composite decking

[pudgybear]

when i put my deck in i think i did not use the proper spacing and it is starting to buckle in places, My question is do i have to replace all the buckled boards or can i go back and use "' COMPOSITE DECKING SCREWS " through the top to draw them down, I tried to use a under side fastener and it did not work so well, i am now going to use top screws and i am wondering if i can just screw the "buckles " down or do i need to replace them? replacing them might be expensive!

 

[shaun oriold1]

Did you cut them long, or are they butted up against each other? ( side to side)

You're probably going to have to pull them up. IF you used screws you can just unscrew them. Cut them shorter or space them proper, and use the same screw holes.

Depending on the bits you used, you might be able to re-use the screws. You might be only out your time, and a bruised ego.

Shaun

 

[rlitman]

Composite decking expands in length, and not just width (unlike wood, which expands in width many times more than it expands in length). This is the likely source of your buckling, and spacing between boards is probably not to blame.

The best solution to this is attaching the decking with EB-TY clips, or equivalent. Such hidden fasteners allow for slight lateral movement of the decking to accommodate expansion without buckling. With the boards screwed down to the joists, expansion pushes the joists apart. If the joists do not move, the deck buckles.

As for repairing the buckling, I suspect that once the pressure is relieved, the boards will return to their flat state on their own.

 

[pudgybear]

Yes i did **** them end to end " WHOOPS " i was careful about side by side but not on the ends, now i know!

 

[Garage Flooring]

Are the joints staggered or uniform?