wood deck covering/coating

[X-Treme]

I have a rather large (2000 sq. ft.) Trex composite deck, and I'll tell you, I'd be hard pressed to ever use anything else. Like was already mentioned, the barefoot feel is amazing. As far as fading goes, from what I've found, my deck did all of its fading in the first year, and hasn't faded any further since then. AMAZING stuff.

 

[brew_doo]

Composite all the way. Did the back decks in Moisture Shield a few years ago now and love it. Front deck will be rebuilt using the same product this summer. Yes it's expensive but you don't have to touch it again... think of all of the wasted summer days spent painting / staining over the life of a deck!!!

 

[Catman10]

I have been fibreglassing decks for 20 years and if you want a maintenance free deck with a 20 plus year life it is the way to go. It doesn't fade it is 100 percent waterproof and you could do donuts on it with your quad and it won't lift or break. I now add paint chips to the finish so it looks kinda like marble when it's finished and I put sand in the final coat to help with slippage cuz otherwise it is a bit slippery when wet. I do a couple decks per summer just on word of mouth because there is no other product out there that you can buy that does even close to the same job. It's not the cheapest but by far not the most expensive. I will be doing a deck in May so I will post picks if anyone wants to see, this one is covering a garage roof as well so it's dual purpose. I will say it's not for everyone but I have probably a 95 percent thumbs up from people that see it, and considering that I do it on my spare time that is fine with me.

 

[lilduke]

I tried sharkskin on my trailer deck last summer,its already peeling I wouldnt go that route.

Yeah don't use that shark skin, use cloverdale's marine enamel. That chit will last for you and won't peel.

 

[rsaint]

With wood you are a slave FOREVER out at the cabin leaving it all go and going to composite decking and metal railing and good siding costly but last time im doing it, i'll be a working slave and go out and enjoy the water not repainting or staining. We used the Sikkens cetol 2 part system faithfully twice the first 2 years and once after and it all has to be sand blasted and redone peak is 30' off ground, was at the cottage show this weekend and there are better products but it all wears with traffic and our hot cold climate.

'

 

[Cat401]

Any composite brands to stay away from?
Recommended brands?

 

[arff]

Like I posted. Basically I just add more wood preservative chemical. It just soaks in. Looks just like treated wood in the lumber yard. If we keep the house I will put composite.

 

[Chump]

I went with timber tech. Awesome product. Fastner free. I found trex had big clips holding it together. Cant even notice them with timber tech.

 

[snochuk]

Any composite brands to stay away from?
Recommended brands?

I used the interlocking 3/4"X6"X16 foot composite on my deck and tore it all out 3 years later. It expanded and contracted so bad it tore the scews right out of the boards and thedeck started to buckle in the summer sun. I suggest the full boards not the hollow pricy junk that looks like glorified cardboard.

If you already have a wood deck I suggest three perservatives:
1) Thompsons water seal
2) Thompsons water seal
3) Thompsons water seal

Used it on my fence and 5 years later the water still was beading off of the boards when watering the grass - sold that house so not sure how long it lasted. My cedar picnick table and benchs have been with me through two houses since 1993 and they have only seen Thompson water seal twice, dont bead water anymore but still keeping my butt off of the ground for 22 years and in excellent shape and they stay outside all year round. Soaks in easy but best if bare boards with NO previous solid color previous stain, semi transparent is OK or it can not soak in as good. Only product I would use on bare wood, two coats.
Oh ya, toxic chit, skin absorbing, wear water proof rain gear when applying with a NIOSH chemical cartridge respirator. Neighbor's were afraid to come out of their houses when they saw me appling.
House I have now has a decktight cover so still maintenance free unless you tear it but it came with a repair kit so will see how it lasts. 70 oz. vinyll. Plastic shovel only for cleaning snow!

 

[fnDan]

I painted the back and front decks/stairs with the Behr Weather Proofing Wood Stain (10 year warranty) and it looks like garbage already.
Everything is peeling off. I really tried following the directions closely with this stuff since I hoped it would last.
I'd love to put composite over the existing but I'm not sure there's enough room from the top of the existing to the bottom of the door. I thought code says a deck has to be 2 inches below a door.

