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Wednesday, March 2, 2011 by
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Thinking about remodeling or resurfacing your deck or patio?
Interlocking deck tiles are rapidly becoming one of the easiest
ways to do so, especially because these modular wood tiles are able
to be installed by almost anyone.How to install deck tilesStart by
clearing your deck or patio of debris and furniture. If installing
on an existing wood deck surface, replace any rotted or warped deck
boards and make sure there are no protruding nails or screws. The
surface your tiles will be installed on should be as flat and level
as possible to prevent the tiles from shifting.Once your surface...
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Thursday, January 13, 2011 by
Latitudes Captiva composite decking is made with the proven
Strandex technology employed in all Latitudes composite decking,
coupled with the innovative co-extruded cap stock material found on
premium Latitudes Capricorn tropical composite decking. The result
is a stain- and fade-resistant decking product offered in gray,
cedar and walnut. With a natural-looking woodgrain pattern on one
side, Latitudes Captiva balances aesthetics and value in an
ultralow-maintenance composite deck board.Latitudes Captiva decking
will be available beginning February 2011 through Latitudes’
distribution network...
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Monday, November 1, 2010 by
Installing deck skirting on your Latitudes composite lumber deck or
pressure treated wood deck will help hide an uninteresting open
area and will give your custom-built deck a more robust look and
design appeal. Deck skirting also helps keep unwanted animals from
getting under the deck, hides the treated lumber framing and adds
privacy for raised decks with hot tubs.Most deck skirting is
constructed with lattice panels or vertical boards made from
treated wood or composite decking. Lattice is available in both
pressure-treated wood and plastic. Plastic deck lattice is
available in several...
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by
If you want to preserve and build a tree into a pressure treated
lumber deck or composite lumber deck, then be sure to incorporate
the tree into your deck design or deck plans.Begin construction
near the tree by running a beam in front and behind the tree
between two double wood joists running perpendicular to the house
surrounding the tree. The joists should then be fastened on both
sides of the tree with their load being relocated around the tree.
Install diagonal supports at the corners between the joists and the
tree to allow for a round opening.For an added touch, consider
installing...
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by
If you're considering replacing / refacing your old worn out lumber
deck boards with new composite deck boards, make sure you have
proper board spacing based on the manufacturer's
recommendations.When composite deck boards are not spaced
correctly you’re setting yourself up for deck drainage issues, dirt
and debris buildup and potential expansion/contraction problems, as
deck boards expand and contract with changes in the temperature.One
of the best solutions to achieve proper spacing on composite deck
boards is to use a hidden fastener system to install your decking
instead of deck screws....
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Thursday, July 1, 2010 by
Before you snap a single chalk line, make sure you've got the right
type of chalk for the application. High permanence chalk lines will
most likely discolor a composite deck or lumber deck surface, so I
recommend using only dust off marking chalk (Irwin brand - purple
is recommended by many deck builders). Never use permanent chalk to
snap a line where you'll eventually be walking or where it will be
viewable. If you accidentally snap a chalk line with a bright color
or with a permanent chalk, immediately scrub the area with soap and
hot water to help remove the stain. For stubborn chalk...
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by
Latitudes composite decking has been granted a Canadian
Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) Listing for Latitudes wood
plastic composite deck board, when used as exterior decking planks
and as stair treads.CCMC ReportThe CCMC 13378-R report indicates
that Universal has demonstrated the capability to manufacture
composite decking products that meet specified criteria of
performance specific to the Canadian building code. The product is
a wood thermoplastic composite made primarily from wood fiber,
virgin and reclaimed polyethylene, and talc. The product is a
rectangular solid deck board with...
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Tuesday, May 25, 2010 by
There are many brands of wood plastic composite decking on the
market, and in my opinion, only a few should be considered "high
quality". The best composite decking brands share three common
traits:Made using finely ground wood flour that has very consistent
particle size which mixes very well with other ingredients. Many
composites use very large wood particles which create the rough
surface and voids or open areas in the product which allow dirt and
debris to collect. These open areas may allow the decay to
start and to attack the wood. Superior raw material Top quality
composite decking...
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010 by
The Equator hidden fastener may be used on Latitudes composite
marine decking. Because Latitudes marine decking is not
manufactured as slotted or grooved decking, a 5/32" slot must be
notched out with a biscuit cutter or a router. The Equator hidden
deck fastener is designed for use on Latitudes composite decking
and other grooved composite decking with a gap of 5/32".Latitudes
marine decking is much thicker than its more residential decking
counterpart, so in order for the Equator hidden fastener to work as
designed, the groove must be vertically offset so the bottom of the
hidden fastener...
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Friday, May 7, 2010 by
Your deck is the perfect place to enjoy the warm weather with
family and friends. And an unsafe deck could possibly collapse,
causing serious injuries to you and your guests.The number of deck
failures and resulting injuries has been increasing at an alarming
rate. Between 2000 and 2008, there were at least 30 deaths reported
as a direct result of deck collapses, and more than 75 percent of
people on a deck when it collapses are injured or killed. With 40
million decks in the United States that are more than 20 years old,
it's important for homeowners to check their deck."The deck is the
most...
