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Default Replacing a redwood deck

I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. The steps leading up
to it are TREX. The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. It is nice and clean now.

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate
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Default Replacing a redwood deck


"Kate" wrote in message
I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck and
steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards needing to
be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


I go with a stamped concrete. Yes, it can be done after the house is built.
Concrete is durable, never needs painting, and IMO is far superior that
decking materials.

My deck is about 9' off the ground so I poured a concrete patio under it.
We love it and use it more than the deck.


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Default Replacing a redwood deck

Kate wrote:
....
Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.


"Can" isn't the same as "will"...

Sure, it can be done; the trick will be finding a competent crew that
will do a job up to what you expect. Get references; check up on them
including going to look at some of their work would be my recommendation.


Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

....

That's your pick based on what you want it to look like. If the
moisture issues are cured, it's possible the wood deck could be an
attractive feature whereas a poured concrete deck/porch/steps is poured
concrete. Of course, there are ways to gussy-up that as well, but I
think it's essentially a choice of what you want the appearance to be
and what the budget is.

--
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

On Aug 24, 12:40*am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. *The steps leading up
to it are TREX. *The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. *The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. *It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. *We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. *It is nice and clean now..

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. *Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. *I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


I like wood, but im weird. Trex is and looks plastic, concrete is
expensive and you hope you havnt been cheaped on the mix and some ice
melters eat it up. How about a stone looking product or pavers that
have a lifetime guarntee, concrete has none.
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

"Kate" wrote

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.


It can be done easily. You can have them apply either a think topper layer
of faux-brick, slate, or just about anything else so you don't have the
'bare cement look'. You can even have trex put on top in a thin layer and
replace as needed over time.



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Default Replacing a redwood deck

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
"Kate" wrote in message
I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck and
steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards needing to
be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


I go with a stamped concrete. Yes, it can be done after the house is built.
Concrete is durable, never needs painting, and IMO is far superior that
decking materials.

My deck is about 9' off the ground so I poured a concrete patio under it.
We love it and use it more than the deck.


I am looking for a very low maintenance deck/steps.

I love the look of stamped concrete, but isn't it true that it needs to
be treated once a year
?


Many thanks.

Kate
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

dpb wrote:
Kate wrote:
...
Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and
steps after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new
home, but this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.


"Can" isn't the same as "will"...

Sure, it can be done; the trick will be finding a competent crew that
will do a job up to what you expect. Get references; check up on them
including going to look at some of their work would be my recommendation.


Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

...

That's your pick based on what you want it to look like. If the
moisture issues are cured, it's possible the wood deck could be an
attractive feature whereas a poured concrete deck/porch/steps is poured
concrete. Of course, there are ways to gussy-up that as well, but I
think it's essentially a choice of what you want the appearance to be
and what the budget is.

-- It is a very small area, and a nice white bench covers a lot of it, plus

I would have two huge baskets of flowers on each side of it.

A friend builds houses, as a hobby just for himself, and he is helping
me decide on a company to do this.

I appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

Kate
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

ransley wrote:
On Aug 24, 12:40 am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. The steps leading up
to it are TREX. The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. It is nice and clean now.

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


I like wood, but im weird. Trex is and looks plastic, concrete is
expensive and you hope you havnt been cheaped on the mix and some ice
melters eat it up. How about a stone looking product or pavers that
have a lifetime guarntee, concrete has none.


Another great idea. I guess my feeling is with concrete, once it is
poured,I don't have to treat it anymore. I am trying to keep it very
simple and easy to maintain.

Thank you!
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

cshenk wrote:
"Kate" wrote

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and
steps after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new
home, but this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.


It can be done easily. You can have them apply either a think topper
layer of faux-brick, slate, or just about anything else so you don't
have the 'bare cement look'. You can even have trex put on top in a
thin layer and replace as needed over time.

I love this newsgroup. I am getting some great ideas. Thank you.
More to think about.
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

Kate wrote:
cshenk wrote:
"Kate" wrote

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and
steps after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new
home, but this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.


