | Mar 08, 2002 05:15pm | #12

            *So you met my "moos" eh? Brownie was VERY pregnant -- delivered next day. But cows do look like that, especially after they've had a long drink (not the tavern type, the trough type). A cow can take on 20 gallons at a time. From the side, they look fine, but from straight on... just like cartoon cows!

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