Decked Out

Key Characteristics for decking projects vary from person to person and from project to project.  One of  the criterias we have been hearing more about is flame spread ratings and fire class.

This link provides a great overview of the topic and how it applies to commonly used decking projects:

http://dps.state.la.us/sfm/doc_flamespread.html 

Of note, you can see most wood products are class III or C which means they are the most flammable.  The exception to this for deck use is Western Red Cedar.

Additionally, most composites are Class B rated, but the only one that I have seen that is Class A is Premium Composites.  This seems to be a unique feature to this product which makes it a consideration in fire prone areas or potentially on roof top applications.

I’m interested to see what other products are used out there in fire sensitive settings.  Let me know.

Campbell

Share this article

When looking at the composite decks that are available, the choice of product out there is pretty large.  Considerations include colour availability, materials, warranty, dimension, coverage, span and, of course, looks.

One question I hear often is regarding hollow (engineered) deck boards vs solid deck boards: what’s going on?

The simple answer is: not a lot.  Deck boards are rated for strength over spans through standardized test procedures.  So whether a board is hollow or not, from a strength perspective you need to see how it is rated to make plans for spacing your joists.  Hollow boards are typically engineered to more efficiently use less material to create a strong or stronger board than a solid board.

There is a visual component that concerns some regarding the look of the deck board ends.  Obviously, wood decks are not hollow and the aesthetic of deck boards being solid is difficult to shake.  To overcome this, there is usually a number of options for addressing this including finishing strips or fascia boards.

Some decks also require a solid board as the plans call for some to be routed.  This is one application where a solid board is the only choice.

Given the similarities in application and the cost saving associated with a hollow board (less material), you may ask why solid boards are so prevalent in the North American market.  The reason seems to be perception.  As mentioned before, wood decks are solid and the first composite deck boards on the market were all solid.  This seems to have created an image in the minds of many consumers that that is what composite decking is.  Whereas, in Europe and Asia, engineered hollow boards have broad acceptance.

Share this article

Just another note on relative costs of products,  we have many products and nowhere is there a quick summary of various products’ pricing,  so here goes. This is only a guide,  as of April ‘08 but gives you a comparison to work with.   One item to check is the Cedar  5/4 x 6  #2and better grade,  this is an outstanding value for a natural wood, no preservatives and the grade still gives  a very good deck.  Expect a little more trimming so adjust the wastage factor.

At the top end of the scale for performance the composites, PVC, and hardwoods are excellent as well,  I cannot recommend one over the other,  the customers’ preferences rule.

Price Ladder-   fob warehouse or mill- all prices  $us/lineal foot- 

       Regards, Glen 

Share this article

On every call for decking,  I get asked about shipping and delivery,  and on every call the response is .. we can deliver just about anywhere.  There are categories of delivery that the truckers use,  these are not our rules but industry standards for the truckers.  All our decking is too long for a lift-gate, with the exception of the Kon-Tiki deck tiles that are palletized.  If you are a homeowner or contractor wanting delivery to the  job site ,  this is  classified as a “residential” delivery with extra time  allotted for you to unload the stock.  It is a manual off load, the strapping is cut and you take the boards off a couple at a time.  One lift would take 2 or 3 men about 15-20 minutes,  not a big job but one you have to be prepared to do.  And yes,  the truckers phone ahead for a delivery appointment about a day or two ahead as they will not send the truck out until that appointment has been made.

A second category is “commercial delivery” that is classified as a warehouse with a loading and unloading dock the truck can back up to.  Unloading is simply pulling the pallets out of the truck with warehouse forklifts.  There is a time and dollar saving here versus the residential delivery but not always enough to compensate.  Usually it is better to go directly to the job site unless the order is a larger volume.  ( a forklift at the job site is still a residential delivery unless you have an unloading ramp.

Our trucking partners use van type trucks for the most part,  by special order for larger volumes we can do the flat beds, usually the long haul trips do not have fork lifts and having a fork lift on site would be the buyers’ responsibilities.

 Before ordering,  please make sure to clarify any questions regarding shipping and delivery,  it can be too late when the truck is coming down the street to your house.

Regards, Glen

Share this article

The warm weather is coming, believe it or not,  and the deck projects are on the minds of many folks.  Lead time for delivery is a big factor and too often we have calls from potential customers who want it for “this weekend”.   Please, give yourself the leadtime to plan, order, for us to deliver, and then for you to build the deck without rushing before that major  weekend of the family party. 

Composite decking, PVC (vinyl), wood decking (Cedar, Ipe, Cumaru), or deck tiles to cover the old concrete patio all take time to arrange, shipping and transit time to you, so plan accordingly.  Deck railings also take some time and should be given the same consideration.  Avoid the rush by planning and ordering now, a sequence of events could be

1. plan                                    1-2 weeks
2. order                                  1 hour or 1 week, depending on details
3. lead time to delivery        7-10 working days
4. construction                      as long as it takes, as many hands as it takes

Regards, Glen

Share this article

As I discussed last week, Deck Expo really offers a very concentrated way of seeing what is going on in the decking world.  Virtually all of the key brands in the composite decking category with represenatives in attendance including Trex, Timber Tech, Fiberon, Vanguard, Moisture Shield, CorrectDeck, Rever, TAMKO, NewTech and others.

The news in this category was not so much what was new in the way of products, but how the composite market has evolved in product positioning, customer acceptance, new entrants and established companies exiting or rationalizing production.  AERT is looking at some innovative ideas including the use of Juniper fibre in its composition to fight mold and reduce the use of chemicals in its product.  Other lines have been trying to find the sweet spot in their composition mix to control costs with the increasing price of plastic and oil, while not compromising the integrity and longevity of their deck boards. 

