Installing Trex Transcend Composite Decking - Part 1

[@charleschi843]

When the homeowner films you and asks questions along the way: It takes a special kind of carpenter to work well under these conditions. This guy is amazing.

[@randallwingett]

I totally agree. Over my 11 years of experience recording videos of contractors at work, most all of them are agreeable to my recording them and in fact, are not reluctant to explain the process.

[@lennykrapitz4794]

Ive had my own construction business for years. Ive never been able to work while the customer watches. Makes me nervous and I dont perform to my best ability. Kudos to this guy because I would have drove a few of the screws right up my pee hole just so I could leave early. That or clubbed this camera guy with the battery on my Dewalt and buried him under that beautiful deck. He did a fantastic job on it, btw. Perfect spacing and alignment. But yea, I would have drown myself or the customer in that pond for sure.

[@randallwingett]

Interesting. During 11 years of recording KZbin videos for my channel, I have encountered only a few people, not contractors, who said they do not want me to record them doing their job. In fact, the majority wholeheartedly give their approval! And not one person has ever asked me to delete a video in which they appeared or were featured. Most regular people are excited about a moment of “fame.” That said, if you or anyone responds no to my request for permission to record them I will respect their wish … and hire someone else. Thank you for your comment!

[@jjjww975]

Very nice - excellent video

[@dmcdevitt8]

I love his commitment to his project. He enjoys his craft, I know the feeling my friends!

[@felixthecat3n2]

I just love people like these guys. Decent, hardworking and cheerful. Always taking great pride in their work and doing a great job. Too bad there are so many people hell bent on tearing America down rather than joining in and helping to make it better for everyone.. 🤯😘

[@tonylee7714]

nicely done , love that color

[@markvladuchick2318]

just spent a month ripping off an old cedar deck and putting Trex down. fun time, hope you fellas had fun as well.

[@einbisschenchaotis]

Good job!

[@randallwingett]

Almost. There are a few issues, some of which I have fixed, others remain unfixed. That said, is anything perfect? Thank you for your comment!

[@scottsenjo2057]

Excellent deck, man. Beautiful property. Good job.

[@onepoket]

You should use a router with a slot cutter on the inside edge of the picture frame, then you can use a hidden fastener there too. The advantage of this is that it pulls the boards down to the same height so the surface is level. The starter row fasteners will not help with any framing imperfections like that. And contrary to the installation instructions if you use a variable speed router on a low speed you can route from the top side of the board, but test first. If the speed is too high the ball bearing will melt the edge of the board leaving a dimple that is visible.

[@nicks6913]

Definitely a great tip.

[@chaunceyjohnson6332]

hey guys. just throwing a tip out there. its a lot easier if you get the bucket of hidden fasteners and use a tiger claw gun. it goes about 5x faster and looks better because you dont have to fidget with the stubborn boards as much

[@angelrey646]

what is that black bag you put over the joist?

[@bobsacamano4]

It's a tape that protects the joists from moisture. Water will run between the Trex boards and will pool on top of the joist. Without the tape, over time it will cause rot to form (even on pressure treated lumber).

[@reparetapplication6746]

Nice post !!!!

[@lpenner1]

Turbo clips. Doesn’t that void the Trex warranty?

[@theseageniteinternational4570]

This is absolutely a very good innovation and new Technology that one need to think of. Welldone my friend I love tthat

[@dmcdevitt8]

Composite decking has been around for some years now. Not sure about the spacers though, never really looked into it until I had a project of my own. I remember a customer of our family business had composite boards and it was super slippery when wet/condensation. Wonder if they have changed that...

[@satoshione8145]

Nice and clean 👌🏻

[@RCSTILE]

+Nice need install but a HHO design. Why wasn't the picture frame extended all the way to the front of the deck so the first run of boards wouldn't have to be cut staggered lengths and butted up against each other. The ends butts are going to lift and form toe kicks.

[@МаксудХоджаев-т3о]

What is this material contain?

[@juliusplaras5536]

What's that black tape thing you have ontop of the joists?

[@randallwingett]

Protects the horizontal surfaces from water penetration resulting in a truly permanent deck!

[@WolfMan100]

@@randallwingett what's the name of that black tape? I'm going to do my deck soon and it would be good to copy your great advice!

[@TheUltimateDeckShop]

@@WolfMan100 There's a number of options on the market include Trex Protect tape, but the best performing stuff in our opinion is called G-Tape.

[@Quadrille763]

Well done

[@mondaynitefooball]

What’s the different Havana Gold and Harvest Gold decking. I can find harvest gold decking trex anywhere online.

[@МаксудХоджаев-т3о]

Where can we order this material?

[@cobracharmer6178]

What's the purpose of cutting the boards at different lengths?

[@davidshereda7885]

on a long run like this you won't have board that span the entire area so you need to use multiple boards - you want to stagger the butt joints so you don't have them all in the same row which would make it easier to catch debris within the channels and would not look good aestetically. You can imagine what it would look like it the joints were all lined up - it would look sort of obvious and amatuerish. When you spread the butt joins out it sort of fools the eye and makes the joints look less visible as the are here and there and not just all there in a couple of lines. You do want to end up with a consistent pattern but not one that is all the same length throughout the deck.

