Question TREX
blueman wrote:
Kate writes:
Ed Pawlowski wrote:
"Kate" wrote in message
...
I am replacing my front steps which was built out of TREX three
years ago. It is flaking badly.
Would you replace it again with TREX, hoping for a good batch
(friends I know have had great luck with it), redwood, cedar, or
another product.
My feeling is that regardless of what product I use, it will
require maintenance.
Many thanks.
Kate
I'd use Ipe. Lasts 50 years or more with no treatment. Put some
Penofin oil on it every couple of years and it will outlast you.
Thank you Ed. I have never heard of this type of wood. I just read
about it and it sounds very good. Do you know anyone who has used it
with success.
I used 3" tongue and groove Ipe on a small covered porch:
Advantages:
- Tough, dense, stiff, difficult to scratch/gouge
- Lasts 50+ years (they use it on the Atlantic city
boardwalk) and supposedly has the same fire rating as steel (they
don't call it Iron Wood for nothing)
- Beautiful deep reddish/brown coloring brought out by oiling
- Affordable
- Renewable (I think but I'm not really a green person)
Disadvantages (ironically, mostly all due to the tougness of the wood)
- Labor intensive to install since the material is so tough -- you
typically need to pre-drill all screws/nails and it wears down saw
blades
- Doesn't glue very well due to the natural oils that also protect it
from rot. (you need to clean it with a solvent before gluing and use
high quality glues to make it work)
- Stain and oils don't sink in very well since the wood is so dense
and tough so you have to recoat every 6 months or so if you want it
to maintain it's new reddish brown look. Alternatively, if you are
OK with it turning silvery grey (like the Boardwalk) then there is
no need to coat it at all...
In summary, I love it and it's a great choice if you want a beautiful,
long-term, low maintenance (other than regular oiling)
surface. However you will likely need to pay a premium for
installation since it requires more labor or if you do it yourself it
will take more time than a softer wood or composite.
Great info. Thanks a lot.
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