First, you walk out the front door to find the paint on the wood floors starting to fade. Before you know it, days have turned into years, and now you're stepping through gaps of rotting wood and once faded paint. After you've lost some toys, a few small pets, and maybe your youngest child, you know it's time to do something about it. In my case, "something" involved installing MoistureShield Composite Decking and their Pro Aluminum Railing.
MoistureShield laminate flooring brings the hardwood look of your home to your outdoor living spaces. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty and is one of the only composite decking materials that can be installed in water without issue. MoistureShield offers a variety of threads and colors for its laminate floors. We chose the Vision range in the color "Smoke Grey". MoistureShield Pro Aluminum Railings are available in white or black, so we think white is the best choice to match a smoke gray composite deck.
Similar to the lumber dimensions, the most common lumber dimension for MoistureShield laminate flooring is 1 x 6. Actual dimensions are ~1" x ~5-1/2". Other sizes are also available, we'll get to that later.
Preparing Moisture-Resistant Laminate Flooring
MoistureShield laminate floors are installed on the same "skeleton" as typical wood floors. However, all old wood floors will need to be cleaned before installation can begin. Once all the old wood is gone, check the frame to make sure we have good wood to hold. Sometimes your body is in good shape, and sometimes you need to replace some boards. In our project, only a few boards required repair.
options and choices
Even after you've chosen the lines and colors you want to use, there are still other options to consider. There are grooved and non-grooved laminate floors. Do you want exposed fasteners (without grooves) or concealed fasteners (with grooves)? Hidden fasteners will cost more, but they provide a cleaner, more professional look.
not feeling trendy
If you choose to go with the hidden fastener (grooved) look, you will also need to include some non-grooved plates with your order. A grooved plate only includes the grooves on the long sides – the grooves. When your grooved board terminates at the edge, you either see long grooves exposed at the edge of the board, or you see the cross-cut end of the board with small grooves on both sides. While this may not be a performance block, it can be ugly. An even better idea is to do some picture frames or soldiers around the outside edges of your decorating project.
After making an informed decision, you have more options to consider. MoistureShield laminate floors are available in 12, 16 and 20 foot lengths. They also offer color-matched 2×4 (1-1/2” x 3-1/2”) and 2×6 (1-1/2” x 5-1/2”) composite panels. These are available in 12' and 16' lengths. Finally, the decking measures 0.65” x 11.25” and is only 12 feet long. Trim boards are what you use to trim the edges of your deck, including around stairs, risers, etc.
expansion joint
Although laminate flooring expands and contracts less than wood, MoistureShield still recommends that you install with side and end seams. Remember, all the framing underneath is still wood, so it will expand and contract as the temperature changes. Allow 1/4" side-to-side spacing between deck boards and 1/8" (or greater) end-to-end spacing between board ends (butt joints). If you are in a country where freezing temperatures are expected in the winter, allow 1/4 inch of butt joints.
Installing MoistureShield Vision Laminate Flooring
Just like tile or other types of flooring, getting started can be the most important and time-consuming step. The last thing you want is to start "square" and end up with a curved overhang at the other end of the deck. Measure twice, make a temporary layout, then measure again before making the first cut. Quality planning on the front end is critical to a professional finish.
Cutting MoistureShield laminate flooring is as easy as cutting wood. We use a Milwaukee M18 Cordless Double Bevel Miter Saw for all of our cross cuts. MoistureShield composite cut edges were clean with no signs of chipping or popping. Since it won't melt like other composites we've seen before, MoistureShield recommends using a carbide circular saw blade with fewer than 20 teeth. This is for a typical 7-1/4" circular saw, so a standard frame blade on a miter saw will work just fine.
Pro tip: These composite decks aren't always straight. In fact, if they're lying in the sun waiting to be installed, they tend to warp. Make sure you draw a chalk line every now and then to keep your new deck straight and square. In the case of out-of-rule boards, traditional methods of board straightening work well.
corner
This project is more like a porch than a terrace. The porch spans the front of the house, then turns 90 degrees and descends 30 feet down the side of the house. At the turn, the old wooden floors meet just perpendicular to each other at the turn. A herringbone pattern at the transition and MoistureShield laminate add an even more attractive look.
To make a herringbone pattern at the transition, you may need to add diagonal supports to the deck framing. This isn't too difficult for most projects – you just add it where the ends of the MoistureShield laminate will terminate. Without this extra support, gaps can develop at the ends, creating a soft spot.
To achieve a herringbone transition, make sure to turn the corners exactly 90°. If you leave, the Kanban will show up. Use the rafter square (Speed Square) to keep your pattern going. No matter what color you choose, herringbone patterns with MoistureShield Vision end up looking great.
Once all the trim is done, it's time to trim it. This goes very quickly because all you are doing is covering the "panel" boards that border the deck.