It can be done easily. You can have them apply either a think topper
layer of faux-brick, slate, or just about anything else so you don't
have the 'bare cement look'. You can even have trex put on top in a
thin layer and replace as needed over time.

I love this newsgroup. I am getting some great ideas. Thank you.
More to think about.


If you live in snow country, any applied brick/slate/whatever surface
over concrete has a big downside. First or second time water gets inside
there and freezes, the surface material pops off. Concrete is what it
is- if you don't like that look, you want a stone porch, or something
hollow that drains itself. If cost is no object, big chunks of granite
is a nice look.

--
aem sends...


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aemeijers wrote:
Kate wrote:
cshenk wrote:
"Kate" wrote

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and
steps after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new
home, but this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

It can be done easily. You can have them apply either a think topper
layer of faux-brick, slate, or just about anything else so you don't
have the 'bare cement look'. You can even have trex put on top in a
thin layer and replace as needed over time.

I love this newsgroup. I am getting some great ideas. Thank you.
More to think about.


If you live in snow country, any applied brick/slate/whatever surface
over concrete has a big downside. First or second time water gets inside
there and freezes, the surface material pops off. Concrete is what it
is- if you don't like that look, you want a stone porch, or something
hollow that drains itself. If cost is no object, big chunks of granite
is a nice look.

--
aem sends...

Yes, I live in snow country. OK, I think I will go with just concrete.
Thanks for helping me with my decision making.

Kate
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

On Aug 24, 1:40*am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. *The steps leading up
to it are TREX. *The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. *The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. *It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. *We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. *It is nice and clean now..

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. *Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. *I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


WOW I dont think I have ever seen redwood rot.

Jimmie
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JIMMIE wrote:
On Aug 24, 1:40 am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. The steps leading up
to it are TREX. The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. It is nice and clean now.

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


WOW I dont think I have ever seen redwood rot.

Jimmie

It was not the redwood deck that rotted. It was the support beams
underneath it that held the wood on top of the deck. Those support
beams were not made out of redwood.

Sorry for the confusion.
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Default Replacing a redwood deck

On Aug 24, 1:40*am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. *The steps leading up
to it are TREX. *The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. *The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. *It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. *We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. *It is nice and clean now..

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. *Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. *I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


I had the same done after doing an add-on to my house. I had a permit
pulled for the concrete work and had the patio built to the same spec
as the rest of the house. I wanted this built so that I could turn it
into a room at a later date if I wanted to. The old wooden deck was 10
by 10 ft. The new concrete one is 14 x 28.

Jimmie
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JIMMIE | 2009-08-24 | 10:41:55 PM wrote:

WOW I dont think I have ever seen redwood rot.


You just haven't waited long enough. I have a client who wants me to
power-wash her redwood deck, because it's all gray and black. I could
get most of it off without damaging the wood, but the other 10% of the
boards would just disintegrate--they're that rotted. She doesn't want
to pay for redwood, so past repairs have been pressure-treated pine.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA


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On Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:40:48 -0700, Kate wrote:

I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. The steps leading up
to it are TREX. The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. It is nice and clean now.

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate



I have not seen a concrete deck, although concrete patio looks good
and practical. I'm sure someone can put in a concrete deck, and
certainly concrete steps are common.

But, there are a few issues with concrete. No matter how good the
contractor, 1 out of 10 concrete mixes will end up cracking and/or
spalting. If successful, your concrete deck should be almost
maintenance free, unlike a wooden deck.

My deck is 18 years old and looks very nice. I have to remove the
algae every 2 years, and re-stain every 5-6 years. I drains quickly
and dries very quickly after a rain. I use decking stain. Wooden
decks are high maintenance, so one that is not too big is best.
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JIMMIE wrote:
On Aug 24, 1:40 am, Kate wrote:
I have a redwood deck just outside my front door. The steps leading up
to it are TREX. The TREX flaked badly, and I got a settlement check.
Today, a friend was going to help me rebuild the steps again, and we
found dry rot.