Innovation in this category to broaden the appeal with customers (addressing environmental and longevity concerns primarily) are going to be key to the growth versus wood and pure plastic products.  While using more efficient production and sourcing of raw inputs are going to be the only way to counter increasing costs and to address the dominant use of pressure treated lumber as the low cost product of choice.

One incredible product on display was PureWood.  This is a decking material made from wood that has been thermally modified (apparently any wood can be used, though pine and fir seem to be the options they are considering).  This allows wood that has not been treated or sealed to withstand the elements without decaying like typical softwoods.  There is a great article discussing the product here: PureWoodArticle

Thermally modifed wood products have been used in Europe for around 10 years, but have not really been used extensively in North America.  It offers an environmentally sensitive option with regards to chemical usage as compared to pressure treated lumber, although the carbon footprint of the thermal treating will have to be taken into consideration given that the product is heated and steamed for 50-60 hours in its production.

 It will be interesting to see the uptake of PureWood and other thermally modified products as they are introduced.  With the focus on innovation in materials, there is likely to be some interest in this category.  However, with an expected price point to rival hardwood exotics and high end PVC decking, the question remains how much volume will actually convert.

Share this article

I attended Deck Expo 2008 last week in Orlando, FL.  This is the largest trade show devoted exclusively to decking.  It provides a forum for everyone in the decking industry to share what is going on with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, deck builders and, of course, customers.

This is an ooportunity to see all of the components of the industry whether it is the large manufacturers of deck boards, fasteners and railings, to the niche products of dock boards, sealants and accessories.

The category of deck boards that showed the biggest growth in terms of number of new products on the market was PVC/Vinyl decking.  The real advantage of PVC is the fade and stain resistance as well as the flexibilty in creating products with more depth of colour and options, without the wood chip and flour that is found in composite products.

The company that has been in this category the longest is Azek (they acquired Procell) and they have shown the most growth at least in the number of yards that carry their product.

Premium Composites is launching Elite Decking, a line of PVC decking utilizing Strandex technology.  This represents a growth in their offering in addition to their composite line.

Two other brands of PVC, Luxrae (www.luxrae.com) and Truemarc (www.truemarc.com) have shown the look of the future of PVC decking with their manufacturing technology that gives a very authentic wood grain finish.  While not a pure PVC product (they both contain rice husks), the finish on these products is the most realistic maufactured finsih I have seen.  The price point and corresponding volume remains to be seen.  The indications I saw suggested retail pricing around $3.50 per lineal foot.

Next week, more Deck Expo review including composite, thermally modified wood, docks and more.

Share this article

What factors go into deciding “what decking material should I use?”   The big factor is usually price and performance.  With cost being a big factor  the pressure treated woods are usually used on the underside,  readily available in most building supply centers,  and on most surfaces as well.    

1. Pressure treated woods are the first option, costwise and the most readily available
2. Western  Red Cedar and Redwood in 5/4 x 6  and 2×6  are two options, price wise higher than P/T  but still good value for a durable softwood
3. Composite decking   -  a lot of  different brands and designs out there,  and many different prices
4. PVC  (vinyl decking)  - an excellent product line, and somewhat more expensive that composites- usually
5. Hardwoods  - Ipe, Cumaru and even Tigerwood  -  durable and strong hardwoods,  excellent for high end decks and usually top of the “price ladder”

It is hard to put exact prices to each, but if you take the pressure treated as the base at 100%  the price ladder may look something like the following.  don’t look only at the price but also the performance of the options- 

1. P/T  -    100%
2. Cedar     125-200% depending on the grade
3. Composite   200% -250%
4. PVC        250%- 300%
5. Hardwoods   300% or even more- usually very high grade lumber

 Regards,  Glen

Share this article

The “hot” new product hitting the market this year is PVC decking.  Azek, Timber Tech and Trex have all launched products in the last year and have extensive distribution for their products.  They are also being carried by a large number of dealers betting on this addressing a large customer need.

While this take up with sellers is evident, what remains to be seen is whether the hype behind the category leads to sales and growth of the non-wood category, cannabilization of composite sales or develops as a niche product.  With a price point that is anywhere from 20-100% higher than most composites, PVC decking really is a different product from composites and being aimed at a very different customer who would typically build their deck with pressure treated lumber.

While not exactly new, as vinyl product have been on the market for several years (Introduction of Quadra Decking in 2006), vinly’s time may be here given some of the frustration seen with composites: primarily fading and staining.  Addressing these concerns will build credibility not only for the PVC category, but may also address some of the damage sustained to the non-wood category due to the inital issues faced by composite.

I came across an article from Professional Deck Builder online which gives an overview of some of the PVC products out there: Professioinal Deck Builder: PVC Decking.  It gives an overview of some of the product announcements for 2008.

If you have experience with PVC Decking, let me know how it’s worked for you.  The feedback I have heard so far has been incredibly positive.

Share this article

Across the continent everyone I talk to seems to have a weather story,  even some of the southern customers.  But,  spring is not that far away and the calls are serious in nature.  I sincerely hope that folks will plan ahead and consider the lead time necessary for delivery of the product.  Do not wait until the last minute and then have a contractors waiting- you will lose them.

If you are building a new home,  think of the product lines we have, whether roofing, siding, decking or interior flooring and see what BuildDirect can do for you.  Our shipping logistics can deliver to the residential job site, or commercial warehouse -whatever you need.  Our shipping is one of our hidden jewels,  if you know what you want, enter that amount in the website shopping cart, add your zip code and press the “get freight” button.  It is as easy as that.

 Your spring projects, delivered to you and ready to build.

Glen

Share this article