You can make simple cross cuts in composite decking the same way you would cut any soft pine—a power circular saw will work fine. A power miter saw can provide very accurate, straight cuts, and a table saw with support extensions can make all types of cutting easier.

Can you cut composite decking with a regular saw?

Like wood, you can use a conventional hand saw to cut composites. But it’s not efficient and will take a lot of time. You also need to make sure that it’s sharp. … Wood, plastic, and composite decking boards are then pushed towards the protruding saw blade, making clean and controlled cuts.

Do you need a special saw blade for composite decking?

Cutting composite decking is similar to cutting normal lumber; it just requires special saw blades. So when cutting composite decking, it is advisable to use saw blades that are convenient and flexible for cutting. The saw blades must also be sharp.

What saw do I use to cut composite decking?

Use a wood saw to cut the single pieces of the composite material to length and then mark the board using a quick square. You can either use a miter saw or a circular saw since composite cuts similarly to wood.

Can you cut Trex decking with a circular saw?

How to Cut & Fasten Composite Decking. You can make simple cross cuts in composite decking the same way you would cut any soft pine—a power circular saw will work fine. A power miter saw can provide very accurate, straight cuts, and a table saw with support extensions can make all types of cutting easier.

Can you rip cut Trex decking?

Can you rip a Trex board? Trex products should not be ripped to reduce thickness, but can be ripped to reduce width. As long as the board can still be installed per the installation instructions, the warranty will be valid. Please use care when fastening ripped boards, as pre-drilling may be necessary.

What kind of blade do you cut Trex with?

Diablo’s TrexBlade is the only recommended composite decking by Trex Company when cutting composite decking materials. These new blades deliver maximum performance and highest quality of finish; making it a ‘must-have’ tool for both professionals and DIYers planning composite decking projects.

Is composite decking easy to cut?

Yes, composite decking can be cut to size easily.

How many teeth do I need to cut composite decking?

What is the Best Saw Blade for Cutting Composite Decking? The EnviroBuild installation guide advises the use of a circular saw using a 40 tooth alternate top bevel finish blade to cut your composite decking boards.

How do you hide the edges of Trex decking?

Composite decking ends can be finished by picture framing, raised fascia board, painting the ends, attaching decking veneer, composite nosing strips, vinyl stair nosing cove, composite corner trim or plastic end caps.

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What is the spacing between Trex deck boards?

All deck boards must always be installed with a 6mm side-to-side gap. The Trex Hideaway Hidden Fasteners automatically measure the 6mm gap between grooved edge boards but you must still ensure the 6mm gap with the square edge boards.

Does composite decking have gaps?

As temperatures fluctuate, composite deck boards will naturally experience thermal expansion and contraction. That’s why the board ends should never be installed tight against one another. There should always be a slight gap.

Do you need a special saw blade to cut Trex boards?

Table saw blades with a 7 to 9 inch diameter and few teeth are best for cutting composite decking. Blades made specifically for cutting composite decking usually have a tooth design that makes them unique from the other ones. Miter Saw Blades: There are various types of miter saw blades.

Does Home Depot cut composite decking?

No. Home Depot does not cut glass, metal, or composite/plastic materials, however, some composites such as trim or PVC can be cut by hand in the Millworks Dept. on their cutting table by the customers themselves or an associate.

Does Trex sag?

Your composite deck may not warp, but it can sag and buckle. Most sagging is caused by improper spacing between the joists when it is installed. Also, thermal expansion, the fluctuation of temperatures, can have a more significant effect on composite decking than on natural wood decking.

Does Trex decking get hotter than wood?

Direct Sun When it comes to heat retention, wood fares better than Trex, especially when the hot sun is beating down on the deck. While wood gets hot enough to make walking with bare feet uncomfortable, composite decking gets even hotter.

Is Trex more expensive than wood?

An obstacle for Trex is that composites cost a lot more than natural wooden decking. By Trex’s estimates, for a 16- by 20-foot deck, the materials outlay for its Transcend line are $2,714, almost five times that of regular wood ($577).

Will a jigsaw cut through decking?

This is much easier than sawing by hand! The chop saw is also the saw of choice for cutting deck boards. … Cut a straight line using a jigsaw and stop when you get to the line that is going in the opposite direction. Then cut another line and stop at the line that is in the opposite direction.

What do you do with cut ends of composite decking?

Sealing the ends with lumber wax will help prevent moisture absorption. Kim Katwijk The cut ends of composite decking will absorb moisture and can swell, as shown here. Sealing the end cuts with lumber wax will help prevent swelling.

How do you hide the Trex grooved edge?

Install Fascia Boards Installing fascia boards is a common practice to hide the ends of composite decking boards. Like picture framing, it gives the decking a stylish and sleek look while hiding the exposed ends. The difference is, you will install it on the sides, directly over the edges and the rim joists.

How much overhang should a Trex deck have?

Trex is a popular composite material with a maximum overhang of 102mm or around 4 inches. Between one and two inches of deck board overhang is ideal when you attach an outer fascia board, or at least 1 ¾” to 2 ¾” of overhang before installing the fascia.

How many Trex boards do I need for a 12x12 deck?

Board lengthBoards required8 FT20612 FT13716 FT10320 FT83

Do you leave gaps in Trex decking?

You must gap Trex® decking, both end-to-end and width-to-width. Gapping is necessary for drainage and the slight thermal expansion and contraction of Trex decking boards.

Are Trex hidden fasteners worth it?

Hidden deck fasteners are a nice way to keep the surface of your deck looking clear and unencumbered. But they are not the right fastener for all decks. In fact, using hidden deck fasteners inappropriately is a formula for failure. Some deck projects require the stronger fastening power of face screws.

Does Trex shrink?

Any composite decking will expand and contract, its really just a matter of how much it expands and contracts and at what temperatures. … Quality composite decking should very very minimal shrinkage if manufactured correctly.