What happened is that the family I bought this 11 year old home from ran
the dryer vent underneath the deck area. The moisture caused the dry
rot. When I moved here four years ago, I had someone move the vent so
that it vents outside of the deck, into the outside air. For four years
there has not been any new moisture underneath the deck. It is bone dry.

What should have been a two hour job, took four hours. We completely
removed every board as it was all dry rotted. It is nice and clean now.

I am thinking about hiring a concrete company to pour a concrete deck
and steps. Then, I don't have to worry about wood rotting, boards
needing to be treated every summer, and TREX flaking.

My home has vinyl siding.

Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and steps
after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new home, but
this is not a new home.

I just want to be sure it looks nice as I am quite fussy.

Would you go the concrete route, or stick with TREX?

Many thanks everyone.

Kate


WOW I dont think I have ever seen redwood rot.

Jimmie

Not all 'redwood' decks are Redwood. Some are just red wood, out of a
can. No idea of OP's level of expertise, but many civilians can not tell
the difference. If previous owner changed the deck boards for plastic,
it leads me to suspect the deck wasn't real redwood, unless PO was an idiot.

--
aem, remembering as a kid using clear-grain redwood for fascia board,
sends...
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"Kate" wrote
cshenk wrote:


Can someone tell me if a concrete company can pour a nice deck and
steps after a home has been built. I know it is easy to do in a new
home, but this is not a new home.


It can be done easily. You can have them apply either a think topper
layer of faux-brick, slate, or just about anything else so you don't
have the 'bare cement look'. You can even have trex put on top in a
thin layer and replace as needed over time.


If you live in snow country, any applied brick/slate/whatever surface
over concrete has a big downside. First or second time water gets inside
there and freezes, the surface material pops off. Concrete is what it is-
if you don't like that look, you want a stone porch, or something hollow
that drains itself. If cost is no object, big chunks of granite is a nice
look.
aem sends...


Yes, I live in snow country. OK, I think I will go with just concrete.
Thanks for helping me with my decision making.


Hi Kate!

If you live in snow country, one of the better looking solutions to topping
the bare cement, is to have them press a mold into it to create a faux-brick
look as it dries, at least on all top surfaces. They even have color
additives they can use with the cement so it all looks terra cotta sorta.
Just pay a little extra for having it mixed through-out and you won't have
layers along the sides. The colorant is cheap but a spot where they like to
cut corners so make sure thats specified for all cement to be poured from 4
inches below ground and up (or just all). If you don't specify it, then
they have to pour a second layer for the sides after the base is dried and
you have the potential of the separation issue in snow country then if water
gets between the layers and a freeze-thaw causes problems down the line.

BTW, at the design phase, you want to think about rails. I do not recall
you mentioning how high this needs to be so rails may not matter, but if it
has steps up to the 'landing' then this might be a factor. Some states
require them based on how high past ground level the 'porch' is. Others
require rails based on how many steps there are.

I am not an expert on this but from what I've gathered the watch points are
generally 'more than 3 steps' and 'more than 18 inches' (I know that sounds
illogical but some base on number of steps and some on distance to ground).
This doesnt mean your area is that restrictive, but a general idea of what
may also be required. One fallacy you will see here from a few, is
confusion on code-spec and what has to be followed. The only real answer
there is your local offices who will happily answer you with a phone call I
am sure. You do not for example, have to bring a grandfathered back porch
up to current specs, when you do the front porch one to it, at least not in
my area (and unaware of any others who would require that).

Hope this helps. A local contractor (get several estimates) will know the
rules for your area too.

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In article ,
Phisherman wrote:

Wooden
decks are high maintenance


Mine isn't. I don't do a damn thing to it. It's made of wood, fer
christ's sake. PT stringers and joists, clear heart redwood deckboards.
Yep, she's old and gray and beautiful. Wood ages. I've got better
battles to fight than the course of nature.
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