Trex Decking Installation Tips

Trex being versatile, enables it to be easily  used for intricate shapes, angles and patterns requiring no special tools.

Cutting Trex is best done with a carbide blade 18-24 teeth. If you use a miter box use a 10-12 inch saw with less than 30 teeth.  A router is handy and will create nice edges on the Trex .

Trex can be hammer down or preferably use a screw gun,  which makes your trex more secure by  using screws. 

Use a screw with fewer threads per inch, and must be an exterior type.   Hidden fasteners can be also used. 

 Gapping:  Gap both end to end and width to width in Trex.  This of course, allows for slight expansion and contraction, plus drainage.  From side to side or width to width, your gap should be ¼ inch.  Temperatures below 40 degrees require 3/8 inch gap.

End to End gap must be at 3/16 inch below 60 degrees.  Above 60 degrees 1/8 inch gap.

 Joists: The joists for the deck’s foundation are best at  12" on center even though you can use 16 inch on center.  By staying  12" on center it will  prevent any flex in the decking board between the joists on hot days.  Nailing bocks between the joists is also a good idea.  It will greatly aide or stabilize the frame form movement. 

Some will install a plastic sheeting, usually 4 mil as a ground cover beneath the deck to control vegetation and weeds

Color Will Change: Trex decking after weeks of exposure, will change color slightly.  This is natural and to be expected, it does not affect the structure or weaken it in any shape or form. Hopefully your retailer will have explained this to you.

Caring For Trex Decking

Trex  requires no stains or sealants. Trex also eliminates the headaches associated with splintering, rotting and insect damage. All you need to do to your Trex deck is clean it periodically. Included are some helpful hints to keep Trex clean and beautiful for years to come!

For stains caused by mildew ,mold,  berries and leaves, conventional deck washes containing detergent and sodium hypochlorite work well.

For grime, rust stains or ground-in dirt  use cleaners containing phosphoric acid.

For tougher oil and grease stains, scrub with a detergent containing a degreasing agent as soon after the stain occurs as possible. For grease stains that  have been on the deck for a timet, try a light hand sanding with a fine sandpaper. The sanded area will soon weather from brown to grey to match the rest of the deck.

Also from time to time clean out the gaps between the boards to ensure proper runoff of water or rain.

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