EverNew PT User manual

Composite
Decking
EverNew
®PTcompositedeckingisinstalledwith
thesameskillsandtoolsasnaturalwood,but
therearesomesmallyetimportantdifferences
thatmustbemaintained.Familiarizeyourself
beforeinstallation.
HELPFUL HINTS
Readendtaglabelsonproductandthese
instructionsthoroughlybeforebeginning
theassembly.
•Usecarbide-tippedmulti-purposeblade
forcutting(minimumof40toothblade
recommended).
•Donotlaycompositecomponents
onabrasivesurfaces.
•Ifanycomponentsaremissing
ordefective,pleasecallusat:
800-380-5323.
IMPORTANT:
a lways wear safety
glasses when Cutting and
drilling deCking produCts .
TOOLS REQUIRED
EverNewPTcompositedeckingiseasily
installedwiththesametoolsusedfor
lumber.Carbide-tippedbladesandbitsare
recommendedforbestresults.
Virtuallymaintenancefree|25-yearperformancewarranty
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
EverNewPTcompositedeckingisintendedfor
residentialinstallationsonsundecks,pooldecks,
docks,boardwalks,oceanwalksandsimilar
applications.CertainTeedcannotanticipateevery
possibleinstallationandrecommendsthatyou
consultanengineer,architectand/orbuildingcode
officialinyourareatomakesurethatyourdesign
meetsalllocallyapplicablecodes.
Note:EverNewPTdeckboardsarereversible.
Important:EverNewPTcompositedecking
mustbeinstalledonstructuraldeckframingand
properlygappedtoallowforexpansion,contraction
anddrainage.Donotattachplanksdirectlyto
anysolidsurfaceorwater-tightsystemsuchas
sheathing,waterproofmembranes,concrete,roof
systemsorpatios.Aminimumofsixinchesof
continuousnetfreeareaunderthedecksurface
isrequiredforadequateventilationonalldecking
applications.Installporchanddeckmaterialso
aircancirculatebetweenadjacentmembers,to
promotedrainageanddrying.Failuretofollow
theserequirementsvoidswarranty.
Note on Static:Dryandwindyenvironmentsmaycreatea
temporaryconditionofstaticelectricity,which
willvarydependingonclimateandageofdeck.
Note for optimum decking appearance:
Whendealingwithbuttjointsormulti-chromatic
colors,itissuggestedyoulayoutor“rack”10or
sorowsofdeckingboardsacrossthejoistssothat
youcanensurebuttjointsareproperlystaggered
andcolorvariationsareeitherrandomlydispersed
throughoutorarrangedinthedesiredpattern.
Rackingnotonlyallowsyoutopreviewhowthe
deckwilllookinstalled,butitalsoprovideseasy
accesstodeckingboardsasyouwork.
STEP-BY-STEP
installation instruCtions for
evernew
®
pt
CoMposite deCking
TIP
Makesureyouhaveallthepieces
youneedtocompletethejob.
B efore you Begin
IMPORTANT
DECKING STORAGE
PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
Priortoinstallationmaterialshould
bestoredonaflatsurface,supported
every24"andcoverediforiginal
packagingisremoved.

2
deCking installation
GETTING STARTED
Carefulplanningofthenisheddecklayout
willresultinbetter-lookingnishedprojects.
1.Joistlocationplaysanimportantrolein
thesafetyofthedeckitself,butmayalso
affecttheease,methodandpriceofyour
railingsystem.
JOISTS
Joistsusedindeckframeconstructionshould
be2"x8"orlarger.
Wheninstallingdeckboardsperpendicular
tothejoistsinresidentialapplications,
spacingis16"on-center(FigureA).Whenthe
deckingistobelaiddiagonally(nottoexceed
45º),reducetheon-centerjoistspacing
by4"(FigureB).Stairstringersshouldnot
exceed12"on-center.Allow1/8"between
stairtreadsandrisers.Leave3/16"space
betweenstairtreads.Forspecialsituations,
orwhenindoubt,consultyourlocalbuilding
inspectiondepartment.
Wheninstallingheavyloadsatopyour
deckingproject,ahottub,forexample,
itisimportanttoalsounderstandthe
requirementsofthemanufacturer,asthey
mayhavespecicframingandsupport
requirementsfortheirwarrantypurposes.
Residential Joist Spacing
Blocking
Stringers or Joists
Blocking
12”o.c.
