Deck Expo

RobertCDF

Alright all you lucky people who got to go to deck expo fill all the rest of us in on the details.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Woodcrafter74

The deckexpo was great. I was there for 2 days of seminars and 1 day of trade show. This was my first one, but I'd do it all again in a second.

There were a lot of products at the trade show, here are my top three:

Postsaver ( www.postsaverusa.com ) - it's a factory applied sleeve for fence/deck posts for the portion of the post in the ground. This just might make me comfortable burying posts.

Stone for decking ( www.rockdeck.com OR www.deckstone.com ) -- it's real stone in a variety of colors/textures that attaches to a track system which rides on the deck joists. I'm imagining using this as accents, under grill areas, around fire pits, etc.

EZ Stairs ( www.ez-stairs.com ) -- this system only uses two stringers--one on each side for spans up to 8'. It gets its structural support from the risers. In their promo video, they even drove a Hummer up onto the steps with no problems. It should be a big time savings. To use the system with composites, you have to added some additional brackets, but still looks to be worth it.



Next year's expo is in Vegas. There will be no excuses

RobertCDF

VEGAS?????? SWEET I will be there.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

dproc

Was on my way when flight was cancelled. I was pissed!! really needed to go have alot of questions need to be answered.

AndyJones

Get any idea of the added cost on this product?

Woodcrafter74

I talked with a rep from Postsavers and their end goal is to use lumberyards as their distribution channel. However, they don't have any set up locally yet (mid-atlantic). So the rep said I could drive to their facility in Lebenon, PA and they would boot my posts.
The prices he gave me were approximate, again because they don't expect to offer direct to the installer.
-6x6 post, 44" boot = $16-18
-6x6 post, 26" boot = $6-7
-4x4 post, 44" boot = $8
-4x4 post, 26" boot = $4

Again, he was kind of throwing ballpark numbers at me--I don't see any reason why the 6x6, 44" would be more than double the 26", so I'm expecting those prices may change a little. He said they're actually developing the 6x6 boot right now and expect to be in production within weeks.

I got the feeling that they're running around to the industry shows to introduce the product, but weren't quite ready to start supplying--I think they're scrambling a bit right now. I like product for deck building applications--a lot less concrete and no post connectors will more than make up for the cost

AndyJones

From what I understand there is a company on the West Coast, Conrad Forest Products, that has an application machine and is selling the "booted" posts to retail yards in Oregon and California.