greetings friends.
As a new builder on my first house (a custom for my in-laws….I Know, but I can’t do anything about it now), I could really use some decking advice.
Does anyone have an opinion about using 4/4 red oak as a decking material. Some more specifics are:
Location is sunny termite-infested Florida.
Covered deck on a 2nd story, and waterproofed with torchdown underneath. I plan to build a series of “floating” parquet tiles about 3’x3′.
my concerns are 1. Is 4/4 thick enough to avoid cupping? Fastening through the torchdown is not an option, as there is living space underneath the deck.
2. Will it take the abuse of an exterior application? True, it will be covered, but its still coastal termite country.
Thanks guys
stephen
Replies
Red oak is not suitable for exterior use.
Just used my first Ipe. Darned nice stuff - hard as nails. Harder, really. Given the choice, I would really consider it. Tendura is a nice T&G synthetic, if it's under a roof./
Forrest
Watch for the tendura, if not ventilated properly on the underside it can cup and curl. They supposedly have a new formulation that is improved. They provided the product but I was left with the tear out and reinstall costs. And my installation did have ventilation. If your installation fails and it doesn't have enough ventilation they won't even replace the product.
I would never, ever, use red oak for an exterior project. I have done test panels to see how it would hold up....even under good spar varnishes, it doesn't.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Red oak has open pores. You can blow smoke through a cut off section. Never a good thing for exterior projects.
There are reasons no one ever built a boat that floated more then a week out of red oak. Many a boat have been made from white oak, but I still wouldn't build a deck out of it.
I'd never consider it..ever.
Ipe is the stuff for that locale.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Given the likelihood that these things will become Frisbees in the next major hurricane, are unsecured elements actually allowed down there by the powers that be?
good call. I am embarrassed to say I didn't think of that...neither did my inspector. Interesting.
It goes gray quick and has lots of little entrances for all kinds of things. ONLY reason to use it is you got it for free and can't get rid of it!
Thats exactly what happened. I have 300bdft to left over from another job.
Red oak is not the way to go !
Ixnay on the Red Oak on an exterior product. The first time it rains it's going to stain and discolor the whole thing. But if that's not a problem and it's free and the HO (in your case.... relatives i.e...worse yet....) doesn't mind (subliminal message coming....relatives!!!....) then go for it. But it's a good point somebody made about the hurricanes and unsecured decking.
BjR
Red oak is one of the poorer choices for that sort of application. it has open celled grain that wicks water right in like a sponge.
IPE` is the wood of choice.
why individual pallets? No confidence in your roof?
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another reason Ipe is best is that it won't float away when the "big wave" hits.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
No confidence in your roof?Well, it is the first one, and they are my inlaws, and every time I have boasted, it has gotten me in a lot of trouble. the substrate is 2 layers of PT3/4 decking under peelandstick under torchdown with flashing and counterflashing....still.
so - did you check to see if the torchdown is compatible with the peel'n'stick?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
will cup
if painted will then push the paint off
then rot