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Trex decking vs. other composites

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#61 · (Edited)
killerdecks said:
I am a firm believer in turnover. If you ever managed a retail lumber yard, as I have, from 82-84 you will learn about turns.

Turns assumes 1 essential thing unlimited supply and great logistical support.

Turns is as simple as this, should one have $250,000 to invest in anything and he turns it over once in a year @ 10% they will make 25k.

But lets says someone has 250,000 to invest and turns it over 12 times a year @ 10% he will have made 300k.

Which one should you want to be and price yourself accordingly.

That being said I have to go relax to some AC/DC
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I thought I hated you but am realizing I love you (in a straight man way). Actually, Im kind of glad you're not my competition.

For what its worth:
what I've seen of the composite guys its all about business, giv8ng them what they want in a timely manner and a product that they can look at and not have to maintain.

Wood guys are a totally different animal. We love our work (not so much the business), we care more towards being an artist and try to create something that not only will last forever but something that creates a working relationship with a client that eventually we can call friend. The xeck is our portrait and though maybe losing a dollar or two at times, will go a little further to call it ours. At least thats me... A wood guy, and no, Im not great at business, but make a decent living and love my business/trade.

In short:
Exotic hardwood = artist
composite = business man
 
#62 ·
killerdecks said:
One can clearly see who builds and who is trying to be KING of Contractor Talk simply by measuring the Start date of posts vs # of posts.

Excepting of course moderators who have to be here to keep things in check
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Yeah I'm trying to be king. :laughing: why haven't you been posting in the last year or so? Oh yeah you were running your mouth and got banned. That's even funnier.
 
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#63 ·
Deckhead said:
I thought I hated you but am realizing I love you (in a straight man way). Actually, Im kind of glad you're not my competition.

For what its worth:
what I've seen of the composite guys its all about business, giv8ng them what they want in a timely manner and a product that they can look at and not have to maintain.

Wood guys are a totally different animal. We love our work (not so much the business), we care more towards being an artist and try to create something that not only will last forever but something that creates a working relationship with a client that eventually we can call friend. The xeck is our portrait and though maybe losing a dollar or two at times, will go a little further to call it ours. At least thats me... A wood guy, and no, Im not great at business, but make a decent living and love my business/trade.

In short:
Exotic hardwood = artist
composite = business man
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BS. Material has absolutely nothing to do with how much you love your work nor does it make you any better a craftsman. That's some of the biggest crap I think I've ever heard on this forum.
 
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#64 ·
I'm only in business to make money I became a carpenter because I like the work. He who can make a boat load of money doing both is what separates one another. It isn't the material, not even close.
 
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#65 ·
I get why both sides like what they like. I'm one of the wood lovers and prefer PT over even the nice composite. Yeah crazy I know but I just think there's something about the look of PT being used on a deck and looks like a deck should look. Yeah it's a maintenance nightmare and it's gonna look like **** in a couple years but the way it turns is what I like about it. But if I could find customers in this area willing to spend out on composites I wouldn't hesitate using it.

It's kind of like that clinical look you get with modern design. It's cold and has no character buts that my opinion of course. Plus putting a deck 1/4th what my house is worth out back is stupid also lol.
 
#66 ·
BCConstruction said:
I get why both sides like what they like. I'm one of the wood lovers and prefer PT over even the nice composite. Yeah crazy I know but I just think there's something about the look of PT being used on a deck and looks like a deck should look. Yeah it's a maintenance nightmare and it's gonna look like **** in a couple years but the way it turns is what I like about it. But if I could find customers in this area willing to spend out on composites I wouldn't hesitate using it.

It's kind of like that clinical look you get with modern design. It's cold and has no character buts that my opinion of course. Plus putting a deck 1/4th what my house is worth out back is stupid also lol.
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The differences in the look and the preferences is a valid a argument, but to say you are a better craftsman because of the material you use is non sense. I've seen some pretty piss poor jobs done with every kind material out there.
 
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#68 ·
Californiadecks said:
The differences in the look and the preferences is a valid a argument, but to say you are a better craftsman because of the material you use is non sense. I've seen some pretty piss poor jobs done with every kind material out there.
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Like you I seen bad jobs of both and good jobs of both. I ain't put a lot of composite in but the stuff I have was vastly easier to install than PT. Trying to get PT boards to line up 30 boards deep def took some skill which composite didn't need. That's about the only thing on wood that would be harder to do. As much as 1/2" bloody difference between boards is a *****.

It sure is nice being able to lay down 3 sets of 30 boards and all 3 sets be within 1/8 difference.
 
#71 ·
BCConstruction said:
Like you I seen bad jobs of both and good jobs of both. I ain't put a lot of composite in but the stuff I have was vastly easier to install than PT. Trying to get PT boards to line up 30 boards deep def took some skill which composite didn't need. That's about the only thing on wood that would be harder to do. As much as 1/2" bloody difference between boards is a *****.

It sure is nice being able to lay down 3 sets of 30 boards and all 3 sets be within 1/8 difference.
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I was building decks way before composite ever got a hold in the market. As most of us with any age were.

Hell, I remember when nailing decks was preferred because screw guns weren't too good. It was the screw gun that revolutionized the industry.
 
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#72 ·
Californiadecks said:
I was building decks way before composite ever got a hold in the market. As most of us with any age were.

Hell, I remember when nailing decks was preferred because screw guns weren't too good. It was the screw gun that revolutionized the industry.
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I pulled some decks that were nailed and they were a pig to take apart. They weren't even ringshank nails either.
 
#78 ·
We still machine gun down Treated floors, Toe nail tight, snap lines get to it.
We don't like to screw things up or down.
Unless of course you have more money than Parker Schnabel and want to pay us for it, most people don't step up to the plate though, they are only concerned w/ how free it's going to be.
I have 3 pallets of 3" quick drive collated screws.
 
#79 ·
Californiadecks said:
BS. Material has absolutely nothing to do with how much you love your work nor does it make you any better a craftsman. That's some of the biggest crap I think I've ever heard on this forum.
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Is your conscience getting to you? I wasnt saying that any of you plastic guys aren't better then me. I was simply stating the obvious.

You want wood, you want craftmanship. You want plastic, you want low maintemaintenance. Killer seems to get it and placates his customers.

Hey killer asking for opinion being as you seem to be one of the best strictly "business men" around. Is wood an economical thing or a passion thing?

Just saying wood guys do it as a passion; composite guys do it as a little of both. No insults intended but the very essence of composite is ease of use and ownership... not so with wood.

We love our product species, not our supplier/manufacturer.
 
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