Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 17, 2002 02:05am | #1

   Maintainence free?????????

   Ain't no free lunch.

   Trex and other composite deck materials are probably what you are looking for.

   Excellence is its own reward!
1. 
   toolin63 | Sep 17, 2002 05:05pm | #5

   I say maintenance free, but as we've all come to relize thats like saying "Free Money".  I guess I should have just asked for composite materials. Although I have seen some maintenance free houses in the area, at least it seems the HO's think so, with the rotting roofs, peeling piant and broken down front porches. There's one house around the corner with a double layer roof. You can tell it's a double layer when you can see the first layer through all the worn spots. Can you say condem already.   

2. 
   ReinTaul | Sep 17, 2002 04:31am | #2

   ha ha ha ha...

   Decks are mean to be work, don't you get it?

   OK seriously, there are some plastic composites making their way around. We think they will be maintenance free for years to come.

3. 
   J7223 | Sep 17, 2002 07:13am | #3

   The composits all need cleaning,,mildew will form of anything,the closest I have found to maintenance free is not a composit at all, It is a real live wood,,Ipe. John Hyatt deckmastersllc.com

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 17, 2002 08:04am | #4

   I love Ipe' but it is not totally free either. In cold climates, moisture will get into surface checks. Moisture freezes and expands. UV rays weaken wood fibres.

   Oiling it is good to help last long. It won't rot and is strong but not impenetrable or impervious to damage.Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   toolin63 | Sep 17, 2002 05:21pm | #6

   Thanks for the response looks like a good material. How does it price out compared to other mat.

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 18, 2002 01:17am | #7

   I don't have a price for Trex - dopn't use it much to remember. My two normal choices are clear vertical grain fir and Ipe' (also marketed as Ironwoods or Pau Lope')

   It is comparable is price for me. 1x4 fir is about .87 to .93 / lin ft.and I have to cull out about 15% Making it cost about 4.50/sq ft.

   The Ipe' is a little pricier at 1.10- 1.13/linft but with almost no waste it still installs at same cost /sq ft. Labor is more. It requires predrilling - do a search, there've been threads here lately on installing it.

   If building a new deck, the Ipe' can span 19-3/8" or 24" as well as the other deckings span 16" which saves lumber and labor.Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   toolin63 | Sep 18, 2002 05:51pm | #8

   Thanks Piffin, Been doing some seaches on Ipe' looks like it gives a real sharp look, as well as durable.  Does it keep the same tone after time? what type of product do you use for sealing