Loctite Epoxy Gel can be tinted with earth pigment powders, powders that are made from ground minerals. You will need an epoxy that can be tinted in order to match your deck’s color. An epoxy putty is your best bet for filling scratches in boards with a wood grain pattern. There are a few composite deck repair kits available, but avoid those that use wax, which will melt as soon as the summer sun hits the repaired area. A heat gun can help soften the appearance of light scratches on smooth boards test an inconspicuous area before trying this method.įor composite deck boards with a wood grain texture, you’ll need a filler and an artistic touch to conceal scratches. If the boards have a smooth surface, you can lightly sand the scratches using steel wool. Scratches on composite decking boards from patio furniture or pets are not uncommon. Repairing Scratches On Composite Deck Boards Always test an inconspicuous portion of your deck board first before using it. Deeply embedded rust stains make take 2 to 3 treatments with CLR. Just pour a small amount of CLR over the stain, work it using a small scrub brush and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. The only product that has worked for us in removing the rust stains from our Trex Transcend boards is CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover. Removing Rust Stains From Composite BoardsĬomposite deck boards can become stained with rust from powder coated steel patio furniture, metal plant stands, grills and other items on the deck. Regardless of spacing, the grooves in the composite boards will eventually accumulate a build up of debris over time. The 3/8 inch gap will allow you enough space to clean out all the debris that will end up in between your boards each season. If you have a lot of trees on your property and spend more time than you’d prefer cleaning up pine needles in the summer or leaves in the fall, you’ll likely want to opt for at least a 3/8 inch gap between boards. Most composite deck manufacturers recommend a minimum of 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch spacing between running boards to allow for heat expansion, with a maximum spacing of a 1/2 inch, if you are screwing in your boards versus using hidden fasteners. You can even paint the ends of your joists (the ends usually rot before anything else). The bonus is that it comes in an assortment of colors, allowing you to closely match your composite deck boards. It has excellent adhesion and waterproofing capability, is easy to apply, and costs about $34 a gallon.
While it won’t provide the same protection for fasteners as butyl tape, its waterproofing capabilities will help reduce the amount of moisture sitting on the top of joists.Īnother option is to use concrete or garage floor epoxy paint. It would need to be cut into strips and stapled into place. One $20 roll can cover up to 200 to 400 square feet, which would be more than enough for the standard deck. They are coated/saturated with either asphalt or tar for waterproofing. Roofing felt or tar paper are used as underlayment in roofing. Priced anywhere from $20 to $40 for 50 linear feet per roll, the tape can get fairly expensive especially if you have a large deck. If you’ve repaired or replaced decks before, you’ll likely have noticed that the fasteners and the ends of the joists usually rot due to moisture damage first. The butyl flashing tape not only protects the joists, it also makes the joists less noticeable from above. Protecting Joists From RotĬomposite decking manufacturers recommend applying deck flashing to the tops of joist to protect them as well as the screw holes from moisture damage which will eventually rot the screw fasteners. This will allow you to hang the joist on the ledger or rim joists while you toenail or set a joist hanger. Hanging JoistsĪ handy trick for making sure your joists are level with the rim joists or ledger is to attach a strip of wood to the top of each end of the joist, overlapping each end of the joist by a few inches. Unless they are severely water damaged, leave the old joists in place as supplemental support in addition to your new 16″ center joists.
If you are updating a much older wooden deck, there’s a chance that the joists may be set 24 inches on center. If you are laying your boards on a 45 degree angle, you’ll want your joists spaced at 12 inches on center. The minimum recommended spacing for most composite deck joists is 16 inches on center.
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