I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.

Naive me thought composite was BETTER than wood. Turns out it is just
much cheaper!!!

Not to look "gift" steps in the mouth; they did replace dangerous old
concrete steps, but problems have arisen painting/staining.

Trex Website says need one kind of stain - semi-transparent -- for the
pressure-treated green wood that forms the supports on both sides and
the risers.

OK, fine.

Need another kind -- solid -- for the actual decking, or treads,and I
guess contractor is using it for handrails too (!) because of cost.
(How the hell much more could two short pieces of redwood cost??!!)

OK, fine.

But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

OK, fine.

Meantime, the treads are getting blotchy with water spots and
who knows what else.

Trex Website says to clean with "soap and water and a stiff brush".

I did, but it didn't clean up.

What to do? Just ignore the treads and any soiling until the "fading"
has taken place, THEN try to clean up before staining?

Or?

Your experience with composite decking/stair treads appreciated.

Aspasia

aspasia wrote:
I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.

Naive me thought composite was BETTER than wood. Turns out it is just
much cheaper!!!

Not to look "gift" steps in the mouth; they did replace dangerous old
concrete steps, but problems have arisen painting/staining.

Trex Website says need one kind of stain - semi-transparent -- for the
pressure-treated green wood that forms the supports on both sides and
the risers.

OK, fine.

Need another kind -- solid -- for the actual decking, or treads,and I
guess contractor is using it for handrails too (!) because of cost.
(How the hell much more could two short pieces of redwood cost??!!)

OK, fine.

But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

OK, fine.

Meantime, the treads are getting blotchy with water spots and
who knows what else.

Trex Website says to clean with "soap and water and a stiff brush".

I did, but it didn't clean up.

What to do? Just ignore the treads and any soiling until the "fading"
has taken place, THEN try to clean up before staining?

I certainly wouldn't do anything until then. Outdoors, "stuff" is going
to happen, whatever the material. Give it time, it will gradually get a
weathered look and blend in. I'm not sure I'd start the staining cycle,
but that's your call, I guess...

--

I'd recommend TWP for the pressure treated parts of it (after it ages a
bit of course). Great stuff easy to work with..I think I learned of it
on this board..

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:30:09 -0500, dpb wrote:

aspasia wrote:
I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.

Naive me thought composite was BETTER than wood. Turns out it is just
much cheaper!!!

Not to look "gift" steps in the mouth; they did replace dangerous old
concrete steps, but problems have arisen painting/staining.

Trex Website says need one kind of stain - semi-transparent -- for the
pressure-treated green wood that forms the supports on both sides and
the risers.

OK, fine.

Need another kind -- solid -- for the actual decking, or treads,and I
guess contractor is using it for handrails too (!) because of cost.
(How the hell much more could two short pieces of redwood cost??!!)

OK, fine.

But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

OK, fine.

Meantime, the treads are getting blotchy with water spots and
who knows what else.

Trex Website says to clean with "soap and water and a stiff brush".

I did, but it didn't clean up.

What to do? Just ignore the treads and any soiling until the "fading"
has taken place, THEN try to clean up before staining?

I certainly wouldn't do anything until then. Outdoors, "stuff" is going
to happen, whatever the material. Give it time, it will gradually get a
weathered look and blend in. I'm not sure I'd start the staining cycle,
but that's your call, I guess...

You're quite right.

I'm not going to stain the treads unti the "fading" has happened.
The Trex Web site warns against precipitous action.

I will have the contractor stain the pressure-treated green wood
supports and risers -with a semi-transparent product, and leave me a
supply of matching solid stain for when it's time to do the treads.

Tx

Aspasia

aspasia writes:

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:30:09 -0500, dpb wrote:

aspasia wrote:
I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.
....
But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

That doesn't sound right. Here's what I found at the Trex site under
"painting":

Although Trex decking never needs to be painted or stained for
protection, be aware that you can paint or stain Trex products to
achieve a custom color.

Personally, I think putting paint or stain on composite is nuts.

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:38:34 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote:

aspasia writes:

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:30:09 -0500, dpb wrote:

aspasia wrote:
I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.
...
But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

That doesn't sound right. Here's what I found at the Trex site under
"painting":

Although Trex decking never needs to be painted or stained for
protection, be aware that you can paint or stain Trex products to
achieve a custom color.


What you found IS correct, but exploring further leads to the advice
that I cite above.

At this URL

http://trex.com/care/default.asp

clicking on "Warranty and Care",
you will find advice about weathering and about painting/staining.

Following the links, you will come to the Painting bulletin.

Personally, I think putting paint or stain on composite is nuts.

Each to their own. But as the Trex advice implies, untreated
composite can look ugly. My little stair treads are already all
blotchy with various drips & such. I will wait the recommended
"fade" period and then clean off the treads as well as possible and
finish them with "solid" rather than "semi" stain.

aspasia writes:

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:38:34 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote:

aspasia writes:

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:30:09 -0500, dpb wrote:

aspasia wrote:
I am having side steps installed via a city grant. The Bid and Scope
of work called for a composite; we ordered Trex because contractor
buys at HD.
...
But Trex Website says that their material has to "fade" for 12 to 16
weeks before it can be painted/stained with good results.

That doesn't sound right. Here's what I found at the Trex site under
"painting":

Although Trex decking never needs to be painted or stained for
protection, be aware that you can paint or stain Trex products to
achieve a custom color.


What you found IS correct, but exploring further leads to the advice
that I cite above.

At this URL

http://trex.com/care/default.asp

clicking on "Warranty and Care",
you will find advice about weathering and about painting/staining.

Following the links, you will come to the Painting bulletin.

Yeah, did that. Same result.
No where does it actually recommend that you paint.

Do what you want. No way I'd be painting composite.