Useful Deck Information

     With all of the craziness on Wall Street, the majority of American consumers are very worried about the strength of their dollar. As well they should be. Borrowing and printing more money our country does not have will most certainly raise prices throughout every market and across the United States. This means your and my money will be worth even far less in the future than it is now.

     Common advice upon entering or during a significant recession is to “save, save, save your money.” It’s good advice. However, If you’re fortunate enough to have extra money to spend, it’s also good advice to spend your money on things that will retain or appreciate in value. “Invest your money wisely.”

     What could be wiser than investing in your home? Any remodeling project will most certainly cost more in a few years with normal inflation, but could cost an arm and a leg more if inflation progresses as experts expect. Therefore, the money you spend on your deck or other project now will grow with inflation. Decks in Kansas City are still being built at steady rate despite the impending economic turmoil.

     Let’s say you purchase a deck for $20,000 today. The deck is built to code, and the craftsmanship and materials used are of good quality. One U.S. dollar then is only worth $.75. The dollar has inflated 25%. The same deck contractor using the same materials would charge at least $25,000 for the exact same deck so he can pay his inflated bills. That’s assuming the deck builder is still practicing the same business plan he was five years ago. The deck you bought five years ago has kept up with inflation and costs you $5,000 less because you bought when costs were lower.

A deck it will keep up with inflation closer than any other remodeling project.

(see “A Kansas City Deck is A Wise Investment” http://dwdecks.com/blog/?p=146)

Economic turmoil also produces discounts to consumers from basic business survival practicalities.

(see “Purchase a Deck in a Down Economy?” http://dwdecks.com/blog/?p=236)

Hope this helps,

Dan Milford (DW Elite Decks - Kansas City deck builder)

     No matter what kind of deck you own or are planning to own, none are maintenance free.  Even composite, PVC and exotic hardwoods need period cleanings to keep them looking nice.  However, be very careful what you use to clean your deck. 

     Never use bathroom or kitchen cleaners.  Many contain ammonium which is very corrosive to the metal used in nails, screws, bolts, and joist hangers.  You can jeopardize the structure’s strength, and in turn, the safety of your family by using chemicals containing ammonium and other disinfectants commonly used in kitchen and bath cleaners.

     Never use cleaning products or washes containing oxalic acid.  Oxalic acid is known to destroy the mold and mildew inhibitors necessary in composite decking.  Wood lumber also contains natural inhibitors.  Therefore I’d suggest avoiding using any cleaner containing oxalic acid.  Many composite manufacturers will not honor the composite’s warranty if it’s discovered that the deck has been cleaned with a product containing oxalic acid.  Just to be on the safe side, I’d recommend not using any solution containing any kind of acid, phosphate, or solvent.  It may cost you dearly if you have mold, mildew or staining that’s not covered because you used a cleaner containing one of these chemicals.

     Never use bleach or chloride products.  They may fade the color of composite decking, natural wood and stained decks.  They can also break down the plastic resins in composite decking.  Chloride is also known to weaken the ultraviolet protection in stains, composite and PVC decking.

     Never use any chemical containing abrasives.  Abrasives will remove the sheen on stained decks, composite decks, and PVC decks.  On composite and PVC decks, they will also damage the surface’s traction.  Every composite and PVC decking product is required to meet certain requirements for “slippery surfaces when wet.”  By cleaning these surfaces with an abrasive, you can deteriorate the decking so it no longer meets these requirements.

     OK, what you shouldn’t use can be confusing and hard to remember.  What you should use is much simpler.  If it’s a composite deck, PVC or Azek deck, tropical hardwood or other exotic deck, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning procedures and products.  That way you won’t chance voiding your warranty.  If it’s a cedar or treated deck, I’d recommend Olympic Deck Cleaner sold at Lowe’s stores.  http://www.olympic.com/stain_products/exterior_stains/cleaners/index.htm

It’s environmentally safe for all plants and animals and is biodegradable.  It also contains no acids, phosphates, or solvents.  It may fade your deck’s color slightly so be sure to test it in a small inconspicuous area or on a piece of scrap wood first.

     Just like your car, boat, or house, it’s a good idea regularly clean your deck to maintain its optimum appearance.  Just be careful what you use to clean it.

Hope this helps,

Dan Milford (DW Elite Decks - Kansas City deck builder)

Olympic deck cleaner for cedar and treated decks

     The law firm coalition which formed a class action lawsuit against ChoiceDek decking products says it’s close to a settlement, and it should be official sometime near the middle of September, 2008.  The Plaintiffs filed their suit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle against Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) (ChoiceDek® seller); Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:AERT) (ChoiceDek® manufacturer); and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) (ChoiceDek® retailer) (collectively, the “Defendants”).  The lawsuit stems from excessive mold growth on the decking.  Testimonials state that even after cleaning the deck surface, the mold returns fairly quickly (within a couple of weeks to a month depending on the climate).