Deck BoardsJoists
Figure A
Figure B
Figure C
Figure D
1“
Deck
Board #1
Deck
Board #2
3/16”Gap
1/4”Gap
Figure E
Deck
Board #1
Deck
Board #2
1/16” – 3/16”
1“
2.Beforestarting,readtheinstructionsofboth
thedeckingandrailingsystemsplannedfor
theproject.
3.Rememberthatprefabricatedrailsystems
oftenassemblefasterthanwoodrailing,but
theyarelessexibleanddonotassemblein
thesamewayaswoodrailsystems.Toenjoy
themaximumbenetofprefabricatedrail
systems,itisimportanttoconstructthe
deckframingwiththespecicrailsystem
inmind.
4.Thoroughlyreadingallinstructionsrstwill
makeforeasierinstallations.Failuretodo
somayresultinmoredifcultinstallations
andmayvoidwarranty.
VENTILATION
Topreventexcessivewaterabsorption,an
unobstructedairowofatleast6inchesis
requiredbelowthedecksurface.Flatareas
wherestandingwatermaygathershouldbe
addressedbygradingorimproveddrainage.
Fordeckswithlimitedventilation,add
ow-throughventsatvariouslocations
aroundrimjoist.
Wheninstallingblockingformoreintricate
deckingpatterns,rememberthatsolid
blocking(blockinglaidontheat)willinhibit
waterowandresultinbuildupoforganic
materialsovertime,whichwillmakecleaning
moredifcult.Forbestresultswhenblocking
isrequired,itshouldbeinstalledladderstyle
(FigureC).
BOARD SPACING
Alldeckingmaterials,whetherwood,
compositeormetal,undergosomedegreeof
linearexpansionwiththechangesofweather
andtheseason.Tocompensatefortheeffects
ofcontractionandexpansion,thefollowing
installationstandardsmustbemaintained:
•3/16"sidetosidespacingbetweenthe
boards(FigureD).
•1/4"gapbetweenthedeckboardandany
solidstructuresuchasawallorpost
(FigureD).
•Betweenboardends:3/16"below45ºF,
1/8"45º–85ºF,lightlybutt(1/16")over85ºF
Adhering to these spacing
parameters will:
•Promoteproperdrainageandventilation.
•Aidintheremovaloforganicdebris.
•Meetboardspacingrequirementsofthe
EverNewwarranty.

3
deCking installation
FASTENERS
Theuseofstainlesssteelfastenersis
stronglyrecommended.Approvedcoated
fastenersmayalsobeused,buttheir
performancemaynotbeasgoodasstainless
steel.Plain,galvanizedsurfacefastenersare
notrecommended.
Fastenersrecommendedforusewith
EverNewPTdeckingincludestainlesssteel
compositefasteners.CertainTeeddoes
notendorseorrepresentspecicthird
partyproducts.Otherfastenersspecically
designedforwoodcompositedecking
shouldbetestedinaninconspicuousarea
rst,astheymayresultinanunacceptable
appearance.Ifhiddenfastenersaredesired,
PhantomHiddenDeckFastenersavailable
fromCertainTeedaredesignedtotthe
EverNewPTgrooveddeckboardforquick
andeasyinstallation,whileprovidinga
smooth,unmarredlook.
Theuseoftraditionalatorbuglehead
deckscrewsisnotrecommendedfor
EverNewPTdeckingandwilllikelyresultin
mushrooming.Otherfastenersnotspecically
designedforwoodcompositedeckingare
notrecommended.Hiddenfastenersystems
otherthanPhantomHiddenFastenersare
notrecommended,andtheirusewillvoidthe
productwarranty.
Requirements
Donotfastenwithin1-1/2"oftheendofa
boardor1"fromthesideoftheboard.Itis
necessarytopre-drillendofboardscrewholesto
preventimmediateoreventualendsplitting
(FigureF).Pre-drillingallholes,whichwilladdtime
totheproject,isnotnecessary,butitwillresultin
better-lookingnishedprojects.Pre-drillingwill
greatlyreducethechanceofanymushrooming.
DONOTover-tightenfasteners.Overtighteningwill
inducecrackingat
boardends.
Surfacefasteners
shouldalwaysbe
driveninata90
degreeangletothe
deckingsurface.Toe
nailing/screwingis
notrecommended
(FigureG).
Instead,the
placementofan
additionaljoist,
whenneeded,is
recommendedto
allowperpendicular
installationofsurface
fasteners(FigureH).
Pre-drillingisrequired
incoldtemperatures.
Clean,perfectly
straightlinesof
fastenerslookbetterthanwobblylines.Usewhite
chalk,straightboardsorstringlinesastemplates
forstraightlines.DONOTUSECOLOREDCHALK.
