Has anyone had experience with PVC decking and a brand called Procell?
does it look real? What did you use for the railings?

I think you'll find out it's called composite decking not vinyl decking.
The only way to see if it looks real to you is to go to someplace that sells it and see for yourself.
If it's layed right it's a great product. It needs to be on 16" max to 12" center to center floor joists. Any rail system will work from wrought iron to vinyl. Most peole use the vinyl sleeves over the 4 X 4 post with caps on the top.

I've read recently that vinyl is extremely bad for the enviornment.
Something you may want to look into if you have kids.

quote:

Originally posted by BOOKS-or-TV?:
I've read recently that vinyl is extremely bad for the environment.
Something you may want to look into if you have kids.

I'm sure you misunderstood what you read.

Vinyl is perfectly safe and found many places in a home including one's siding, their vinyl floors, and bathtubs.

In one's car with the upholstery and other items.

In everyday items like kitchen utensils (spatulas, ladels, salad forks)

Nothing unsafe about vinyl.

As far as environmental impact goes, vinyl is made from petroleum (oil) and does not breakdown for hundreds of years when placed in landfills.

But as for safety, vinyl is harmless.

Perhaps you recall reading about pressure treated wood that contained arsenic. Arsenic is no longer used in pressure treated wood for residential use.

I personally have never seen a vinyl - or composite for that matter - deck that looked like real wood. It's close, but there is no variation in the boards - no "wood art" (what my family calls teh cool grain patterns in our treated southern pine decking) and it just doesn't look natural to me. If you like the way plastic flowers look, then you might like the way this stuff looks. But if you want the real look of wood, I'd recommend going with real wood - it's cheaper and doesn't just "look real" - it is real.

Spliting, cupping, treating, moulding, warning labels all over the wood about having to wear a mask and gloves, not able to burn, pressure treating, rotting. Oh the joys of real wood.

I'm with you Joe. I did a screen porch and deck combo for a friend 2 years ago with Trex. IMHO it is the only way to go. She loves it.

If you're concerned with the cupping, splitting, etc., buy a higher grade lumber and make sure it's KDAT (kiln dried after treatment). Greatly reduces those negative wood characteristics. As for the gloves and mask, I believe that's recommended for composite materials as well. I know some of you really like the fake stuff, I just prefer the real thing. It's been around forever, has a proven history of being structurally sound and comes from a renewable resource (unlike plastic and vinyl). Guess I'm just old-fashioned on this one.

Trex is made from recycled plastic and wood fibers. The material doesn't create a lot of dust when it is cut so a mask isn't required. Fiber Cement siding on the other hand gives off a ton of dust when you cut it. I'll still opt for fiber cement siding over wood or vinyl. And for decking I'd opt for Trex or another composite over wood, mainly because the woods I'd want to use are tropical and are being exploited.

Part of recycling involves buying products that are made from recycled materials. Without a market for products made from recycled materials there isn't a market for the stuff they pick up at your curb other than landfill.

Also look into IPE wood also called Iron wood. Never needs treating. Bugs do not like it and it's real wood. It's so hard you have to predrill it.

quote:

Originally posted by joecaption:
Also look into IPE wood also called Iron wood. Never needs treating. Bugs do not like it and it's real wood. It's so hard you have to predrill it.

IPE is being over harvested in the tropics. It is nice stuff but for the most part it is not being harvested in sustainable manner.

http://ipe-wood.com/faq.html
And what are they doing about making more, gas, oil, coal that we seem to be so fond of using and not replacing.