|
|
Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Manhattan Remodel & Cape Cod Affordable > Installing a Composite Deck and Fiberglass Drywall > 1520 Transcript
1520 - Installing a Composite Deck and Fiberglass Drywall
January 24-30, 2005 | July 25-31, 2005
 Buy Show Video
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR AFFORDABLE-HOUSING
PROJECT
HERE IN THE TOWN
OF MASHPEE, MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
A PROGRESS REPORT TODAY
BECAUSE THERE'S
SO MUCH GOING ON.
IT WILL INCLUDE POURING
THE SUPPORTS FOR A BACKYARD DECK
AS WELL AS PUTTING DOWN THE
DECKING AND THE RAILING SYSTEMS.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING
AT ALL THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS
OF THE HOUSE,
INCLUDING A NEW TYPE OF DRYWALL
THAT'S MILDEW-RESISTANT.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE
BY SEARS
NOW, WE'VE GOT
4 DIFFERENT HOUSES
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
AT THE SAME TIME HERE.
LAST WEEK, WE WERE PAINTING
THE FRONT FACADE
OF OUR CAPE-STYLE HOUSE HERE
AND INSULATING ON THE INSIDE,
AND THE PROJECT HERE
IS ONE OF THE MOVES
THAT THE TOWN
OF MASHPEE IS MAKING
TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR SOME OF ITS RESIDENTS.
ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A TOTAL
OF 10 HOUSES BUILT HERE,
4 OF THEM
WILL BE AFFORDABLE.
THEY'LL BE BOUGHT
THROUGH A LOTTERY,
AND PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING
ABOUT 135,000, 140,000,
WHEREAS MOST
OF THE MARKET-RATE HOUSES
WILL GO FOR OVER 300,000.
BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE ROAD HERE,
WE'VE GOT
OUR COLONIAL MODEL,
WHICH HAS BEEN FRAMED
AND IS WELL UNDERWAY,
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S GOT
THE CLASSIC CENTER ENTRY
WITH THE SYMMETRICAL
WINDOW PLACEMENTS.
NOW, THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSES
IS THAT THEY ARE
ALL IDENTICAL
IN TERMS OF THE QUALITY
OF MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP
WITH THE ONES
THAT ARE MARKET-PRICED.
BUT LET'S GO BEHIND ONE
OF OUR OTHER PROJECT HOUSES HERE
SO THAT WE CAN SHOW YOU
THE FIRST STEPS
IN BUILDING
A BACKYARD DECK.
WELL, WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS
OF DIFFERENT JOBS
GOING ON AT ONCE
AROUND HERE,
BUT ONE THAT ANY HOMEOWNER
IS USED TO DOING
IS MIXING A LITTLE SACKRETE
OR A LITTLE CONCRETE
FOR BACKYARD PROJECTS.
AND WE HAVE
AL AND TIM HERE.
HI.
HI, AL.
WHO HAVE DEVELOPED
A NEW TYPE OF WHEELBARROW
THAT COMES IN
VERY, VERY HANDY
WHEN DOING
SMALL JOBS LIKE THIS.
NOW, I GREW UP
HELPING DAD
DO EXACTLY THIS WITH
AN OLD STEEL WHEELBARROW.
AND, OF COURSE, WE
DIDN'T HAVE SONATUBES.
SO WE WEREN'T REALLY
POURING INTO,
BUT NOWADAYS, ANY TIME YOU'RE
PUTTING IN A FOOTING
FOR A BACKYARD PROJECT
LIKE DECK CONSTRUCTION,
YOU DIG YOUR HOLE,
AND THEN YOU PUT IN
ONE OF THESE CARDBOARD FORMS
THAT CREATE THE PIERS
FOR SUPPORT,
AND SO YOU GUYS HAVE
COME UP WITH AN INNOVATION
ON THE WHEELBARROW,
RIGHT?
RIGHT, BOB. IT'S
THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE
IN WHEELBARROW DESIGN
IN HUNDREDS OF YEARS,
AND...CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA
ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO.
WENT TO A PROTOTYPE STAGE,
AND HERE WE ARE NOW.
WE LICENSED THIS
WITH BRENTWOOD INDUSTRIES,
AND WE'RE
IN PRODUCTION NOW.
SO, IT'S A LITTLE
BIT REMINISCENT
OF A BOTTLE-NOSED
DOLPHIN, ACTUALLY.
BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING
IS THAT,
WITH A TRADITIONAL
WHEELBARROW
THAT'S JUST FLAT
ACROSS THE FRONT,
ANYTIME YOU'RE GOING TO POUR
INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT--
WE'D HAVE TROUBLE.
WE'D LOSE A THIRD
OF THE MATERIAL
ON EITHER SIDE
AND ONLY GET A THIRD
OF THE MATERIAL IN.
OR ELSE HAVE TO USE
THE SHOVEL A LOT.
WELL, GO AHEAD.
LET'S SEE HOW WELL
IT WORKS, AL.
OK.
YOU GET AN IDEA
OF HOW MUCH MATERIAL
IS IN THERE
BY THE SOUND.
YEAH.
SO THAT'S ONE SACK?
BUT THAT'S PERFECT.
ABSOLUTELY
NO WASTE AROUND IT.
GREAT. SO, WHAT'S
IT MADE OUT OF?
THIS IS HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE.
IT WON'T RUST,
OF COURSE.
IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT.
AND IT WITHSTANDS
TO THE COLD
AND WON'T CRACK.
THE ACTUAL FRAME
OF THE WHEELBARROW
IS PRETTY TRADITIONAL,
THOUGH, ISN'T IT?
ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT OVERSIZED, TOO.
IT'S RUGGED.
THE TIRE IS
A 6-INCH-WIDE
TURF TIRE.
SO IT DOES WELL
IN SANDY AREAS,
AND THE HANDLES
ARE ASH,
NORTH AMERICAN
HARDWOOD,
AND THERE'S
A CAST FRAME.
SO THIS IS ONE
OF THE BETTER
WHEELBARROWS BUILT.
SO IT'S A GREAT NEW
INNOVATION OR INVENTION,
AND WE'LL BE SEEING THEM
SOON, I SUPPOSE,
AT OUR HOME
IMPROVEMENT CENTERS?
I HOPE SO.
GOOD LUCK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL SHOW YOU
THE BEST WAY TO FRAME
A BACKYARD DECK.
NOW, ONCE THE CONCRETE
IS CURED, OF COURSE,
THEY SERVE AS A BASE
FOR THE STRUCTURE
FOR A LITTLE
BACKYARD DECK.
AND OUR CONTRACTOR IS HERE.
WES, HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
YOU'RE DOING
A NICE JOB.
THANK YOU.
NOW, ONE
OF THE KEY THINGS
IS MAKING SURE
THAT THE DECK
DOESN'T COMPROMISE
THE HOUSE,
AND SO I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN A BIG FAN
OF HAVING A NICE GAP
IN BETWEEN
THE LEDGER BOARD
BACK HERE, THIS ONE,
AND THE ACTUAL HOUSE.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT HERE?
WE LIKE TO SPACE IT
OFF THE HOUSE
BETWEEN 3/4
AND ONE INCH,
AND WE USE PIECES OF
THAT COMPOSITE DECKING
THAT WE'RE
WORKING WITH.
KEEPS IT SO IT'S
ABLE TO BREATHE,
AND IT WON'T ROT OUT
THESE CEDAR SHINGLES.
RIGHT, AND IF YOU HAVE
A BIG SNOWFALL,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT IT CAKING IN THERE
AND FORMING INTO ICE.
IT'LL ALL DRAIN.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN HOW
ARE YOU ACTUALLY ATTACHING IT?
WE ATTACH THE LEDGER
WITH THESE 3/8
BY 6-INCH LAGS.
THEY'RE 6 INCHES.
SO THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH THE 2-BY
AND ALL THE WAY INTO THE ACTUAL
SILL PLATE OF THE HOUSE.
RIGHT INTO THE ACTUAL
FRAMING OF THE HOUSE.
GOOD. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT
YOUR JOIST HANGERS IN PLACE
SO THAT THE JOISTS
THEMSELVES--
MAKES IT A LITTLE
EASIER TO INSTALL.
THE JOISTS JUST
DROP RIGHT DOWN.
IT HOLDS THIS
IN PLACE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND--
I DON'T WANT TO
SLOW YOU DOWN,
BUT I ALSO
WANTED TO POINT OUT
THAT WE ARE BUILDING
WITH PRESSURE-TREATED LUMBER,
AND P.T.L. NOWADAYS
HAS BEEN...MODIFIED
AND ENGINEERED
SO THAT THERE AREN'T
ANY REAL
HEALTH CONCERNS,
LIKE THERE WERE
A FEW YEARS BACK.