[@sigunz]

I notice there's a 1/4" gap between the boards which is great but why no gap between the boards on the picture frame ? do they not expand too ?

[@jcon6115]

Exactly everyone forgets about this!

[@anthonycahill5220]

When your installing boards in hot weather you are supposed to butt everything right so that when it cools down and the boards contract it leaves you with a 1/4” gap. He spaced out his seams on his runs so what will happen is he will have huge gaps when it cools. Each board expands roughly 3/16 to 1/4 inch.

[@sigunz]

@@anthonycahill5220 So why is he leaving a 1/4 gap at the butt joints to the picture frame but on the 45" miter joins on the picture frame there is zero gap ? as can be seen if you pause the video at 8:26 mark

[@diggingmystyle]

@@sigunz if it's really hot, I think it's ok. The 1/4 gap is for air and water flow so that it's not one giant slab of composite. I'd put at least a dime to separate the mitel joints.

[@nickycostello6151]

Hi. When building the frame for our trex deck we miscalculated the fastener sizes (we used a traditional screw to gauge gap size and the fasteners have a smaller screw). Now that we are installing the deck our calculations have left us 2 inches short (up against a wall and door). Rather than "ripping" a 20ft board and having a 1 or 2 inch piece against the house as the last piece, it was suggested adding a 16th of an inch space to each fastener. ( at 30 boards this would close our 2inch gap). My question, is this safe to do? We have the grooved edge transcend tropicals boards and as it stands we've only laid down 4 boards. We really shoved them close together before fastening (with the invisible fasteners) so we didn't leave much room for contraction. We live in sf near the beach..lots of fog, only 30 days a year of super hot weather, hardly ever below 40 or 50 degrees. His suggestion adds a tad more wiggle room, I just dont want loose or buckling boards. Your advice would be appreciated!

[@jonluce905]

Good channel and content!

[@pepeaguilar8277]

Hello, Good day. Did you also nail the perimeter starter board ? Are the joist cedar ? Did you nail the rim joist against the house ? How much did you leave for nosing on the perimeter board ? Thank you so much.

[@randallwingett]

Special screws were used for the perimeter frame. Watch my previous video. The joists are treated Douglass fir. Thanks for your comment and watching my video!

[@airlar4857]

Wow, contractor was a TROOPER... I'd go nuts with someone watching everything I did during the entire install

[@morokeiboethia6749]

I was getting cussed out for not being able to read a tape measure / cut proper length until we realized my PVC decking that I was cutting was in the sunlight and where we were installing it was in the shade. This stuff was moving almost an eighth on each end b/c it was 20ft pieces.

[@WowRixter]

16" or 12" centers on the joists

[@jarredhall9555]

16" max

[@diggingmystyle]

Don't do 16. I don't care what Trex says.

[@redtruck32]

do you need 12" or 16" joist centres for composite? thx

[@randallwingett]

12” is recommended, I believe. Our deck is 12” OC and it is sturdy with no bouncing.

[@TheUltimateDeckShop]

16" is all that is required according to the Installation instructions and warranty. However, many people prefer the "feel" of 12" O.C.

[@ck1277]

Looking at this exact line of Trex decking. What is the "color" of the picture frame?

[@Theduckman936]

Looks like toasted sand

[@TheUltimateDeckShop]

It is not Toasted Sand. It's Lava Rock from the Transcend line.

[@bobsacamano4]

Late to the party but pretty sure in the video before this one he said Spiced Rum, which is a super common color in Transcend line

[@Italianborn]

Thinking to install this myself instead of paying crazy amount with dur a deck material...would you say it's easy to install ? Is there any little thing i have to watch for ? Any hint ?

[@diggingmystyle]

It's anything but easy. Trex boards are never straight and hidden fasteners are hard to work with. Don't watch KZbin videos and believe it's a quick job.

[@thebeatonpath]

Where did you get the hidden fasteners together like that (what brand)? I could only find the box of Trex ones when I did my deck.

[@Armadillodeck]

TurboClip Hidden Deck Fasteners

[@timbarry5080]

What miter saw is he using?

[@bobsacamano4]

Looks like a ryobi 10" sliding compound

[@alexl7996]

Randall, such a wonderful place to live! Where is that around?

[@brianbetz5712]

I would love to show him a few tricks to speed this job along and prevent expansion from taking over and causing big gaps when the sun will go down. Also a faster way to install using a different clip system, give me a call or let me know if you are interested.

[@louisdegonzague1161]

Does that involve making a slight scarf joint at the board ends?

[@KINGja86]

My question is with a 1/4 in spacing in the extreme heat once the winter comes wont the boards contract and create bigger gaps

[@iamrobot6133]

Where’s this at? Nice mountains

[@klmbuilders5385]

Go back and notice the license plate on the truck.

[@kenalexander3046]

Washington state. You could've easily told him that, instead of telling him to look at the plate.

[@Figueroa_jeshua]

Good

[@maxwellmarmolejo3049]

Wow

[@AdrenalineCrew]

that view...

