XLM Desert Bronze

bmcquin

I just picked up a sample of the new, to me, XLM color Desert Bronze. Wow! I really like the look.
I have a appointment with an HOA board tonight and can't wait to see their reaction to the color and the other good qualities it has to offer.

I have yet to install an XLM deck and would appreciate any and all feedback,
both good and bad, from you that have installed XLM or one of the competing products.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bubba aka BMcQuin

BreyerConstruct

wicked expensive!
No matching railing.

Sample I have doesn't show a full cap- it's only on one side.

Don't rush this color- good product line, concerned a bit on this one color.
Keep us posted, and be prepared to talk about deck safety & construction tonight.
oh, and bring samples and literature!

Go get em!
~Matt

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Aframe

I was happy with it for the one deck I've used it on. Used grooved boards with conceal loc fasteners. Deck was pool side and customer is very happy with it no complaints after 1st year.

Only issue I had when putting it in, was color of solid boards was a bit off from grooved (river rock). Don't know if it faded in at all.

bmcquin

Matt,
Why the concern for the color?
I too noticed the lack of a full cap. I wasn't to concerned as the top is the wear area and from what I could tell the cap is providing the scratch resistance.
I figure on the railing black Radiance would look the best, man that stuff is pricey!
On the safety side I do like the texture of the XLM board over the Earthwoods. I will be stressing that to the board tonight.

Aframe,
The color not being consistent bothers me a bit. I, thankfully, have a great relationship with my supplier. I will stretch that connection to the max if needed.

Bubba

John Hyatt

If it works in that part of Texas,it will work any place. J.

Greg Di

I saw the DB a while ago and while it does look nice, I have my reservations about installing it in year one of roll out.

I'm sure TT tested it, but it's not fully encapsulated like the other XLMs and I fear delamination in the heat of summer and cool of winter.

Also, the price is bordering on ludicrous. TT is already the highest price out there and doesn't leave too much room for markup as it is. With the economy being what it is now, it's going to be a tough, tough sell.

Unless someone asks me about DB on their own, I'm not even going to bother with it to be honest.

Varigated PVC is coming out in other brands too. Some look better than others. The TT looks the best, but the cost may be it's own worst enemy.

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deckman22

One of my suppliers had a sample of it that I looked at a week or 2 back. Very nice looking board, but like some have all ready said it's very pricey.

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BreyerConstruct

I'll ditto Greg's assessment.

The partial cap & big price are the biggest concerns for me.

The other TT XLM boards are great, and the matching railing (plus the white & black) are soem of the best railings on the market, albeit some of the most expensive.

Good company, I hope this product holds up to their existing reputation.
~Matt

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buildenterprise

Check out Gossen's two new lines of PVC decking, Weather Ready and Passport, colors similar to Azek with the addition of London Gray and Tuscan Cherry. They have the dark gray variegated shading, looks very nice. Comes grooved and solid.

http://www.gossencorp.com/gossenCB/passport.php

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J.Mike

New guy here,I chimed in on the EON thread so I say a few things here.
Did a TT screened in porch in riverock and trimmed it out with Azek trim boards late last year. The gray and white really looked sharp together. Nice product I thought. Radiance rail was very sturdy. Although did not do an edge with it since it was screened in, just the stairs. Owners really liked it. They did baulk at the price but they picked it over the gray Azek. Liked the concealock hidden fasteners. I would use it again. Only problem was trying to make sure the same grain was up. We were working under several large trees making it hard to see the difference and the chips from cutting really stick to ya making it hard to feel the difference. Gonna bring some static guard with me on the next one for sure. Keep up the good work.
Mike

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J.Mike

On the Gossen I did like it when I first saw it at the show in Orlando. Mainly because of the same texture on both sides, and it being a non composite. I am in between their distributer areas of coverage though. To bad because I would of preferred it over anything else.
Mike

deckndave

Well bmcquin, how did your sales call go? I just landed a job using the desert bronze and could use a little feedback as well from someone that has installed it. I am using the Radiance Rail in white. Job starts in 2 wks. I'll post pics when It's completed.

bmcquin

Hey D&D,
The sales call is still in motion. There will be a meeting with all of the homeowners in a week or so. The vote will be on either Desert Bronze or IPE.
I'll let ya know as I know something.
Brian

BuiltByMAC

Do a search on "XLM" and you'll find some threads about the install process. Desert Bronze is just another color of XLM.

Mac

deckndave

Thanks Mac! I'm looking for objective non-biased opinions on the installation process (and the overall performance) from guys that have worked with the XLM product and not the installation of the desert bronze color per se. I'm getting heartburn from some of the earlier composite decks i have built and am looking for the silver bullet and I hope to have found it in the XLM. This deck I'm starting soon will be my 1st XLM. Sorry for the confusion...I'll try that search.

BuiltByMAC

didn't realize 'xlm' was too short for a search parameter, these threads should get you started on XLM and ConcealLoc fasteners:

http://www.contractortalk.com/f50/en...de-deck-39131/

http://www.contractortalk.com/f50/timbertech-xlm-35104/

http://www.contractortalk.com/f50/co...alation-37936/

http://www.contractortalk.com/f50/timbertech-43129/

There are more threads out there, these were just a few that I remembered about...

Mac

MartyCD

Mac I could be wrong but I think the Desert Bronze is slightly different than the other XLM's - doesn't have the full wrap coex, for example. I would say it's still fundamentally the same though. (obviously I agree with T'tech and don't think the full wrap coex is necessary, as we don't do it for CX either - you just put the good stuff where you need it this way and don't pay to UV stabilize the underside of the decking.).

BuiltByMAC

True, but the question asked was about the install process -
Breyer, McQuin and Greg Di already informed the OP about the skin.

From the samples I've seen of DB TT, installation methods will be the same as the other colors...

The only thing that crops up in my mind is the strength of the unwrapped grooves - don't know if the concealLocs would be more likely to pull through. TT probably has data on the fail rate of DB w/ the clips...I just haven't researched it yet.

Mac

Greg Di

I almost sold a DB XLM job tonight, actually. Almost...They went with Earthwoods in the end.

There was a $1,000+ difference between Earthwoods and XLM Desert Bronze on a 320 sf deck, FYI.

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deckndave

I'm right at $1,000 higher in DB than I am on XLM Mount Ced on 480sf.
DB is $15-20 more per board +-. Chit taint cheap but assuming it does what they say, is going to be a regular staple in my portfolio for sure. I hope to start that job this week.