EC

Electric Comet

14/06/2018 1:22 PM

now that these composite lumber materials are old

have never used any of the composite materials for anything

i came across some discards and i noticed that they are flaking
not sure how old they are but natural woods last a long time and i have
a good understanding of failure modes in wood but not at all with this
composite material

also this plastic is so much heavier than equivalent wood that i would
say that a structure like a deck would need a very much more sturdy
pilings and cross members to support the increased weight


but i wonder more how these composites are doing that are out there
anyone have any decks or etc made of these materials


how old and how are they holding up










This topic has 4 replies

JM

John McGaw

in reply to Electric Comet on 14/06/2018 1:22 PM

14/06/2018 5:31 PM

On 6/14/2018 4:22 PM, Electric Comet wrote:
> have never used any of the composite materials for anything
>
> i came across some discards and i noticed that they are flaking
> not sure how old they are but natural woods last a long time and i have
> a good understanding of failure modes in wood but not at all with this
> composite material
>
> also this plastic is so much heavier than equivalent wood that i would
> say that a structure like a deck would need a very much more sturdy
> pilings and cross members to support the increased weight
>
>
> but i wonder more how these composites are doing that are out there
> anyone have any decks or etc made of these materials
>
>
> how old and how are they holding up
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I have a small composite/plastic deck and it is holding up perfectly after
15+ years with the only maintenance being annual pressure washing to get
rid of the inevitable mildew buildup in a humid region. The deck is on the
north(ish) side of the house and gets direct sunlight only during late
afternoons in the late spring, summer, and early autumn so that might
contribute to its lack of deterioration.

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to Electric Comet on 14/06/2018 1:22 PM

14/06/2018 8:54 PM

Electric Comet <[email protected]> wrote in news:pfuiqs$2cp$2
@dont-email.me:

> have never used any of the composite materials for anything
>
> i came across some discards and i noticed that they are flaking
> not sure how old they are but natural woods last a long time and i have
> a good understanding of failure modes in wood but not at all with this
> composite material
>
> also this plastic is so much heavier than equivalent wood that i would
> say that a structure like a deck would need a very much more sturdy
> pilings and cross members to support the increased weight
>
>
> but i wonder more how these composites are doing that are out there
> anyone have any decks or etc made of these materials
>
>
> how old and how are they holding up
>
>

Got some decking around the pool. It's about 10 years old and holding up
great. Your joists need to be 16" OC or tighter, just putting it on 24"
OC allows the composite material to bounce.

Puckdropper
--
http://www.puckdroppersplace.us/rec.woodworking
A mini archive of some of rec.woodworking's best and worst!

dn

dpb

in reply to Electric Comet on 14/06/2018 1:22 PM

14/06/2018 5:39 PM

On 6/14/2018 3:22 PM, Electric Comet wrote:
> have never used any of the composite materials for anything
>
> i came across some discards and i noticed that they are flaking
> not sure how old they are but natural woods last a long time and i have
> a good understanding of failure modes in wood but not at all with this
> composite material
>
> also this plastic is so much heavier than equivalent wood that i would
> say that a structure like a deck would need a very much more sturdy
> pilings and cross members to support the increased weight
>
>
> but i wonder more how these composites are doing that are out there
> anyone have any decks or etc made of these materials
>
>
> how old and how are they holding up

Several of the older I see in town that are 10(?)+/- are very
sun-bleached visible from the curb; no idea just what shape the material
itself is.

This is High Plains with lots of sun, heat and wind; very few plastics
will survive long at all in direct exposure.

The vinyl fences with 8-ft sections all sag where they've softened in
the summers...

--

BG

Bill Gill

in reply to Electric Comet on 14/06/2018 1:22 PM

15/06/2018 8:06 AM

On 6/14/2018 3:22 PM, Electric Comet wrote:
> have never used any of the composite materials for anything
>
> i came across some discards and i noticed that they are flaking
> not sure how old they are but natural woods last a long time and i have
> a good understanding of failure modes in wood but not at all with this
> composite material
>
> also this plastic is so much heavier than equivalent wood that i would
> say that a structure like a deck would need a very much more sturdy
> pilings and cross members to support the increased weight
>
>
> but i wonder more how these composites are doing that are out there
> anyone have any decks or etc made of these materials
>
>
> how old and how are they holding up
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
I don't have any recent notices, but when I lived in Florida
the Park Service used plastic planks to rebuild the walks
across the dunes at Playalinda Beach after a storm washed
out all the old ones. While I was there they seemed to be
holding up quite well over the several years I saw them.
That of course is a rough environment, with lots of Sun,
lots of salt spray and lots of foot traffic.

Bill


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