      Adanced Enviornmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (A.E.R.T.), which manufacturers ChoiceDek, also produces Moisture Shield decking.  Moisture Shield is very similar to ChoiceDek in both look and texture.  Moisture Shield can be purchased through a variety of retailers while ChoiceDek is a brand sold exclusively at Lowe’s stores.  As a Kansas City deck builder, we’ve fielded zero mold issue complaints on Moisture Shield decks.  We’ve installed numerous decks with it the last couple of years, but the law suit involving A.E.R.T. has deterred us from using it along with ChoiceDek.  Both products have also been pulled from the decks in our showrooms. 

      For those who have mold issues with their ChoiceDeck deck and have not yet filed a claim, there’s still time.  Even if the case is settled before filing is completed, you should be grandfathered in by the date of purchase on the product.  However, there will probably be some sort of settlement statute date, so don’t wait too long. Make sure you do not clean the deck!  You’ll need to take pictures of your deck and its mold for evidence.  I don’t know what kind or how much compensation will be paid out, if any.  I do know you won’t receive anything unless you act soon. 

Here’s a link to one law firm that’s been prompt on issuing a claim for a few of our customers: http://www.cmht.com/choicedek.php

A.E.R.T also has a toll free hotline you can call.  I cannot vogue for its effectiveness, but sometimes direct claims with manufacturers are expedited faster and more satisfactory than class action lawsuits. 

That number is:  1-800-951-5117

Hope this helps,

Dan Milford (DW Elite Decks - Kansas City deck builder)

Related News, Articles, and Info:

 Deck Inspections – A Matter of Life and Death

Who Is Qualified To Inspect Your Deck?

“Manual For the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies”

“Summer Issue 2006 – Wood Design Focus – Deck Design and Construction”
providing supplemental information to the “Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies” 

     Early spring is usually the best time to do a complete diagnostics check of your deck.  In many areas, winter can be especially hard and do the most damage to a deck’s integrity.  Spring is also when activity on the deck begins to liven up. 

     Because of the Midwestern harsh and extreme seasonal changes, I know first hand that decks in Kansas City need regular checkups.  This spring I went out to check out the status of my deck.  I definitely needed to.  My deck is about 15 feet above grade.  It is all Southern Pine which requires more maintenance that man made composites and exotic hardwoods.  My son was about 18 months old.  As most boys that age, he was starting to explore wherever he could.  He would climb on anything low enough to leverage himself up on.  He would push, pull and test the strength of everything he could wrap his curious little hands around.  I noticed a couple of conditions which made my deck very unsafe. 

     One was the guardrail.  It was built to code at 36 ½” above decking surface.  When built, my wife and I wanted it at minimum height so we could take full advantage of the sitting view behind our home.  Now that scenic country view had taken a back seat to our child’s safety.  He could easily scale any of the patio chairs and go over the railing.  Therefore, I fabricated a new section of guardrail onto the existing making it seven and a half inches higher than before.   

     I also noticed many of the wooden two by two spindles were coming loose, cracked or both.  I replaced any that looked the slightest bit questionable.  A very small price to pay considering each one protects the life of our young son.  It may sound melodramatic, but it’s absolutely the truth.  If your deck or screened porch is of considerable height from the ground, pay close attention to each and every baluster (spindle).  It only takes one unsecure spindle to create enough of an opening for a small child to fall through. 

* Many deck builders install wood or composite balusters with nails only.  THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ! 

     The 2003 IRC (International Residential Code) applied to all decks and screened porches states that “railings and guardrails may not rely on nail withdraw to meet the two hundred pound minimum lateral force requirement.”  This means that your railings must be able to withstand two hundred pounds of force pushing against them.  Toe nails (or angled nails) into the railing’s framework can produce necessary load requirements because they are not relying on straight nail withdraw.  By toe nailing, the pressure put on the nail is against the shank.  Each sixteen penny nail has at least one hundred pounds of shear strength.  However, a nailed baluster is not toe nailed.  It is driven straight (horizontally) to the framework.  This means all outward pressure is put solely on that nail’s withdraw resistance.  Therefore, screws must be used for fastening balusters to guardrails and stair rails because the have deep threads which provide much greater holding power than nails.  Ring shank and screw shank nails are not an acceptable substitute for screws in this application!  

     Aluminum, glass, iron and other railing spindles may use a bored cradle or installed between pieces of framework which is also acceptable.  Some deck builders will install balusters with a pneumatic nail gun and then go back and add screws to each one.  This is acceptable as long as there’s at least one screw in the top and one in the bottom and that screw has at least one inch of embedment.  I digress.

Hope this helps,

Dan Milford (DW Elite Decks - Kansas City deck builder)