Bowed Deck Rails

[mikester]

Guys are here working on finishing the deck today. I went with TimberTech composite railings.
We opened the first box and the top railing has a pretty decent bow to it. The contractor says most likely it will straighten out after its installed. I call BS but I have no way of finding out. TimberTech/Azek is closed for the holidays. Local lumber yards are too. They want to move ahead and install. Im 99% sure that if they cut it they wont be able to return it. This is getting to be a real pain in the ***.
Anyone know about composite rail systems ?

 

[67drake]

I say BS. Guy doesn’t want to deal with a problem. Yeah, boards always magically straighten out after they’ve been installed.
Now if it’s say, a 12’ piece, and it’s going to be supported by 3 or 4 supports it might straighten some when screwed down.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Guys are here working on finishing the deck today. I went with TimberTech composite railings.
We opened the first box and the top railing has a pretty decent bow to it. The contractor says most likely it will straighten out after its installed. I call BS but I have no way of finding out. TimberTech/Azek is closed for the holidays. Local lumber yards are too. They want to move ahead and install. Im 99% sure that if they cut it they wont be able to return it. This is getting to be a real pain in the ***.
Anyone know about composite rail systems ?

No, it won't straighten out. I know from experience.
It's not your problem, it's theirs. Make them earn their keep.

Be prepared, he'll probably tell you that it will delay the completion of the job by months or years because materials are so hard to come by and you should consider yourself lucky to have any materials at all, even those that are cupped, bent, warped or otherwise unacceptable, blah, blah, blah... then it's your call.

If it were me I'd call his bluff. I am done with this new lowered-standards s**t we've all had to deal with since Covid. It's been everyone's excuse for poor performance and, oh, don't forget to leave me a tip!

 

[cgrutt]

Not sure what railing you're talking about (i.e. handrails, cocktail rail, rails with spindles, etc) but it may actually flatten out if you leave it out in sun for a while. Although could be too cool this time of year depending on location.

 

[mikester]

No, it won't straighten out. I know from experience.
It's not your problem, it's theirs. Make them earn their keep.

Be prepared, he'll probably tell you that it will delay the completion of the job by months or years because materials are so hard to come by and you should consider yourself lucky to have any materials at all, even those that are cupped, bent, warped or otherwise unacceptable, blah, blah, blah... then it's your call.

If it were me I'd call his bluff. I am done with this new lowered-standards s**t we've all had to deal with since Covid. It's been everyone's excuse for poor performance and, oh, don't forget to leave me a tip!

Well, it turns out they wont be using it after all. Two post sleeves came out of the boxes damaged, one top rail bowed, one top rail chipped and they sent two stair rail kits instead of one. Ive dealt with the same yard in the past and Im not a fan. Theyve screwed up multiple deliveries for my house in the past 3 weeks. Short material, wrong sizes. They ****. I guess the contractor uses them because theyre cheap.