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010 by
The easiest way to renew your pressure treated wood deck is to
thoroughly clean it of dirt and debris. Also, make sure all the
lumber fasteners are countersunk into the surface. Scrub rust marks
and stains from the surface, then sand down any visible
imperfections in the wood deck surface with a portable walk behind
sander. These deck sanders make quick work when sanding wood decks
and can be rented from your local equipment rental outlet.If a
board's appearance can’t be revived, consider flipping the board
and using the other face. If rot has set in or a plank is split,
then you should...
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Thursday, March 25, 2010 by
I’m often asked, “How much does composite decking weigh compared to
pressure treated lumber decking?” On average, composite decking
weighs 1.5X or 65% more per board than pressure treated deck
boards. Composite decking weight will vary per brand, but with
Latitudes brand composite decking you can use the chart below as a
guide:Latitudes Intrepid™ Composite Decking weighs approximately
2.64 lbs/ft. Composite board length: 12' = 31.7 lbsComposite
board length: 16' = 42.2 lbsComposite boardslength: 20' = 52.8
lbsLatitudes slotted (grooved) composite decking will weigh
slightly less than 2.64...
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by
There are several composite decking options on the market, so it
can be overwhelming choosing the right one for your home. Your
local building material dealer or builder can help recommended a
composite deck product, but ultimately it's up to you as the
homeowner to select the best composite decking for your taste and
outdoor living area.Lumber and building material dealers typically
carry a variety of top composite decking brands from various
manufacturers. Each brand will have differences in appearance and
composition (wood to plastic ratio, high-density plastic,
low-density plastic,...
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by
With many brands of synthetic decking on the market, few stand out
as being ultra-low maintenance. You may ask yourself, what is ultra
low maintenance? Well, in my opinion, ultra-low maintenance decking
is a deck board that withstands staining and fading that can occur
on standard wood plastic composite decking. It should also require
only periodic cleaning with soap and water. Latitudes Capricorn® is
a great example of ultra-low maintenance composite decking.
Inspired by Nature. Perfected by Latitudes. Capricorn
decking uses advanced co-extrusion technology for a surface that
not only is...
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 by
I knew that Latitudes Capricorn tropical composite decking was more
than just another pretty board—and others agree! Latitudes
Capricorn composite decking is a BUILDERnews awards 2009 Best
Products winner in the Decks and Railings category. Each year,
BUILDERnews chooses winners based on criteria including ease of
use, durability, inventiveness and innovation in the building
industry. Readers are also invited to submit their favorite tools
or products they have used throughout the year. “Even in a down
economy, there are still hundreds of products released and brought
to the market every year....
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Friday, December 4, 2009 by
Is your boat dock suffering from years of neglect? While you've
focused on the house and yard, has your wood dock slowly slipped
away, and now is in need of a facelift? That's where Latitudes from
Universal Forest Products comes in. Latitudes composite marine
decking is fortified with Strandex technology and is composed of a
perfect blend of wood fiber and polymers, providing protection
against UV degradation and water absorption. It's also thicker than
typical composite deck boards for added strength. Latitudes Marine
composite decking comes in four colors: gray, cedar, redwood and
walnut,...
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Friday, November 13, 2009 by
Exposed decks take a beating from Mother Nature, and general wear
and tear from moving outdoor furniture around, kids playing and
occasionally the family pet. Whether your deck has constant sun
beating down on its surface or you live in an area that typically
gets a lot of rain or has harsh winters, your wood deck boards may
wear faster than expected and become unsightly or even dangerous to
walk on. Provided your deck structure (framework underneath decking
boards) is solid and up to code, consider refacing / replanking the
surface (deck boards)—It's more cost-effective and most DIYers...
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Tuesday, September 8, 2009 by
This alternative to pressure treated wood is surprisingly
sustainable. The decking market offers dealers and contractors
a clear opportunity that is growing in a number of ways. First is
market size: The Cleveland-based Freedonia Group says that decking
is expected to grow by about 20 percent annually to become a
3.6-billion-lineal-foot industry by 2011. Secondly, the decking
market is growing in sophistication. Decking contractors are no
longer banging galvy 10d nails in CCA #2 southern yellow pine, as
we did in the 1980s. Today decks are part of so-called outdoor
living space, and that has...
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Friday, July 24, 2009 by
Composite decking is an excellent choice for above or in-ground
pool decks. Whether you're a do-it-yourself or a professional
deck builder, consider installing composite deck building material
in your pool or spa area for its aesthetics, barefoot friendly,
slip-resistant surface and its low maintenance performance. Most
composite lumber deck boards now days are available with hidden
fasteners and in several attractive colors to complement your home
and outdoor living area. When planning your new composite
lumber pool deck, don’t let the deck railing system be an
afterthought. There are several...
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Thursday, May 28, 2009 by
Create your own one-of-a-kind deck surface by adding a deck inlay
or border accent. To add a personal touch of flair, consider
incorporating a unique deck design that uses multiple colors of
composite lumber decking along with different surface patterns
(woodgrain, brushed or smooth). Most composite wood manufacturers
offer dual-sided boards that feature two distinct finishes on one
plank. Whether you're looking to incorporate a sophisticated
design, like a compass rose, or simply adding a contrasting border
color or deck surface, composite wood decking is one of the most
versatile deck...
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