SURE. NONE AT ALL.
WE'VE GOT IT ALL
LAID OUT.
PUT IT
ON THE LINE.
THAT'S JUST
TACKED IN PLACE,
BUT YOU'LL STILL PUT
A JOIST HANGER THERE.
SO HANGERS ALL AROUND,
BUT WE'RE STILL MISSING
ONE POST HERE, RIGHT?
SURE. AND WE'LL GET THAT
CUT RIGHT NOW.
OK.
[SAW WHIRRING]
THAT'S
A PLUNGE CUT.
EASY TO SET YOUR DEPTH
WITH THAT ONE, ISN'T IT?
SURE. THAT'S A GREAT
LITTLE FEATURE,
HAVING THE MEASUREMENTS
RIGHT ON THE BACK SIDE.
[SAW WHIRRING]
AND SO THAT'S THE NOTCH
THAT WILL FIT AROUND
THE BASE OF THE FRAME,
AND WE'VE ALSO GOT THESE
ON THE BOTTOMS OF THE POSTS
SO THAT WE CAN AVOID
ANY POSSIBILITY
OF WATER DAMAGE
THERE, RIGHT?
SURE. YEAH.
THESE REPLACE--
WHAT WE USED TO USE
WAS THE OLD GALVANIZED.
THESE ARE
A HIGH DENSITY PLASTIC.
THEY DO THE SAME JOB.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE NOTCH FITS
RIGHT AROUND THERE.
AND, UH...IF YOU COULD
GIVE ME A HAND HERE.
NEED A LIFT?
THERE YOU GO.
ALL RIGHT.
OK, WES, SO THIS
ACTUALLY IS
WHAT WE CALL
A BAND JOIST,
AND YOU'VE PUT
A MITER CUT ON THE CORNERS
SO THAT YOU KIND OF
MAKE THEM A MORE ELEGANT CUT
THAN JUST HAVING
A BUTT JOINT THERE.
YOU DON'T SEE ANY END GRAIN.
THAT LOOKS VERY NICE.
IT FINISHES IT OFF
REAL NICE.
AND THEN YOU'LL
WAIT A WHILE.
IN THE SPRING,
WE'LL PAINT IT.
JUST LET IT DRY OUT
FOR A WHILE,
AND THEN PAINT IT
RIGHT UP.
CAN YOU GO UP
A LITTLE, ALAN? DOWN.
DOWN A LITTLE.
RIGHT THERE.
HOW ARE WE LOOKING?
GOOD.
OK, AND THEN WE'RE READY
FOR OUR FIRST PIECE OF DECKING,
WHICH WE JUST NOTCHED OUT.
AND ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF
THIS PARTICULAR DECKING PRODUCT
IS THAT IT'S GOT
A GRAIN PATTERN ON ONE SIDE
AND WE'RE GOING TO
LEAVE IT EXPOSED, RIGHT?
THERE YOU GO.
WE'VE CHOSEN
THE GRAIN PATTERN
FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND NOW, TO GET
A NICE FINISHED LOOK
WITH ANY DECKING MATERIAL,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE
A FASTENER THAT'S GOING
TO LOOK NICE AND NEAT.
AND THIS ONE DOES
A GOOD JOB.
SURE, IT DOES. WE'RE
GOING TO PRE-DRILL THOSE,
AND THEN THEY'RE COLORED
SCREWS TO MATCH THE DECK.
GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, EVEN THOUGH
WE DON'T NECESSARILY
NEED TO PRE-DRILL,
YOU LIKE TO PRE-DRILL BECAUSE
THE PRESSURE-TREATED LUMBER
IS KIND OF TOUGH TO GET INTO.
IT'S A VERY DENSE WOOD,
WITH THE PRESSURE-TREATED,
AND THE SCREWS JUST GO IN
A LOT NICER
WHEN WE PRE-DRILL
FOR THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
AND A 16-PENNY SPIKE
FOR A SPACER.
GIVES US THE PERFECT AMOUNT
IN BETWEEN THE BOARDS.
FOR DRAINAGE, YEAH.
GOOD.
NEXT, WE'LL BE INSTALLING
A NEW TYPE OF MOLD AND MILDEW
RESISTANT DRYWALL.
