Anonymous
Post 06/29/2012 00:07     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:We used pressure treated wood decking. Cheap and easy to install.


But it requires maintence such as yearly staining. And splinters.
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2012 00:06     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:Love my Azec. We do have to pressure wash it at least once per yr, though, but it looks like new once it is cleaned up.


agree. agree. agree.
Anonymous
Post 06/29/2012 00:00     Subject: Deck material input needed
We used pressure treated wood decking. Cheap and easy to install.
Anonymous
Post 06/28/2012 23:17     Subject: Re:Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Azec is excellent


+1

http://www.azek.com/azek-deck/

Azek is cellular PVC (not standard vynil), and feels, looks and can be cut/sanded/drilled like real wood. It's the least maintenance material available.


Your installer better know what they are doing - its moves in length significantly - you will need to screw it with composites or stainless with a very defined fastener schedule. Personally, I'd go IPE, install with blind fasteners, and let it go natural.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 23:25     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love my Azec. We do have to pressure wash it at least once per yr, though, but it looks like new once it is cleaned up.


Have you painted it (with a solid stain) at all? I read somewhere that, although it doesn't need to be painted, painting it makes it easier to clean


I have not painted it. Nice to know that that is an option, though. We will probably have to pressure wash it every year anyway because of the way our deck is situated with a lot of trees around it. It looks great every year until late May when all the pollen from out oak trees drop, then it gets really dirty. We don't mind washing it, teenage DS has been doing it last couple of years.


Thanks. Btw, when i said painting, i meant using a solid stain, not actual paint -- one should never paint a deck with paint


You cannot stain a plastic material deck. Only wood.


You seem to be confusing regular vynil (plastic) which cannot be (easily) painted and cannot be stained with cellular pvc, which can. Cellular pvc is pvc that has been injected millions of tiny air bubbles.

You also seem to be confusing solid waterborne stain with transparent / semi transparent stain (usually oil based). If so, you are right -- can only use this kind of oil based stain on wood.


You probably could, but its not normal to use the PVC boards for decking. You use those for trim and paint those. I know I'm not confused. Azek makes booth decking and trim boards. I like their trim boards as well as the Veranda/Home Depot Brand but the Azek is not as nice as the Veranda decking (we used both in different areas and our Veranda is very nice and our Azek is blah). Both also make railing systems. You don't paint or stain decking that is made of a plastic or composite material, only wood decking.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 17:30     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love my Azec. We do have to pressure wash it at least once per yr, though, but it looks like new once it is cleaned up.


Have you painted it (with a solid stain) at all? I read somewhere that, although it doesn't need to be painted, painting it makes it easier to clean


I have not painted it. Nice to know that that is an option, though. We will probably have to pressure wash it every year anyway because of the way our deck is situated with a lot of trees around it. It looks great every year until late May when all the pollen from out oak trees drop, then it gets really dirty. We don't mind washing it, teenage DS has been doing it last couple of years.


Thanks. Btw, when i said painting, i meant using a solid stain, not actual paint -- one should never paint a deck with paint


You cannot stain a plastic material deck. Only wood.


You seem to be confusing regular vynil (plastic) which cannot be (easily) painted and cannot be stained with cellular pvc, which can. Cellular pvc is pvc that has been injected millions of tiny air bubbles.

You also seem to be confusing solid waterborne stain with transparent / semi transparent stain (usually oil based). If so, you are right -- can only use this kind of oil based stain on wood.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 17:05     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love my Azec. We do have to pressure wash it at least once per yr, though, but it looks like new once it is cleaned up.


Have you painted it (with a solid stain) at all? I read somewhere that, although it doesn't need to be painted, painting it makes it easier to clean


I have not painted it. Nice to know that that is an option, though. We will probably have to pressure wash it every year anyway because of the way our deck is situated with a lot of trees around it. It looks great every year until late May when all the pollen from out oak trees drop, then it gets really dirty. We don't mind washing it, teenage DS has been doing it last couple of years.


Thanks. Btw, when i said painting, i meant using a solid stain, not actual paint -- one should never paint a deck with paint


You cannot stain a plastic material deck. Only wood.


