We’re going to enclose a breezeway between our house and garage. It already has roof above and concrete floor, so it’s just a case of putting walls of windows and screens front and back.
There will still be exposure to wind and rain (especially blowing rain and some snow in this area) so my first thought was to use pressure treated lumber for the top and bottom plate and all the uprights, but PTL is terrible for twisting, warping and curling, so I was wondering about using stuff like Trex or similar brands of synthetic lumber because they should be very stable. This is important because we don’t want to have trouble swapping out screens and windows every year, which could be a problem if the uprights swell or twist over time. Obviously none of this is going to be load-bearing because the roof is already supported by the existing structure.
At the very least, I think I should use the synthetic stuff for the bottom plate because that will be the most exposed to moisture.
Any pros and cons to doing this?
Thanks. Jay
Replies
Althogh I've never done this myself I have seen trex or like material used for shower curbs and similar applications. I would think trex would be a good choice as long as its secured properly to the concrete,and used only for the bottom plate.
As a bottom plate, PTL will not warp with the weight of
the framing on it. It will last 25 years minimum, longer if
you use termite shield and sill sealer as you should. PTL
will also work fine for framing if you block it a bit more
than you would with KD lumber. You can sheath it with
pressure treated plywood if you're totally paranoid. If you're
exceptionally paranoid, use welded steel framing. Even
regular KD lumber will work fine if you put siding on both
sides to protect it from the weather and do a good job with
the flashing.
Trex or similar is ENTIRELY unsuitable for use as framing
lumber. Has all the strength of overcooked spaghetti.
Not to mention that its also expensive. There is NO data
on long-term creep with trex as a bottom plate. It also
does not hold fasteners well.
I'll bet you wear a belt, suspenders, and swim trunks underneath
"just in case".
Galvanized light guage metal studs.