NEXT TIME ON
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
AT OUR AFFORDABLE-HOUSE PROJECT.
WE'LL BE HANGING
A NEW TYPE OF DRYWALL
THAT'S BACKED
WITH A FIBERGLASS SURFACE
THAT'S MOLD
AND MILDEW RESISTANT.
WE'LL BE POURING THE FOOTINGS
FOR A BACKYARD DECK
USING AN INGENIOUS
NEW WHEELBARROW
THAT PREVENTS SPILLS.
ALSO, WE'LL SHOW YOU
THE BEST WAY TO FRAME A DECK.
AND WE'LL BE TALKING
ABOUT THE FEATURES
OF THE COMPOSITE
DECKING AND RAILING SYSTEM.
DON'T MISS IT. THAT'S
NEXT TIME ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME ON
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
IT'S MOLD-RESISTANT DRYWALL,
A COMPOSITE
DECK AND RAILING SYSTEM,
AND A UNIQUE WHEELBARROW.
DON'T MISS IT.
THAD GOODMAN IS WITH US NOW
FROM GEORGIA PACIFIC,
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A DIFFERENT TYPE
OF WALLBOARD PRODUCT.
IT'S STILL GYPSUM
WALLBOARD, RIGHT?
STILL MADE WITH GYPSUM.
THE DIFFERENCE IS WE PUT
INORGANIC GLASS MATS
AROUND THE PRODUCT
INSTEAD OF PUTTING
PAPER ON IT.
SO ITS CHARACTERISTICS
ARE MUCH THE SAME
AS REGULAR DRYWALL.
IT ACTS THE SAME
WHEN YOU CUT IT
AND SCORE IT
AND HANG IT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT
MOLD OR MOISTURE.
AND THE THINKING
IS THAT IF YOU HAVE
A PAPER-BACKED
GYPSUM WALLBOARD,
PAPER, WHICH IS ORGANIC,
CAN BE A HOST SURFACE
FOR MILDEW GROWTH,
RIGHT?
OH, IT'S LIKE
A SMORGASBORD FOR MOLD.
IT CAN GROW QUICKLY.
THAT BAD, HUH?
OH, IT'S TERRIBLE.
SO, WHAT WE
BASICALLY DO IS
WE JUST WRAP GLASS MATS
AROUND BOTH SIDES OF IT.
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS IS A PIECE OF IT.
DOESN'T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT
THAN REGULAR DRYWALL.
NO, IT REALLY DOESN'T,
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
THIS IS
A FIBERGLASS SURFACE.
TIGHTLY WOVEN GLASS MATS--
GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY
TO RESIST THAT MOLD
OR MILDEW WHEN IT COMES IN.
WELL, SKIPPER, I DON'T
WANT TO GET IN YOUR WAY,
BUT YOU GUYS
ARE WORKING WITH THIS.
DOES IT WORK
THE SAME AS...
IT WORKS THE SAME, BASICALLY,
AS DRYWALL.
IT'S A LITTLE HEAVIER,
BUT IT WORKS THE SAME WAY.
SO CUTTING IT
AND HANDLING IT
DOESN'T
SLOW YOU DOWN?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
WELL, WE'LL GET
OUT OF YOUR WAY
SO WE CAN WATCH THE BOYS
PUT IT UP THERE ON THE FLAT.
THIS IS KIND OF LIKE
A TRAY CEILING
IN THIS ROOM,
IN THIS LIVING ROOM,
AND WHAT
THEY'RE DOING IS
THEY'RE HANGING UP
THE FLAT SECTIONS FIRST
BEFORE TACKLING
THE SIDES.
GO TO YOU, JOE.
OK, SO WE'RE IN ONE
OF THE BEDROOMS NOW,
AND BRIAN IS HERE,
GETTING THE WALLS
READY FOR FINISH.
WHAT KIND OF TAPE
IS THAT, BRIAN?
IT'S A NYLON TAPE.
SO IT STICKS
RIGHT TO THE WALL,
THE SEAMS, THE FLATS.
AND DOES IT MAKE
ANY DIFFERENCE
WHETHER YOU'RE USING
A NYLON TAPE
OR A PAPER TAPE?
IT'S MUCH BETTER
TO USE A NYLON TAPE
THAN WOULD BE
A PAPER TAPE.
OK. AND, OF COURSE,
IT'S SELF-STICKING,
AND WHEN YOU GET
TO THE END OF THE LINE,
YOU CAN JUST CUT IT OFF
EASILY LIKE THAT.