Coloredchalkisdesignedtobepermanentandwill
stainthedeckingsurface.Thereisnoknown
waytoremovecoloredchalkfromdecking.
EverNewPTdeckingmaybefacefastened.
Annualthread,ringshankandspiralshank
nails,ofsufcientlength,haveexcellent
holdingpowerandproducegoodresults.
Gunnailsmaybeusedbut,dependingon
thegun,thetemperatureofthedeckingand
otherfactorssuchasheadtype,headsizeand
shanknailgeometry,gunsmaynotproduce
optimalresults.Testrst.Stainlesssteel
fastenersarerecommended.
Screwshavesuperiorholdingpower.
Conventionalbuglehead
deckingscrewsproduce
solidconnectionsbut
haveatendencyto
causemushrooming.The
mushroomsmaybeleftas
is,attenedorremoved(pat
downwitharubbermallet)as
desired.
Foracleanerlook,stainless
steelscrewswithsmallcasingornish
styleheadscanproducenearlyinvisible
results.Achievingthislookispossible
withscrewsdesignedspecicallyfor
compositedecks.Availablecommercially,
inhomecentersandhardwarestores,
thesescrewsareengineeredspecicallyto
workwithcompositedeckingandprevent
mushrooming,resultingin
better-lookingnishedprojects(FigureI).
Figure I
HIDDEN DECK FASTENERS
Caution: Contains parts with sharp edges.
Use proper care.
Installation of First Deck Board
Positiontherstdeckboardonthe
supportjoists.Leavea1/4"gapfrom
anypermanentstructure.
Pre-drilltherstdeckboardwitha1/8"drill
alongtheoutsideedgeoftheboardatevery
supportjoist.Topreventcrackingoftheboard,
theholesattheendoftheboardshouldbea
minimumof1-1/2"fromtheend.Theholes
alongthegroovededgeoftheboardshouldbea
minimumof1"fromtheedge.
Securetherstdeckboardbyfasteningwith
aminimum#10x2-1/4"longstainlesssteel
deckscrewineachpre-drilledhole.
DONOTOVER-TIGHTENTHESCREWSORUSE
OPTIONALENDCLIPFASTENERS.
Optional End Clip Fastener
PlaceEndClipa
minimumof1/4"
fromwallwitha
singlescrewinto
joist.Repeatat
eachjoistlocationnomorethan16"oncenter.
Installation of Deck Boards
Slidefastenerintosidechannelofdecking
boardateverysupportjoist.
Installscrewsprovidedthroughdestination
holeintoeachsupportjoist.
Locatenextslottedboardagainstthe
fastenertabs.
Slightlylifttheouteredgeoftheboard
andslideoverfastenertabs.
Besurefastenersarefullysecuredinto
eachboardtoensureevenspacing.
Repeatstepsuntildeckiscomplete.
Installation of Final Deck Board
Positionthenaldeckboardontothelast
setoffasteners.Ensuringaconsistentgap
betweenboards,pre-drillthenaldeckboard
witha1/8"drillalongtheoutsideedgeof
theboardateverysupportjoist.Theholesat
theendoftheboardshouldbeaminimum
of1-1/2"fromtheend.Theholesalong
thegroovededgeoftheboardshouldbea
minimumof1"fromtheedge.
Securethenaldeckboardbyfastening
a#10x2-1/4"longstainlesssteeldeck
screwineachpre-drilledhole.DONOT
OVER-TIGHTENTHESCREWS.Installthe
Fiberon-approvedHiddenFastenersupto
50%fasterwiththeBallisticNailScrewDriver.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
90º
Joist
Joist
Deck Deck
1-1/2”
22.5º cut
1”
Joist
Deck Deck
Figure G
90º
Joist
Joist
Deck Deck
1-1/2”
22.5º cut
1”
Joist
Deck Deck
Figure H
1“
Added Joist
Deck
Board #1
Deck
Board #2
1-1/2”Setback
Figure F

4
WOOD GRAIN PATTERNS
NotethatthegrainingonEverNewPT
deckingisdirectional.Differentlookscanbe
achievedbylayingthedeckinginthesameor
alternatingdirections(FigureJ).
Thegrainingpatternrepeatsalongtheboard
length.Toensureyouorienttheboardsto
achievethedesiredeffect,adirectional
labelisafxedtoeachboardshowingthe
directionofthegraining.Shouldthislabelbe
misplacedordiscarded,youcanuseakey
featureofthegrainingpatternasareference.
