If you plan to install your decking at a 45-degree angle, your joists may need to be 12 inches apart. Install the picture frame border with the desired overhang. Fasten along the mitered edge of each picture frame board at a minimum of ¾” from any board edge. And most parts of a deck are now available in composite material. TimberTech composite decking products are highly durable and require the use of high-quality deck fasteners. Just measure the distance between the posts, transfer the proper angle and cut to length. Picture framing decking is becoming quite popular among home owners and deck builders. If you choose to surround your deck with a picture-frame border, it can be installed before or after the field decking. Use splice boards to eliminate random splices in long runs. of 3') (See pg. First, you'll want to make sure that the deck frame is square. Optimal installation method (shownbelow) is using square-edge decking as a border, overlapping the rim joists approx. Today they install low-maintenance materials on three out of four. The best decks start with the best deck ideas. For best deck fascia board results, use the TOPLoc fascia fastening product developed for the specific decking line you chose (capped polymer or capped composite). Run String Lines to Ensure All Joists Are Level & In Plane. Someone who actually reads how-to manuals? One solution is to “picture frame” the deck by installing Trex deck boards around the perimeter. 8) CANTILEVERS (Trex RainEscape can accommodate any angle or radius – max. Notch the picture frame border around rail posts. Creating a tight fit between a composite deck posts and a rail is difficult — even pros struggle with it. Altogether these guys have built more than 1,000 decks, using every material imaginable. Or plan to go big and incorporate a fire pit into your decking design? This will allow fascia to be installed UNDER the square-edged decking, adding protection to the fascia/ framing … A splice board will also require extra framing. Be sure to consider how your rail system will be attached and how your rail posts will intersect with surrounding decking. Choose a dark-colored tape; shiny silver and white are noticeable between the gaps. Attach boards on each post with Trex-recommended composite screws (quantity of 2 per each board end). When installing these, there are a few common installation practices to keep in mind. 11) 5A. A tell-tale sign of a potential problem with the ledger board attachment is the … Generally, no composite board should be supported on less than three joists below. Can I Install Tiles on Composite or Wood Decks? You just countersink the screws using the special bit included with the kit, and hammer in a plug that’s made of the same material as the decking. Installing tile over a standard deck frame in an exterior environment is a recipe for trouble. In this case, we needed to cut down the last 2 deck boards in the field to prevent the last board being only 3/4" wide. The edge-tracing picture frame lends a nicely finished look, and at the same time, creates a natural cover to finish the ends of composite decking. SINGLE PICTURE FRAME HORIZONTAL BLOCKING RUNS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE JOISTS TROUGH OVERLAPS BY AT LEAST 1" TAPE OVER SEAMS CAULK BETWEEN THE BLOCKING AND THE JOISTS SEAM PICTURE FRAME (See pg. For conventional guardrail post installation bolted to the side of the framing, larger framing will provide more strength in the rails. The exposed end grains of deck boards can begin to look pretty rough over time. Are you the do-it-for-me kind of homeowner? It’s because dark ones are harder for horses to see. Learn about our variety of composite durable decking options for creating your outdoor living oasis. Click here for some pro-tips on tight miter joints. Check your product specs and talk to your local building official before you buy. Boards with dark colors can get blistering hot when the sun is beating down on them. If you’re planning to replace old wood decking with PVC or composite, measure the deck joist spacing first. This allows water to drain off the board’s edge. Once your edge board is securely positioned, install a FastClip to the exposed grooved-edge on the inside of the edge board, ready for laying all subsequent deck boards. Trex Elevations is approved for contact with both soil and concrete. Most PVC and composite products aren’t as rigid as wood, so they don’t bridge imperfections in the framing as well. Install blocking 1-1/2" below the top of the frame along the sides of the deck at least 16" on center. One technique is to install the field decking first, letting the ends run long then cut them all at once to accommodate the border. Before installing any decking, run string … Installation. Trex Decking Ideas Picture Gallery. Most deck joists are centered 16 inches apart, which is the maximum deck joist spacing for most low-maintenance decking. Find inspiration for decks -- both big and small -- by browsing through our collection of gorgeous design ideas. Blocking must be installed between joists where the picture frame boards will be parallel to the joists. Running a border around an angled corner. Lay butyl tape over the joist tops to help prevent rot. Picture-frame boards that run parallel to the joists require blocking between the joists, spaced the same as the joists (usually 16" on center). Stair railings are one of the trickiest parts of any deck project. 1” in picture framing pattern around decking perimeter. Most contractors use some type of fascia to finish the edge of the deck and hide the underneath support joists. If your rail ends will be exposed, you may want to invest in an aluminum blade for your chop saw. Parts of Your Home Prone to the Most Winter Weather Damage, First-Timer’s Guide to Pouring a Concrete Patio, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Leave a 1/8" - 1/4" gap for composite decking to allow for thermal expansion. Cut your boards. square spindle grows to more than an inch when you view it at an angle. Protect Joists From Rot. Our pros mix and match all the time: composite posts with aluminum rails, composite rails with aluminum spindles. Do you know why horse fences are usually white? This subtle detail can do a lot to improve the overall appearance of your deck. If your deck is more than a couple of feet off the ground, you may want to wrap the posts in PVC to match the rest of the deck. Do it the same way you would for the perimeter boards (one extra joist and a 2x6 on its side between the outside joist and the extra joist). Learn the basics of measuring, scoping and installing your decking and railing, and go from dream to do. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to color. Find out with our series of deck installation tutorial videos and downloadable guides. Choose your layout. So if you’re in the planning stages for a new deck, consider alternatives to wood and check out some composite deck designs. Apr 25, 2016 - One method of finishing a deck is installing a board around the perimeter, known as picture framing. One way to support the perimeter boards is to add an extra joist 5-1/2-in. Only use Trex Elevationsapproved fasteners when installing any decking product. Then find links, demos and more for how to build a deck yourself step by step. You don’t have to stick with one type of product or one look for the entire deck. It's not hard to install this blocking. Picture framing with TimberTech PRO and EDGE deck boards: You will need two (2) TOPLoc #8 x 2 ½” deck screws, evenly spaced screws on both sides of the miter. » DO NOT combine Trex Select decking with other Trex decking products. Either way, clean up the ends with a file so you don’t scratch things up during installation. Pressure-treated lumber is rot-resistant, not rot-proof. Two places our pros often see deterioration are along the top edge, where the decking traps moisture, and between two joists sandwiched together. Will look like the time: composite posts with aluminum spindles to complete the frame, additional... Side of the deck framing and substructure is what will later support your picture-frame that! During installation it saves time over cutting and fitting each board to length drain off the board s... The field decking two common styles - a 45 degree miter cut in the rails 2x6 joists should be! 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