NOW, TELL ME
SOMETHING, THAD,
DOES IT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE
WITH THIS TYPE
OF PRODUCT
WHETHER YOU'RE
SKIM COATING OR NOT?
SO MANY PEOPLE
LIKE TO PUT
A SKIM COAT
OVER THE WALLBOARD,
AS OPPOSED TO JUST
DOING THE JOINTS.
RIGHT. NO, THIS PRODUCT
IS DESIGNED
SO YOU COULD EITHER USE
A REGULAR PAINT FINISH,
OR YOU COULD USE
A VENEER PLASTER SYSTEM--
A ONE- OR A TWO-COAT
SYSTEM, YES.
BUT IT'S USUALLY,
BRIAN,
A LOT SIMPLER
AND LESS EXPENSIVE
TO JUST DO WHAT WE'RE
DOING HERE, RIGHT?
AH, YES.
EXACTLY.
AND NOW I'M JUST
COATING THE SCREWS.
2 AT A TIME.
SOMETIMES
YOU DO FIND ONE
THAT HASN'T BEEN
DRIVEN ALL THE WAY IN.
YES, YOU DO
FIND THEM, YES.
LIKE THERE.
AND SO IT'S
A GOOD IDEA
TO KEEP A SCREWDRIVER
WITH YOU,
JUST SO YOU
CAN TIGHTEN THEM
AND AVOID
ANY POP-OUTS.
SO, BRIAN, DO YOU JUST
FILL IN IN THE CORNER
AND PUT IN MORE OF
THE SAME PLASTIC TAPE?
I USE THE PAPER TAPE.
NOW, WHY DO YOU USE
THE PAPER TAPE
IN THE CORNERS?
BECAUSE IT'S
A STRONGER FINISH,
AND YOU'LL HAVE LESS TIME
FOR IT TO CRACK.
WILL YOU USE
THE PAPER TAPE
ALONG THE CEILING
LINE AS WELL?
YES, WE WOULD.
AND NOW, USUALLY
YOU JUST...
I HAVEN'T SEEN
ONE OF THESE BEFORE.
IS THIS SOMEBODY'S
RECENT INVENTION?
IT'S AN INVENTION...
THAT A GENTLEMAN
WHO USED TO WORK FOR US.
AND HE'S COME UP WITH
THIS LITTLE CADDY?
THAT'S NEAT.
AND IT SAVES
SO MUCH TIME.
AND IT LIFTS UP
TO ABOUT 4 FEET.
SO WHEN YOU'RE
ON STILTS OR UP HIGH,
YOU CAN JUST BRING IT
AROUND WITH YOU.
THAT'S TERRIFIC.
SO, THAD,
ONE LAST QUESTION.
USING THIS TYPE
OF A PRODUCT,
WILL IT ADD A LOT
TO THE COST
OF THE TYPICAL
INSTALLATION?
IT'S GOING TO ADD
SOME ADDITIONAL COST
TO THE PRICE
OF THE HOUSE.
OVER A HOUSE
THIS SIZE,
YOU'RE GOING TO ADD
ABOUT $1,500 TO THE PRICE OF IT,
WHICH IS ABOUT A THIRD AGAIN
OF COST TO THE MATERIAL.
SO THERE IS
AN UP-FRONT CHARGE.
ABOUT A BUCK
A SQUARE FOOT HIGHER.
BUT IN THE LONG RUN,
WITH THE PROTECTION
AND THE SAFETY
THAT YOU GET
OF A PRODUCT LIKE THIS,
IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU
A MUCH BETTER FINISH
LONG YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD.
WHAT'S IT GOING
TO DO FOR ME
IN TERMS OF
ENERGY CONSUMPTION?
AS FAR AS ENERGY
CONSUMPTION GOES,
THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF THERMAL VALUE
IN A PIECE OF DRYWALL,
BUT THE SECRET THERE IS
IF YOU GET ANY MOISTURE,
THIS PRODUCT WILL DRY OUT
WITHOUT DELAMINATING
OR EXPANDING
OR CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS
DOWN THE ROAD.
SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO
ANY NASTY REPAIRS
WHERE YOU HAVE TO
TAKE THINGS OUT.
GOOD. THANKS
A LOT, THAD.
THANK YOU.