Duringtheplanningphaseofanydeck
project,notationsaboutgraindirection
shouldbemadetoachievethedesiredeffect
(FigureJ&K).
deCking installation
EverNewPTrequirestwofastenersatevery
joistlocation(FigureL).Whilefacefasteningis
allowedonallEverNewdeckingproducts,the
useofhiddenfastenersishighlyrecommended
withEverNewgrooveddeckingtocreatea
smooth,unblemisheddeckingsurface.EverNew
grooveddeckingcannotbeusedasstairtreads.
Non-groovedboardsareavailableforstair
treadsandstartingboardsattheedges
ofthedeck.
Figure K
Figure L
Figure J
fasCia installation
VENTILATION
Topreventexcessivewaterabsorption,an
unobstructedairowisrequiredbelowthe
decksurfaces.Flatareaswherestandingwater
maygathershouldbeaddressedbygrading
orimproveddrainage.Fordeckswithlimited
ventilation,addairowbyinstallingventsat
variouslocationsaroundtherimjoist.
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
3/16”Gap
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
1/8”
3/16”Gap
1/8”
Backer Board 2x8
Joist 2x8
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joists
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
3/16”Gap
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
1/8”
3/16”Gap
1/8”
Backer Board 2x8
Joist 2x8
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joists
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
3/16”Gap
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
1/8”
3/16”Gap
1/8”
Backer Board 2x8
Joist 2x8
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joists
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
3/16”Gap
Joist
Sub-fascia
Fascia
Post
1-1/2”
1”
1/8”
3/16”Gap
1/8”
Backer Board 2x8
Joist 2x8
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Joists
Fascia
Fascia
16”
Sub Fascia
Butt Joint (Figure C)
Angle Joint (Figure D)
Suggested Stringer
Fascia Application
FASCIA FASTENING
Fasciaisintendedasanon-structuralcovering
forrimjoists,stairrisers,andstringers
andisnotsuitedfordeckingsurfacesor
structuralapplications.Fasciaisfastenedwith
acombinationofscrewsandhigh-quality
urethane/acrylicconstructionadhesiveto
preventthermalbuckling.Applyazigzagbead
ofadhesivetotheentirelengthoftheback
(smoothside)oftheboard,withintwoinches
oftheedgesandends.Installallfasciagrain
sideoutwithgrainpeakspointinginthesame
directionforvisualconsistency.Screwsshould
beinstalledatamaximum16"interval,three
screwsacrosstheface.Installwithnogap
betweenedgesandendsintemperaturesabove
50°F.Leave1/8"gapbetweenedgesandends
intemperaturesbelow50°F.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Care and MaintenanCe
5
 •Ensureminimum6"ofventilationunder
thedeckandrequiredspacingbetween
deckingboards.
 •Improvedrainageorgradesoiltoeliminate
standingwaterunderdecks.
 •Directdownspouts,downspoutextensions
andsplashguardsawayfromdecks.
 •Positiondryerventsawayfromdecks.
 •Maintainadeckthatisdryandclean.
 •Cleanyourdeckasoftenasneeded,atleast
twiceeachyear.
 •Useextremecautionwithpressurewashers
anduseatpressureslessthan1,500psiat
12"abovedecksurface.Pressurewashingis
notrecommendedwhenmold/mildeware
presentonthedeck.
 •Keepdebrisoutofgapsbetweenthedecking
boardssorainshowerscanremovepollen
andorganicdebrisbetweencleanings.
 •Minimizetheuseofwetmulchupagainst
thedeckstructure.
 •Itemsstoreddirectlyontopofthedeck
surface,suchasflowerpots,prohibitwater
evaporationandcancausesomestainingon
thedecksurface.
Ventilation
Makesurethereisadequateandunobstructedair
flowunderthedecktopreventexcessivewater
absorption.Improvedrainageorgradeflatareas
wherestandingwatermaygather.Fordeckswith
limitedventilation,6"ofclearventilationis
requiredbetweenbottomofjoistsandfascia
tograde.
Mind the Gap
Ifthegapbetweendeckingboardsislessthan
3/16",organicdebrissuchasleaves,seedsor
pollencansettleonthedeckandcloggaps.
Watercanpool,steepingorganicdebristhat
formsa“tea”ortanninwhichmaystainyour
deck.Thisorganicdebrisisastrongfoodsource
formold.Keepingthegapcleanistheeasiest
waytokeepthedeckclean.Ifgappingbecomes
clogged,useagardenhose,aspatula,puttyknife
orsimilartooltoremovedebris.
