Redoing an old deck with Composite decking- question about finishing step threshold

[Ken07AOVette]

When I was in RONA last week I made the mistake of taking the wife with me, who dragged me out of the shingle buying mode I was in into the sale section, where everything was 15% off that day. We had always looked at composite decking, but did not want to start another mortgage being over 50 and debt free.
So- this wasn't too bad, although the salesidiots knew nothing at all about it, I decided to make her happy. 3 pallets of shingles and a pallet of deck board later, out we went.
Then when I got home, I stripped off the 18 year old deck. I used the Shadow Track installation system, so other than looking weathered the untreated unpainted 2x6 decking still looked really good! Using this system there is not a single hole through the floor, it is all attached from underneath.
Then I found out that this composite crap had to be 12" oc where the 2x6 was 24". Back to LLoydminster for another load of wood and another half pallet of decking. Don't trust Rona for estimating size. I knew they were off. A few hours later, or maybe days I don't remember with all the rain I had a very nice 12" on center 12x28 deck ready for the new cover. We even redid all the posts, making sure everything was level and tight, just enough angle for rain to run off. Or so I thought.
No. Not so fast.
This stuff has to be perfectly level. 3/16ths of an inch is enough that the starter clips will not enter the boards. And I found out that if you hit it on edge with a hammer, you will regret it instantly. Flimsy brittle vhzxkfjhksdfhghsd
So now, I have to go under the deck and take down all the hurricane hangers the joists are held up with to level it at the house side. On the other side, the new 2x8" joists are higher, so I used a makita planer and cut a little relief to lower them. What a pain in rear.
Tomorrow weather permitting I will give it another go.
My friend that helped me build the house in 2001 said 'it's ok Ken, we aren't building a piano, close is close enough'.
Tomorrow I level like I was building a piano.

My question- online it talks about sealing the raw edges, and using strips to cover the outside edges. Do you have to do this?

[Kurt505]

Depends how many times you want to re-do things....

The composite decking you’re putting on is designed to last forever, or close to. The recommendations will assure your substraight won’t rot out from underneath your composite planks. The hours you spend doing it could pay off in years of use.


If it was my deck I would seal the substraight and run a metal flashing over the edges.

[Redneck 7]

I like composite decks better when the boards are picture framed. I have done strait decking before and used the end caps. Don’t mind the look but picture framing is way cleaner

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by Redneck 7

I like composite decks better when the boards are picture framed. I have done strait decking before and used the end caps. Don’t mind the look but picture framing is way cleaner

This is how I did mine. I did the picture frame on the perimeter, then ran the boards inside the frame. Saved the edging procedure. I put the picture frame 2 inches over the edge of the deck, then ran a composite board on the face of the deck so I only had a 1 inch overhang. I glued the face board to the deck face and tacked it in with a few coloured screws.

BW

[Zip-in-Z]

I used Rona now Wolf Creek - Castle Bld in Sylvan for all my "Fiberon" deck materials, they helped with the estimating and supplied/delivered everything, I did the install, no issues with the staff very helpful.

Live in a condo complex had to match to existing P/T posts/rails/boards etc, the deck has stood up to the elements and looks just as good as the day I constructed it.

D.

[Ken07AOVette]

WOW Zip that is awesome. Very nice! Are your corner posts floating?

[Zip]

Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z

I used Rona now Wolf Creek - Castle Bld in Sylvan for all my "Fiberon" deck materials, they helped with the estimating and supplied/delivered everything, I did the install, no issues with the staff very helpful.

Live in a condo complex had to match to existing P/T posts/rails/boards etc, the deck has stood up to the elements and looks just as good as the day I constructed it.

D.

Wow...looks awesome.. Thanks for the share bud!
Zip

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z

I used Rona now Wolf Creek - Castle Bld in Sylvan for all my "Fiberon" deck materials, they helped with the estimating and supplied/delivered everything, I did the install, no issues with the staff very helpful.

Live in a condo complex had to match to existing P/T posts/rails/boards etc, the deck has stood up to the elements and looks just as good as the day I constructed it.

D.

That how I did mine, maybe a little more overhang but not much.

BW