Deck Building Best Practice - 3 Tips (including Grace Vycor Deck Protector)

In this video I'll give you three tips to make your Ipe Deck last twice as long.
-Matt Risinger
Risinger Homes in Austin, TX

[bayareaartist]

This week on "This half a million dollar deck" We talk about a deck that will outlast the pool it is being built around. So in 20-30 years when it is all pulled out and replaced the scrap will be in great shape. ;-)

[IamFormaggio]

I'm pulling apart my 10 year old deck now. The treated pine decking didn't warp or cup (used Camo fasteners) But it did rot in sports and overall no finish looked good anymore. I tried water based and oil based stains about 5-6 times. I planed to just replace the decking but soon found random spots of rot in the joists and beams. The worst spots are where I put in blocking. The town inspector told me to add blocking to keep the joists from twisting. Any place the blocking touched the joist there was rot. The camo brand screws backed out clean and had ZERO rust. The Stanley epoxy coated deck screws were rusted nearly half way through. I used them for none structural stuff. The 5/8's galvanized bolts holding the beams together look almost new.

[bjbarone]

Matt,
Good job. One more recommendation. Simpson guidelines call for all connectors that have any contact with PT to have a barrier membrane like Vycor between the connector and the wood. The only exception is to never use Vycor with stainless connectors. Also it is important to never mix the metals of the connectors and fasteners.Only use stainless fasteners with stainless connectors. BJ Barone - 41 West - Certified Luxury Builder Network Member - Naples, Florida

[pump]

I use parowax and a heat gun to seal end grain. If you heat that end grain with your gun and keep applying the wax, it will seep into those end grain straws and soak up into them, totally isolating them from water. Cheap and very effective.

[ChannelOne-]

Great tip. My close to the ground deck failed in ten years because these things weren’t done

[steveharkins]

Or one could use the original pressure treated "Alkiline copperquaternary type D" ground contact, (really green) it can still be found. Don't use the new formula's "Yellow wood micronized copper Arozole" Or "Era wood .013 PCF, PTI". yes I read the little stickers on the the end of the wood. 29 year old deck here with the first choice, this stuff ages like concrete. What this teaches us, is that EPA regulatory changes in PT formula's has failed to give a better product than the one it replaced. Turning a one step process, now into a 2 part process. I do not fault Matt, as he was probably 12 when these regulatory changes happened. There is also the reason telephone poles were exempt from the regulation changes. We replace those every 40 years, not every 20 years.Old school creosote telephone poles go out past 60 years in age. Don't take my word for it, read the date tags on any telephone pole.

[richhansen]

I capped the top of frame with pcv coated aluminum coil after ten years the deck boards were fried but the frame was in excellent shape. I sealed all holes with NP1 and it has been going on additional seven years now with aluminum structure insulated panels on top cover with exterior carpet. Friends are amazed how strong it is.

[rickychang]

Hey @Matt Risinger! Quick question: Are we concerned about any UV degradation of the peel and stick product where it would be exposed between the deck boards? What do you anticipate being the gain in longevity vs. added cost?
Your videos help a lot!

[member]

Here's a quick tip... at current wood prices : a deck's frame work can be built with galvanized 2 3/8" OD sch 40 post and 4" channel for the beams. I swore off wood framing after fully realizing how much all the treated frame work, brackets and screws run. Not everyone has metal fabrication skills, but for me, I can build the frame faster out of galvanized steel for about the same price as wood.

[StrongEye]

You have to be concerned with the chemical reaction of the tape if using composite or pvc planks. Always check with the manufacturer to safe yourself a lot of headaches

[randyross]

tried this with Blueskin decked on a 45 4 years later came back to addon to the deck when we removed the decking and checked under the blueskin it was totally saturated not to mention the blueskin was degraded where the sun had made it between the deck spacing

[ginolav]

absolutely agree with you on this tips Matt. I'm always following this rules

[Dan-qkns]

I build decks, have built or re decked probably over 60-70 of them. I have only seen about 2 decks that have had issues with treated boards rotting out of 60. Those joists were in extreme environments in Northern Minnesota and had reacted to galvanized nails. So, I think the capping of pressure treated deck boards is a complete waste of time and money. the average deck will be replaced in 22 years and the pressure treated will handle that no problem!

[bodhibunker]

I recently built a deck and used G tape flashing tape for the top of joist ... A bit cheaper than Vycor but not as hefty (I kindof see that as a good thing). I have also always figured using a self adhesive tape on joist tops eliminates future squeaks and dampens sound when walking on your deck, thoughts?

[MultiAlxndr]

TImber treatments must be different in the USA to where I live. Treated H5 piles are expected to last 100 years in the ground

[hy]

I like fine craftsmanship as I am a closet art guy. I have a deck with a sub par sub structure and I can say😢

[dw]

Curious to know the actual difference, if there is one, between 4" Vycor plus and 4" Vycor Deck protector

[alexparsons]

Respectfully disagreeing with no contact with the ground on post bases. If it’s rated for it it’s fine. Have had properly installed ground contact 6x6s on multiple decks last 20+ yrs

[Exlecticution]

My grandfather put used oil on end grain post tips for 8x8 posts around a 32 acre ranch while setting them in with a back hoe. Any idea or experience on how good oil Is for these? He told me 20-30 years it'll hold. He lived to 86 and passed recently.

[mattkosma]

I just bought this stuff for our new deck after watching this video. It says on the label do not use in hot desert areas like the southwest US. Isn’t the deck in the video in Arizona?

Also I have stainless steel screws for the decking. Are they not compatible with Vycor? I ask because of a previous comment.