Dont do that Abby.

Let me get out the ol Construction Master and key in some numbers.....So the bid was $20,000, remove the old decking but keep the rail system and the frame of course, replace the decking with composite,no work on the existing frame/foundation, no skirting. Just tear out the ol decking and install composite for $50 a sq ft.

Unless you live in a 25 story building in the middle of NYC I my very own self need to bid this job I can see a new harley ride in my future.

Defently do not install composite material over a 12 year old pt deck. J

I agree with John, no way you should try to lay composite decking over existing PT decking, very bad idea. Like John I too would take that job at that price in a New York second, anywhere in Texas anyway, ha.

Since you obviously don't live in my area I'll tell you a little trick for removing old screwed down decking. Don't even try backing the screws out or prying the stuff, you'll either strip out lots of bits or make yourself real tried for no reason. Here's the trick, take a circular saw & cut the decking along side each joist. In no time almost all the decking will laying on the ground which can be easily gathered up & put in the trash. Next take a hammer & go along each joist & wack the little pieces of decking left on top of the joist. One wack will bust the decking off then you have to hit the screws to break them off too. Screws are not like nails that will bend, they are brittle & will break easily. You should wear eyegear when doing the screws as they will really fly when you hit them with a hammer. Even a novice should be able to demo a 400 sq. ft. deck in a day.

Next step, call Fernando @ Austin Wholesale & buy some Amerideck or Premier @ 1.95 per linear ft. along with some screws. Total bill for 400 sq. ft. = 1800 plus shipping.

If you can't handle that then get some other bids cause those folks are trying to rob you.

Al

PS, Something I forgot.........you will probably need to add another joist between your existing ones if you are going to use a composite.

Thanks guys for the suggestions i did not realize that composite was that reasonable. I will have my husband read your post and I am sure he will have a few questions.

I am guessing the reason you are telling us not to lay composite over PT is that it may rot? Or are there other reasons as well? I am surprised no one has come up with a product that can be laid over pressure treated lumber, since there must be a ton of people in our situation.

By the way we live in NJ, I guess these two guys must have alot of jobs lined up and are hoping to strike it rich with a couple of very profitable jobs.

Also deckman...you say to put another joist in between the existing joist, is this for added stablity because composite is not as strong as wood??

Thanks again, Abby

TimberTech did come out with a 3/8 x5 1/2'' composite board made to do just what your asking its out of print now for a lot of reasons, if you are really wanting to do this several composite boys including TT make a facia board usally 1/2'' thick this material could be riped to 5 1/2'' and installed over your pt deck.

But you see Abby,,after pt has been down for that many years its cracked to the point the structure of the wood is gone, to the point its no longer able to hold the fasteners. I see this a lot out on bids where Folks have refastened the stuff to the point of 5/6 nails,screws on each joist. Doing this just makes it worst,its the nature of pt yellow pine to act up laying flat to the sun the more fasteners the more the wood is going to pull against them to react the way it has to. Its like telling a 9 year old he cant do something the more you tell him the more he is going to do it.
If your going to act like a 9 year old,,,buy the composite facia,rip it to 5 1/2'' lengths,install it with 2 1/2''glav trim nails thru a senco tool. After first driving down all the fasteners,sanding the twists/warps out,filling the big splits with tightbond 111/sawdust and laying down a couple heavy beads of consturstion adhesive.

After one season the rain/cold/heat/sun will have completly made this work look like someone would not eat the cooked carots and stuffed them into the hole in the dinner table leg. J

Don't do it. I re-decked my deck 2 years ago with Portico and contemplated doing the same. A good examination of the cupped and split boards made me decide it was a bad idea. Ripping off the old deck was not as bad as I imagined. I used a 6" long pry bar that is normally used for prying out rocks, along with a 30" crowbar. Many of the screws pulled out or broke off and I either unsrewed them using a pair of vise grips or just bent them until they broke off. So far we are delighted with the Portico. I used Trapease deck screws that are made for composite decks. Our deck is a 4' surround around a 18 x 33 pool and a 16x32 rectangle deck, about 800 sq. ft. and cost about $5,000 for the material. I nailed 2x4's to the sides of the joists because, with composite laid on a diagonal, they recommend no more than a 12" span to prevent sagging.

Here is a link that might be useful: Portico Decking

Yes Abby, most composites require framing with 16" centers & most TP decks are framed with 24" centers.

Al

Al's suggestion is a neat idea, which I am going to try.
I use a tool called a Deckwrecker, which costs $60, and removes deckboards in a satisfying way.
Composite over PT, even if new, flat PT, will warp (as would any wood most likely, in two layers with moisture trapped between).

Hi! What if you want to raise a deck? When I step out onto my deck (just bougght home) I wish it were 3-4 inches higher. Is it poosible to removes the wood and raise it up with some support and place the wood back??