I had a neighbor in the old house that put a thick coat of varathane on his deck. It looked amazing and held up for a long time. In the winter though, we would see a few of his relatives slide across and off it when there was snow on it.
He spent a month trying to sand that off with a small belt sander. Almost drove me nuts.

 

[CUSO]

Timber tech is a great product. They have the grooved edge and clips, and that is the only way to go. I used some other ones like Trex, and the clips aren't the same. Either way, use the ones with the clips.

Composite decking is spendy, but if you are there for more that 7 years or so, it's the only way to go. It only hurts once..

 

[Lund]

I went through the hassel of retreating my deck over and over and 6 years ago decided enough.
I lay'ed and glued fresh plywood on it and got it covered with Duradeck.
Now all i do is pressure wash it in the spring after the winter and still looks like the day it was installed. No hassel maintenance free looks awesome and great to walk on bare feet.
The other nice thing about it, if your into deck parties and BBQ's it cleans easy, unlike board decking and stuff falling between the cracks.

 

[sirkdev]

I went through the hassel of retreating my deck over and over and 6 years ago decided enough.
I lay'ed and glued fresh plywood on it and got it covered with Duradeck.
Now all i do is pressure wash it in the spring after the winter and still looks like the day it was installed. No hassel maintenance free looks awesome and great to walk on bare feet.
The other nice thing about it, if your into deck parties and BBQ's it cleans easy, unlike board decking and stuff falling between the cracks.

Whats a ballpark estimate per sq/ft for the cost of dura deck?

 

[meierjn]

Going to go with a composite deck this spring. Has anyone tried this tool for fastening the boards. It was recommended by 2 of the stores I was at now:



Now I just have to figure out a way of waterproofing the shed underneath the deck. The previous owner had corrugated plastic screwed up to the ceiling and draining into a eavestroth. Its starting to fail and I need to come up with a better solution. Thoughts?

 

[camoJoe]

Going to go with a composite deck this spring. Has anyone tried this tool for fastening the boards. It was recommended by 2 of the stores I was at now:



Now I just have to figure out a way of waterproofing the shed underneath the deck. The previous owner had corrugated plastic screwed up to the ceiling and draining into a eavestroth. Its starting to fail and I need to come up with a better solution. Thoughts?

Looks, Nice, Hides the screws, only problem would be replacing a board in the middle, you'd have to rip up half the deck, do like the duradeck thing !

 

[Bigblack]

I also have and like the Duradeck. Runs under the siding on the house side and sealed over the outer edges...nice and waterproof. Put soffit material and pot lights on the bottom side.

 

[CUSO]

I wouldn't use that unless it's real wood. Composite decking needs room to expand and contract. These are recommended and each manufacturer has their own type. They are expensive too but make the job easy with proper spacing.

Going to go with a composite deck this spring. Has anyone tried this tool for fastening the boards. It was recommended by 2 of the stores I was at now:



Now I just have to figure out a way of waterproofing the shed underneath the deck. The previous owner had corrugated plastic screwed up to the ceiling and draining into a eavestroth. Its starting to fail and I need to come up with a better solution. Thoughts?

 

[meierjn]

I wouldn't use that unless it's real wood. Composite decking needs room to expand and contract. These are recommended and each manufacturer has their own type. They are expensive too but make the job easy with proper spacing.



View attachment 186647

Good point!

 

[meierjn]

I also have and like the Duradeck. Runs under the siding on the house side and sealed over the outer edges...nice and waterproof. Put soffit material and pot lights on the bottom side.

Duradeck would be nice and solve all of my waterproofing problems in the shed underneath but I have absolutely no slope to my deck. I am a bit worried about water puddling on the deck. I wonder if the plywood installed on top of the deck could be installed with a bit of a slope away from the house to deal with the runoff?

 

[ZRrrr]

Anyone try the acetylated wood? Acetylated Wood | Accoya Wood

Been used in the East and I am aware of/seen some structures in Kelowna using the wood. Supposed to hold up to weather real well.