Replies

1. 
   ProDek | Aug 22, 2003 06:09pm | #1

   Here is the platform steps with lights.

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
1. 
   Planeman | Aug 22, 2003 06:53pm | #2

   Beautiful work, guess that's why your called Pro-Deck!!

   Experienced, but still dangerous!

1. 
   djohan | Aug 22, 2003 08:45pm | #3

   wondering why you used wood for the trim boards instead of trex.  Looks like you added a maintence area to a non-maintence deck.  Nice job, tho.  Really looks nice.

1. 
   ProDek | Aug 22, 2003 10:09pm | #4

   We always use 5/4"x 10" fascia because it is usually painted the trim color of the house.

   Vertical wood is not really any more maintenance than say the barge board around the foundation of your house.

   Thanks for following along."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

2. 
   ProDek | Aug 22, 2003 11:08pm | #6

   I forgot to mention that Trex does not provide fascia more than 8" wide.

   You may also note that I don't use Trex ballusters, I think they are cheezy and there really is not a good way to fasten them to the rails"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   dIrishInMe | Aug 22, 2003 11:25pm | #7

   Lookin good!!!  So, what are we talking for the entire job - about $15k?  Must have been al little time consuming to design, as well as build.Matt

2. 
   TommyB12 | Aug 23, 2003 03:46am | #9

   Nice work pro dek.

   I agree with you about the trex balusters.  Heck, I don't even like their whole rail system.

   Come to think of it, I'm not really a fan of their decking either.

   Just looked at a three year old deck that didn't look so well.  Meant to to take pictures, but didn't.

   We've done several eon decks in the last year or so.  Its not perfect, but I think its at the top of the composite heap.  What's your take on Eon?Tom

3. 
   ProDek | Aug 23, 2003 03:54am | #11

   Honestly, I haven't built an Eon deck yet but there display at the lumber yard doesn't do much for the product. The product splits if you screw too close to the end.

   It looks like it would collect more dirt than Trex.

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

4. 
   TommyB12 | Aug 23, 2003 04:50am | #12

   I don't think your looking at eon.  Go to eonoutdoor.com.  It fastens with a proprietary t-clip so splits aren't a factor.

   I made a sample board with various composites (epoch, trex, and eon, I think)  to display on sales calls, and invariably they point to eon and say, " I want that".  I'm still learning with it, but we have done patterns, gates and the like using the product.  They now have a curved rail system, and matching fence materials so its a pretty attractive package.

   I have experience some severe fading with trex and similar composites relative to a five year old eon deck I have seen. 

   There are some intricacies installing trex, but its pretty much common sense.

   Tom

   Edited 8/22/2003 9:51:20 PM ET by Tommy B.

5. 
   ProDek | Aug 23, 2003 06:17pm | #13

   Tom- your right, I was thinking of Evergrain by epoch. That is the decking that splits on the end and it costs twice as much as Trex.

   I went to the Eon website, thanks for the link, but is that the plastic stuff like Ewood?

   I built an Ewood deck once and that stuff melts on your blade when you cut it.It also scratches real easy and creates ALOT of static electricity."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

6. 
   TommyB12 | Aug 23, 2003 07:43pm | #14

   I built an Ewood deck once and that stuff melts on your blade when you cut it.It also scratches real easy and creates ALOT of static electricity.

   Like I said, there are some intricacies to installing it.

   Some of the things we have learned:

   -yeah it melts.  Use a course carbide blade and keep it moving.  For example, when using a chop saw, the chop is the key. Lube your blade every few cuts and its not really a problem.  Jigsaws can be tricky, but will work.  Basically all woodworking techniques will work with minor modifications.

   -yeah it scratches, so does wood.  We leave the shipping wrap on (contrary to eon recommendations) till the last minute.  Generally, on remodels when you are working over grass, its not really an issue, but watch the sharp stuff.  You can buff or scrape out minor scratches.  We have had some success melting the material and using it for filler.

   -don't know about the static, I have never experienced it myself, but carpet generates static too.

   Several contractors I know have dismissed it based on a single installation, mostly on workability issues.  But they are missing the boat.  I might do ten decks this year so they are really a small part of my business, but I would do all eon decks if I could.  They usually start at about 30 bucks a square foot and go up from there with labor/prof/oh being about half of that.

   Do you have a ball park s.f. price for your composite decks?Tom

2. 
   ProDek | Aug 22, 2003 11:01pm | #5

   Thanks Dave, If you build 15-20 of these decks a year your bound to learn something.

   The 14', fresh out of the pond, arbor posts were a pain to place inside of the framing."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

2. 
   JimLovatt | Sep 11, 2003 01:12am | #15

   Really nice, Pro!  Hey where do you get those little lights, low voltage I assume. How much are they?   jim

1. 
   ProDek | Sep 11, 2003 07:49am | #16

   Hi Jim, you can buy those step lights here for about $1.90 each

   http://www.itc-marine.com/index.html"Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

2. 
   DougU | Aug 23, 2003 02:49am | #8

   Pro

   Very nice work, but is that your boys doing all the work while your taking pictures?

   I like the platforms framed in and direction change.

   As always nice work.

   Doug

1. 
   ProDek | Aug 23, 2003 03:50am | #10

   Well.............somebody has to keep a record of this...............

   I do show up to make sure they show up..........................

   Pick up lumber.......hammers...........and such

   Every now and then they say.......

   "Watch out! Dad has his bags on!"

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

3. 
   JSpeidell | Sep 12, 2003 02:04am | #17

   Nice job!  On the section of stairs where you joined the tread boards at 90 degrees, did you butt the 45 deg. mitered ends tight or leave a gap?  I heard Trex expands over time due to water absorption.

1. 
   ProDek | Sep 12, 2003 05:53pm | #18

   1/4" gap must be left on all butt joints for Trex. You can get a Yellow Trex deck spacer that works pretty slick for maintaining an even spacing."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

1. 
   JSpeidell | Sep 15, 2003 06:47am | #19

   Mr. Pro-Dek:  Do you have any other pictures of Trex decks that you can post?  It would be great to see more of your work. 

1. 
   ProDek | Feb 25, 2004 09:40am | #20

   We had to go back and connect the two decks with a Trex boardwalk. and build another arbor on the front of the garage.

   "Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
1. 
   ProDek | Feb 25, 2004 09:46am | #21

   Here's the front arbor...........

   Next thing she wants is an octagon gazebo with attaching breezeways on each side which have to support a glass roof."Rather be a hammer than a nail"

   Bob

   
2. 
   StanFoster | Feb 26, 2004 04:35am | #22

   Bob:    Nice work as always. 

3. 
   Lateapex911 | Feb 26, 2004 04:53am | #23

   Regarding DSCN 6789, that's a pretty nice radio stand ya got there!Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT