First Time With TREX

Teetorbilt

I was very disappointed. I used the correct SS screws and followed the instructions to the letter. Joists were 12" OC and walking on it just didn't feel right,too much flex.

The screws also left burrs and it was difficult to tell how deeply they were being seated. We hand cleared the burrs and re-seated the screws as required.

It was a major cluster..... for me and any input would be helpful before I start calling the product BS.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

BuiltByMAC

What specific TREX board were you using?

Mac

Teetorbilt

(Cowering) Lowe's best and only. It was a Medicare job.

The stuff had something like wood flakes in it that continuously kept popping up as the screws hit home.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

BuiltByMAC

Honestly, I have no idea what Lowe's sells...what I was asking you was what was the line of TREX decking you used - Origins, Accents, Accents FD, Brasilia, Escapes, Contours? They're made w/ different materials and react differently to the situation you're describing...


Mac

Teetorbilt

I expected you to know and then realized that I don't know the manufacturer's of their cabinets.

They aren't my competition and I doubt that they're yours either.

It was just a quickie for a friend who's mother just graduated to a wheelchair.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Patrick

The only trex product we will use is escapes, and its excellent

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

deckman22

I've never liked any of their decking ever since I did one about 8 years that got all moldy within a few months.

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Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

BuiltByMAC

I'm not following you, without knowing which line you were working with, how could you have followed the instructions to the letter? And why in the hell would I know what you bought? Most stores and lumberyards sell multiple brands and multiple lines...

Regardless, a quick search would've answered your question - no one here really likes TREX...and there is a lot of information here regarding TREX. The company has had a lot of issues w/ bad material, bad customer service, bad company follow-up, etc...

Regarding your specific problem, predrilling helps when top screwing composite decking. Being partially plastic, composite boards expand and contract more than wood. W/O predrilling, that puts A LOT of pressure on the screws and many of them end up shearing off. Predrilling also gets rid of material so it's easier to see where your screw head is, you get no fluff getting in the way.

I would humbly recommend in the future you know what you're using to have the least amount of problems with it. At this point, are you positive it was even TREX?

The flex w/ 12" oc joists has me concerned. Could it have been fascia that you installed as decking? I'm not a fan of TREX but w/ joist spacing 12" oc, ANY of their boards should feel solid underfoot. Was the decking installed at an angle to the joists? How big are you?(not trying to be mean, just trying to verify what kind of load is causing those boards to flex)

Mac

neolitic

Interesting.
Lowes web site just says Trex®.
Trex web site just says Lowes.
Neither gives any specifics.
I need some utility knife blades,
I'm gonna stop by there later
and see if they're equally vague
in the store.

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John Hyatt

Vauge is a company rule with trex. J.

nailman

We just installed some composite decking and it worked well, don't know the brand but will find out and post latter but the decking came with clips and screws and they were done out of sight. They make a lot of clips you can use with out screwing in the face of the deck.
All face screws look bad IMO.

neolitic

Well, of course the helpful "experts"
at Blowes have no clue what it is!
(Surprise, surprise! )
However, the end tags say "Accents".
I was pleased to notice that with
their on-going quest to engineer
a better product, they have come up
with a way to produce a composite board
with a built in "cup" just like TSYP!
Congratulations again Trex.




"And now for something completely different"
I noticed on my way out, that they keep
their foil HVAC duct tape in the paint section
next to masking tape...for your convenience.
Bet that has led to some interesting "projects."

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BKFranks

I've put in Trex on three houses and will never use it again. The stuff deteriorates. To keep the screws from burring up I predrilled the holes first.

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Teetorbilt

My bad all of the way around, stepped out of my line of expertise and was hammered, sort of, again.

#1, The customer was happy and I was paid.

#2, I'm a perfectionist and expected the products to live up to their claims. They didn't.

I used cutting SS screws and ASSUMED that they would cut their way through or melt the plastic which could be even better. Wrong again. I DO understand that the "cutting" feature is useless once it is embedded in the product and am familiar with low and high durometer plastic/urethane products. My biggest gripe is how the heads seated. Structurally, I'm good.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Jason Whipple

I've used Trex plenty of times. The best results for me has always been from using the GRK trim screws and the tap the mushroom around the screw hole with a hammer to flatten out and make the fastener vanish.

Not sure about the flex you're felling in the floor though. Especially w/ 1' centers for framing. I've gone 16" o/c and not had that problem.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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MartyCD

Confirming Neo's good homework - fairly sure that all the T-rex sold via the big box is Accents. In order to keep their wholesalers happy, generally it is sold via said wholesaler, in contrast to most items in the 'infinite aisle' of the big box. This means that the local pro yard who does more volume with the wholesaler can probably get it cheaper, ironically. But people don't price shop the big box so it all works.

Top Notch

Worked on many composite decking...were you screwing from top or bottom?

Also what ss screws were you using, trying to install composite decking with any other than composite screws will kill you evertime. Tried using normal deck screws oe time and before i got to the second board noticed how messed up it looked. Composite screws will go in better wont mushroom the plastic on top and sink in flush.

PA woodbutcher

I've had good results with the "trapease" brand screws. Reverse threads at the top help to pull the burrs back down in.

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generation2

The new Simpson Strongtie Screws for the Quickdrive was the only thing that worked on the TREX (for me)..... Another problem I have found with TREX is the different sizes of the decking, one will be 5 7/16, the next one you pick up might be 5 3/4. And TREX will expand and contrast way more than other composite decking.

rotarex

Hey MAC how did you even bother to reply to this guy LOL, i didn't even understand a thing he was trying to say....something like a cabinet and a deck and a washroom WTF he was drunk no wonder the deck was bouncey at 12 O.C lol ........hey Teetorbilet why the hell in the world you went 12 O.C what were you using for Joice 2x4's? oh and next time get the rite screw for the rite material .......composite screw for composite deck