First Impressions Matter: The Quest for a Beautiful Deck
Preparing Your Moisture-Resistant Laminate Flooring
When your wooden floors have weathered away, it’s time to take action. In my personal experience, the solution was to install MoistureShield Composite Decking and their Pro Aluminum Railing. With its limited lifetime warranty and unique ability to withstand water damage, MoistureShield laminate flooring brings the elegance of hardwood to your outdoor spaces. Here’s what you need to know.
Exploring the Options and Choices
MoistureShield laminate flooring offers a wide range of threads and colors to suit your preferences. We opted for the Vision series in the captivating shade of “Smoke Grey.” Complementing the deck, the white Pro Aluminum Railings perfectly harmonize with the smoke gray composite deck.
Selecting the Perfect Size
MoistureShield laminate flooring typically comes in dimensions of 1 x 6, approximately measuring 1″ x 5-1/2″. However, alternative sizes are also available, which we’ll delve into later.
Preparing Moisture-Resistant Laminate Flooring
To ensure a seamless installation, thorough preparation is crucial. Before installing MoistureShield laminate floors, it’s essential to clean the existing wood floors. Assess the condition of the frame, replacing any deteriorated boards. In our case, only a few boards required repair.
Consider Your Options
Even after selecting your preferred lines and colors, there are still additional choices to consider. You can opt for grooved or non-grooved laminate floors, depending on your aesthetic preference. Do you prefer exposed fasteners or concealed ones? While hidden fasteners provide a cleaner and more professional look, they come at a slightly higher cost.
The Importance of Detail
When choosing the hidden fastener option, ensure that you include non-grooved plates in your order. Grooved plates only feature grooves on the long sides, leaving exposed grooves or cross-cut ends at terminations. For a flawless finish, consider adding decorative picture frames or soldiers around the edges of your deck.
Perfecting Your Design: The Finishing Touches
After making informed decisions about your laminate flooring, it’s time to consider additional options. MoistureShield offers laminate floors in 12, 16, and 20-foot lengths. Additionally, color-matched 2×4 and 2×6 composite panels are available in 12′ and 16′ lengths. The decking itself measures 0.65″ x 11.25″ and comes in 12-foot lengths. For the finishing touches, trim boards are used to enhance the edges of your deck, including stairs and risers.
Installing MoistureShield Vision Laminate Flooring
Precise Planning for a Professional Finish
Starting the installation correctly is crucial for a successful outcome. Avoid unpleasant surprises such as a curved overhang at the end of your deck. Take accurate measurements, create a temporary layout, and double-check before making your first cut. Adequate planning in the initial stages will ensure a polished and professional result.
Cutting with Ease
Cutting MoistureShield laminate flooring is as simple as cutting wood. We recommend using a Milwaukee M18 Cordless Double Bevel Miter Saw for clean cross cuts. The edges of MoistureShield composite show no signs of chipping or popping, unlike other composites. To achieve the best results, MoistureShield suggests using a carbide circular saw blade with fewer than 20 teeth. A standard framing blade on a miter saw will work just as effectively.
Expert Advice: Maintaining Straightness
Composite decks can occasionally become warped, especially when exposed to sunlight before installation. To keep your deck straight and square, it’s essential to periodically draw a chalk line. Traditional board straightening methods also work marvelously to tackle any boards that are not in perfect alignment.
Adding a Touch of Elegance
In the case of corners, such as porches or terraces, an opportunity arises to enhance the visual appeal of your deck. By incorporating a herringbone pattern into the transition, an even more stunning look can be achieved. Diagonal supports may be necessary for the deck framing in order to accomplish this. Herringbone patterns, coupled with MoistureShield Vision, create an eye-catching and sophisticated finish.
Final Touches: Trimming
Once all the essential trim work is completed, it’s time to apply the finishing touches. This step is fast and efficient, as it involves covering the “panel” boards bordering the deck.