Wrong. Azek and similar cellular pvc products accept paint and solid stain. I have done it.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 14:10     Subject: Deck material input needed
ughh this sucks, I thought that composite / plastic decks are maintenance free. WTF seems as much maintenance, should've just gotten pressure treated and stain.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 12:49     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:PP, what kind of stains? Just wondering if it's from regular outside stuff like tree droppings....


I think they're mildew stains. They are dark circle-like spots covering the whole deck.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 12:17     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Love my Azec. We do have to pressure wash it at least once per yr, though, but it looks like new once it is cleaned up.


Have you painted it (with a solid stain) at all? I read somewhere that, although it doesn't need to be painted, painting it makes it easier to clean


I have not painted it. Nice to know that that is an option, though. We will probably have to pressure wash it every year anyway because of the way our deck is situated with a lot of trees around it. It looks great every year until late May when all the pollen from out oak trees drop, then it gets really dirty. We don't mind washing it, teenage DS has been doing it last couple of years.


Thanks. Btw, when i said painting, i meant using a solid stain, not actual paint -- one should never paint a deck with paint


You cannot stain a plastic material deck. Only wood.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 10:41     Subject: Re:Deck material input needed
One last thing. If you leave the azek (or anything else) uncoated, which may be the best thing to do, you might want to sand the end cuts to reduce dirt accumulation. On azek, the uncut surface is very stain resistant, but the part where a saw blade cut through are fairly susceptible to getting dirtier. Smoothing those by sanding reduces the dirt issue, and plus it makes it look more finished.
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 10:29     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:PP, what kind of stains? Just wondering if it's from regular outside stuff like tree droppings....


I'm the PP who suggested painting. Let me take that back. Now that I recall correctly, they say that homeowners can paint (with actual exterior paint) AZEK exterior *moulding* -- e.g. fascia -- which is not going to be subject to tree droppings and the like. The paint allows to use many colors (not dark colors) and hides caulk used on nails and screws.

For AZEK *deck*, I am actually not sure that you want to use solid stain. (Cabot solid stain for example.). It might give you more color choice, but I don't see how solid stain can be more resistant to droppings than the actual "naked" . I definitely cannot see that working on the horizontal parts of your deck.

Sorry if create confusion. Please do research if it's OK to coat azek *deck* with something. Leaving it naked, particularly the horizontal parts, may be the best option.

(By the way, no matter what you do, don't coat it with paint. It will eventually flake and be a pain to properly recoat. If you want to coat, use solid stain made particularly for decking (not siding, which is not meant for horizontal areas). The solid stain will wear more evenly and will be easier to eventually recoat it.)


When i say actual "naked", i meant the azek decking without any coating. On further thought, i think that leaving it uncoated (at least the horizontal parts) ought to be the best thing to do
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 10:25     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:PP, what kind of stains? Just wondering if it's from regular outside stuff like tree droppings....


I'm the PP who suggested painting. Let me take that back. Now that I recall correctly, they say that homeowners can paint (with actual exterior paint) AZEK exterior *moulding* -- e.g. fascia -- which is not going to be subject to tree droppings and the like. The paint allows to use many colors (not dark colors) and hides caulk used on nails and screws.

For AZEK *deck*, I am actually not sure that you want to use solid stain. (Cabot solid stain for example.). It might give you more color choice, but I don't see how solid stain can be more resistant to droppings than the actual "naked" . I definitely cannot see that working on the horizontal parts of your deck.

Sorry if create confusion. Please do research if it's OK to coat azek *deck* with something. Leaving it naked, particularly the horizontal parts, may be the best option.

(By the way, no matter what you do, don't coat it with paint. It will eventually flake and be a pain to properly recoat. If you want to coat, use solid stain made particularly for decking (not siding, which is not meant for horizontal areas). The solid stain will wear more evenly and will be easier to eventually recoat it.)
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 09:21     Subject: Deck material input needed
PP, what kind of stains? Just wondering if it's from regular outside stuff like tree droppings....
Anonymous
Post 06/23/2012 08:07     Subject: Deck material input needed
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Anyone have experience with Trex Transcend? We just got another quote and the guy suggested this material because it will not fade like Azec will.


13:33 here. Trex Transcend is what we have. After a year, it's covered in dark stains. I'm going to try Corte-Clean, as recommended by PP, but really, I wish we had gone with wood for our deck.