[@Injess]

Do you mean Havana Gold? You said Harvest gold in description. The reason I ask is I’m about to order Havana Gold Trex and like the lighter gold colors. There is no Harvest gold I can see in Transcend Line

[@randallwingett]

Yes, I meant to say Trex Transend Havana Gold. Sorry for the verbal typo.

[@davidcass4958]

Where’s the eye protection?

[@isaacrodriguez1067]

👍🏻

[@stevenphillips6849]

You're not supposed to install butt joints on one joist. You need to sister a framing member in and put a fastener on the end of each board at the butt joint. This is a very common mistake.

[@tonypasse685]

You dam right check install procedures

[@176ts]

Great video , HOT HOT HOT donot use in direct sunlight , you will burn your bare feet . We installed it around our above ground pool , came out beautiful , but it gets HOT and I mean Hot when the sun hits it . I now have to use carpets around where the kides go in and out of the house. HOT HOT and I mean HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tonypasse685]

Did you you ever read the installation instructions you can't have a butt joint on an 1 1/2 inch

[@onepoket]

Exactly what I was going to post. It amazes me how many people don't read installation instructions, spec documents, and contracts. Also he shouldn't crank down the fastener until the next row is in, again, RTFM.

[@Flyingmikey62]

onepoket , In this post you say you have to follow the directions, but in a previous post you say not to. So which is it?

[@onepoket]

@@Flyingmikey62 My comment about following the directions is probably about spacing requirements for expansion, I'm not sure what comment you are referring to. My comment about not following the directions is about cutting slots from the top instead of the bottom. I explain why. I know that the manual tells you to do it upside down so you don't risk burning/melting the top visible edge of your board. I explain that with a variable speed router you don't risk burning the edge because you can run at a slow speed. You follow the directions for strategic reasons but not always for the tactical.

[@papahansel3136]

@@onepoket for sure way easier to enter the next board. I thought the same thing.

[@TheUltimateDeckShop]

@@onepoket Use a biscuit cutter instead. Quicker, less risk, no chance of damage.

[@mikeabbitt8309]

My Trex guy hasn't told me about those "Turbo Clips". 🤔

[@TheUltimateDeckShop]

He doesn't want you to use them. Check out the Camo Edge clips though. Best system available.

[@Armadillodeck]

They are Awesome save time and money!!

[@yembermolina7506]

Nice joap

[@stewgilbert4090]

To me there's to much gap. Why cant you put the tight?. Wouldn't dirt and crap collect because of the gap?

[@marktownsend2009]

I Lay this every day and I am sorry to tell you that there is a lot better way! I can't watch any more you scar it to tighten a screw lol

[@timbarry5080]

Please desribe the better way and what he is doing wrong

[@danbiss87]

I hate it when homeowner is watching and talking to me. Have to be courteous, but fu**! Go inside and let me work

[@chaunceyjohnson6332]

and when they go inside they star out the window at you. It also peeves me how they always have to be home when your doing exterior work.

[@alexl7996]

That's why I am watching KZbin and fu** all contractors/handymen as they are money-suckers and their arms are coming not from shoulders but from their butts...

[@murphythemenace3307]

I can't believe he is really using a miter saw to cut every single board lmaooo...

[@leaturk11]

But this is someone who takes pride in their work.

[@racustomdecks]

I thought the same. That takes too much time which increases the prise of a project.

[@murphythemenace3307]

@@leaturk11 lol I take pride in my work too.. this is someone who doesnt know how to do it right .. I'm sorry bub these are just facts

[@kevinwise982]

Run the field boards wild, cut the sides with a track saw, then install picture frame. Faster, easier, better.

[@richardb7093]

Muuh!

[@driveman6490]

Put the camera down and help, that way the deck can be completed before the turn of the next century.

[@jiwanjsingh7460]

Good job, but composite decking is rubbish. Once scratched it’s gone, can’t be sanded and oiled. Too hot once the sun gets on it they absorb the heat and they are so dense, the heat can’t escape. Rubbish product. No one seems to ask the clients a few weeks after on what they think of the product. Easier and quicker to lay for a tradesman but rubbish result for the client.

[@randallwingett]

Totally wrong based on our experience. And we have been around for a long time. This Trex Transcend composite deck is the best decking we have ever had. It’s not perfect, but it’s far better than wood. Thank you for your comment!

[@jiwanjsingh7460]

@@randallwingett not commenting on your work, that’s perfectly fine. If composite was so good, the whole world would be installing it. Each to their own, but nothing beats natural timber.

[@aronberona8199]

Lol sorry man but trex is terrible stuff and why u butt jointing things no looks like crap never holds asking for problems us a parting board

[@demetriusjones265]

I worked at trex and them boards are mad from recycled garbage high price garbage

[@1755Caper]

So from your manufacturing experience who make the best composite decking out there?

[@philnkris]

Azek

[@demetriusjones265]

I would go with treated wood,trex have alot of send back product and the boards worp when the weather change

[@jonesfeliz8336]

Kkklii

[@yankeesfan2726]

What spacing did you just between board ends? Thanks