Anyone familiar with Eon decking?

[Lisa0825]

I'd like to have a deck in my backyard, and I was looking for info on deck kits to limit the skills needed to do it myself. I came across this product in my search. It is a plastic material. The planks snap together with wing-clips, so drilling or nailing is not needed. The planks can be cut like wood, or ordered in standard sizes. Railing kits, stair kits, and other accessory kits are available too. Anyone have any experience with it?

http://www.eonoutdoor.com/

[Kingshakabobo]

1. No experience here with this product.......

It seems like a great alternative to lumber but only for the finish and wear-ability characteristics.

I don't see how it will be any easier to work with since you will still have to measure and make your cuts in a "professional workmanlike or workwomanlike :) manner." Once all your cuts are made I think fastening the planks is the least of your worries. You will still have to go the traditional route for the support structure as these products are not designed as structural load-bearing members. Also, it looks like, according to their website, the traditional joists should be 12 inches on center. IIRC that's a little closer than needed for traditional planks.

Good luck and have fun! Building a deck can be an intimidating process for a novice but, for the most part, it is the most basic carpentry. Get yourself a good deck-building book from the home center and have at it.

Remember, Norm Abram says: measure twice, cut once. And save the line.

:) :)

[Lisa0825]

2. Well...

I was planning just to have a basic rectangular deck, using pre-measured planks, but I was informed via PM that there would still be drilling, cutting, etc for the skirting. The info I saw online made it seem so easy.

So, I don't know if I will have a deck at all... I have pretty limited skills, and no one to help me with it, so I was hoping to find something simple that I could do on my own. I have other more important projects to spend more money having professionals do, so the deck won't be a priority if I have to pay someone to build it.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Here's something to think about ......

Hire someone just to build the supports and framing and to tie it to your house. that's the critical part and must be done right or the structure could be in peril.

Once framed, nailing down the decking is easy. The framing pros can tell you how to keep the decking straight (use a nail for a spacer). You may want to go to someplace like Lowe's or ::::shudder:::: Home Depot to see what they have for railing kits. You can then maybe consider having the pros do anything special that might need. Most home improvement stores carry precut railing parts.

As to the decking you linked to, I'd say it is not worth it for you. It is likely more expensive than wood and not any easier to install. The selling point for that kind of decking is low maintenance and hidden fasteners, not ease of installation.

You can do this. Really you can.

[Berserker]

4. I PMed this to Lisa0825

but I thought I would post it so others interested in this type of decking will know a little more about eon.

I am a custom deck builder and I have built eon
decks. There is drilling involved in the skirting that
surrounds the deck as a matter of fact it is a slot you have
to make with a drill because of so much expansion and
contraction in the eon decking.
eon decking is installed using clips and
screws that are sold by the 100 count bag separately from the
decking. Also if the decking is over 20 feet you have to
install a breaker board and stop and start the decking at that
point because of the expansion and contraction.
You will also need a special blade (Number of teeth per inch) to cut the eon or it will melt when you try to cut it.
Also you will have to go by a temperature chart (It comes with the decking)
at the time you install it so you will have the correct gap at
the edges. One of the only negative things I will say about
eon is that it scratches very easily. If you have experience
in building this type of outdoor project it is not hard to
build. Also eon decking is more expensive than wood.
Here are a couple pics of the last eon project.