Four years ago we had a new Trex deck put on our house. It is a low porch-like deck and is completely enclosed. We continually have problems with the lights on the posts and risers going out, apparently due to varmit chewing. We put out poisons, etc., but the wiring is like the wiring on christmas trees lights and it has no protection on it to prevent varmits from chewing on it. The contractor has come out to fix the wiring but now he is refusing to fix it. We are elderly and are very dependent on the riser lights especially. I think the contractor should have used conduit or, at least, informed us of this possibility so that we could have chosen solar lighting. Any suggestions as to what we can do? The workmanship of the deck is well done but we paid for post and riser lights that don’t perform well.
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Depending on the state you live in, here in California you can file a complaint with the
State License Board. That usually gets the contractor's attention. I agree with your assessment re: conduit.
The problem is repeated here in Ohio. Most will suggest the cause is the use of Asian products that contain “vegetable” material in the sheathing around the wires. Looks like flexible “plastic”.
So, sheathing them in anything that isn’t metal could just delay the damage.
If you can’t figure a cure you might consider wireless solar units. And be advised that you stay away from those that stick in the ground. I found out the hard way that small ants like to make a home inside the fixture entering up through those lights that have weep holes.
Shep,
Something happened and your post slipped away.
Please post it again!
And let me know your email, somehow I can’t find it.
Thanks
The last reply, which has now disappeared, asked if we would have paid more for conduit. The answer is 'Yes"! We live in the country and we've never have had anything like this happen so it never occurred to us that the wiring the contractor was using should be of concern. The deck was over $21,000 and I've asked the contractor what we can do to get a permanent fix. Last time the workers came out to fix the problem (temporarily) I asked them if other customers had this issue and they said they have some who have the lower decks/porches.
2 questions- was the contractor aware of the varmint problem before he ran the wiring? And, would you have been willing to pay more to run the wire in conduit?
I'd be inclined to talk to your contractor to find out what brand wire he used and then check with the supplier/ about the issue. I've used Trex lighting systems on 2 decks. Trex customer service is pretty helpful if that's what was used.