Clean Your Deck
Cleanyourdeckasoftenasneeded,atleast
twiceeachyeartoremovepollen,organicdebris,
dirtorstains.Generally,abroomorablower
willworkbetterthanahoseforremoving
scatteredorganicmaterialslikeleaves.For
generalcleaning,usesoapandwaterormild
householdcleaners.
Masonry Construction
Masonryconstructionperformedonthesurface
ofthedeckingmaterialwillcauseahazefrom
themortar-basedproductsused.Thiscanonlybe
preventedwithcompleteandsecurecoverageof
thedeckingsurfaceareaduringtheconstruction
phaseorinstallationofthedeckingafterthe
masonryconstructionphase.Likegypsumand
otherminerals,theabilitytocleanthistypeof
hazewillimprovedramaticallyinaboutayear
andusuallyresultsinitscompleteremoval.
Amildvinegar-basedcleaningsolutionandCLR®
(CalciumLimeandRustRemover)iseffective
atremovingmineraldeposits.Besuretofollow
themanufacturer’sinstructions.Donotmix
recommendedcleaningproductstogetheras
harmfulchemicalreactionscouldoccur.
Mold and Mildew
Moldandmildewarecommonenvironmental
conditions.Moldsgrowondecayingorganic
materialsuchaswood,leafdecayandpollen.
Tinyandlightweight,moldsporestraveleasily
throughtheair.Differentclimatesexperience
varyingdegreesoftheseconditionsdepending
ontheamountofmoistureandheatpresent.

CertainTeed Corporation
P.O. Box 860
Valley Forge, PA 19482
Professional: 800-233-8990
Consumer: 800-782-8777
www.certainteed.com
ASK ABOUT OUR OTHER CERTAINTEED PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS:
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ExTERIOR: Roofing • Siding • WindoWS • fence • Railing • TRiM • decking • foundaTionS • PiPe
INTERIOR: inSulaTion • gYPSuM • ceilingS
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS (CONT.)
Tothrive,moldandmildewneedair,water,
elevatedtemperaturesandafoodsource.There
isnowaytoeliminatealltheseconditionsinthe
environment.Awidevarietyofbuildingmaterials
includingconcrete,woodproducts,vinylsiding
andmanyothersaresubjecttopotentialmold
growth.
Care and Maintenance: Capped Composite
and Capped PVC Decking
Tominimizemoldonyourdecking,cleanyour
deckasoftenasneeded,atleasttwiceeachyear.
Climateconditionsvaryindifferentregionsofthe
countryandmaynecessitatemoreperiodic
cleaning.Removalofleaves,debris,andother
organicmaterialsthatprovideafoodsourcefor
molddevelopmentisimportant.Ifmoldispresent
onyourdeck,usesoapandwatertoclean.
Dirt and Grime
Dislodgeaccumulateddirtwithabroomorby
usingsoapandwaterandanon-metalscrub
brush.Scrubbinginthedirectionofthegrainis
best.Thoroughlyrinseoffwithagardenhose.
Skilledprofessionalsmayuseapressurewasher
withwidefantips,atlowpressuresunder1,500
psiandatsafedistances,12"abovedeck.Inthe
wronghands,yourcompositedeckcanbe
damaged.Exerciseextremecaution.
Oil and Grease Stains
Speedycleanupisbest.Tocleangreaseandoil
stainsthatsoapandwatercannotremove,some
all-purposecleaners,suchasFantastik,willcut
throughgreaseandgrime.Oruseacommercial
deckcleanerdesignedspecificallyforyourtype
ofdecking.De-Solv-ItCitrusSolutioniseffective
inremovingtar,asphalt,oil,greaseandchewing
gum.Besuretofollowthemanufacturer’s
recommendationsandtestinaninconspicuous
areapriortocleaningtheentiredeck.
Salt and Calcium Chloride
Buildupofsaltandcalciumchloridefromsnow
andiceremovaliseasilyremovedwithenough
waterandperhapsalightscrub.Useagarden
hoseorsprayer.Ifusingapressurewasher,use
atlowpressuresunder1,500psiandatsafe
distances,12"abovedeck,toavoiddamaging
yourdeck.NeveruseMETALshovelsorsharp
edgedtoolstoremovesnowandiceonthe
surfaceofanyCertainTeeddeckingproduct.
Rubber Mats
Welcomematsorgrillmatswitharubberor
latexbackingcanmarkyourdeck.Themarkscan
beremoved,buttoavoidthem,usecolorfast
wovenrugs.