COMING UP NEXT,
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FEATURES
OF THE WEATHERBEST
DECK AND RAILING SYSTEM.
ALL RIGHT,
THE DECKING IS DOWN,
AND BILL NAUMANN
IS HERE FROM LP
TO TELL US
A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THESE
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
FIRST OF ALL,
THE DECKING ITSELF.
WHAT IS IT?
THE DECKING, BOB,
IS WEATHERBEST
COMPOSITE DECKING,
AND IT'S MADE
FROM WASTED WOOD FIBER
AND HIGH DENSITY
POLYETHYLENE.
IN SIMPLE TERMS,
THE PLASTIC IS
THE SAME PLASTIC THEY
MAKE MILK JUGS OUT OF.
REALLY? SO IT'S ALL
MOLDED TOGETHER.
IT'S GOT A WOOD
GRAIN ON ONE SIDE,
AND IT'S PLAIN
ON THE OTHER.
WE'VE CHOSEN TO PUT
THE WOOD GRAIN SIDE UP.
NOW, WHAT KIND OF
A WARRANTY DOES THIS HAVE?
IT'S GOT
A 10-YEAR WARRANTY.
AND YOU NEVER HAVE
TO PAINT IT, RIGHT?
NEVER HAVE TO
PAINT IT, SEAL IT.
CLEAN IT PERIODICALLY,
AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
AND IT WON'T TWIST
OR WARP OR DO ANYTHING?
NO. IT DOESN'T
GO THROUGH
THE WEATHERING CYCLES
THAT WOOD WILL GO THROUGH.
SO IT'S NOT ABSORBING WATER
AND DRYING OUT
AND SWELLING
AND SHRINKING.
SO, IN THAT CAPACITY,
YOU WON'T GET
THE SPLITTING AND SHRINKING
THAT YOU GET WITH WOOD.
THAT'S
THE KEY THING.
AND THEN
THE RAILING SYSTEM.
THIS IS WHAT REALLY
CAUGHT MY EYE,
BECAUSE ESPECIALLY
FROM A DISTANCE,
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE FANCY
OLD NEW ENGLAND TRIM.
BUT WHEN YOU GET
UP ON IT, YOU REALIZE
IT'S A MANMADE
PRODUCT AS WELL.
CORRECT. AND THAT'S THE LOOK
THAT WE'RE GOING FOR, BOB.
AND WHAT
THE RAIL SYSTEM IS
IS IT'S WOOD FIBER
MIXED WITH PVC, OR VINYL.
SO WHAT THAT
ENABLES US TO DO,
IS BECAUSE THE SUBSTRUCTURE
IS PVC BASED,
IT ENABLES US
TO CO-EXTRUDE ON TOP
A HIGH-GRADE VINYL.
ALL IN ONE PROCESS?
CORRECT.
WOW. AND IT'S GOT
QUITE A BIT
OF HEFT TO IT.
AND THAT'S THE IDEA
OF THE RAIL,
IS YOU'VE GOT
A LOW-MAINTENANCE RAIL
THAT LOOKS AND FEELS
LIKE WOOD,
BUT YOU GET THE LOW-MAINTENANCE
ASPECT OF VINYL.
SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO PAINT IT.
AND SO, IN TERMS
OF THE INSTALLATION,
WE'VE JUST HAD
THIS SLEEVE BASICALLY
FALL DOWN OVER
THE 4-BY-4 P.T.L. POST,
AND NOW THE RAILING
SECTIONS THEMSELVES...
THEY JUST
ASSEMBLE QUICKLY?
CORRECT. THEY COME
FROM THE FACTORY
WITH THE BOTTOM RAIL
AND THE TOP RAIL PRE-DRILLED
FOR THE BALUSTER SPACING.
THE BALUSTERS
ARE ALSO PRE-DRILLED,
AND ALL THE HARDWARE
COMES IN THE KIT.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE COST
OF THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM?
THIS TYPE OF RAIL SYSTEM,
WHEN YOU FIGURE
A SLEEVE, A SKIRT, A CAP,
AND THE SECTION OF RAIL,
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
$30 A FOOT.
$30 A FOOT?
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY
HOW THAT COMPARES
TO TRADITIONAL LUMBER.
WHEN YOU WERE
TO FIGURE OUT
THE COST OF A CEDAR RAIL,
PLUS PAINTING IT,
IT FALLS PRETTY MUCH
RIGHT IN THE SAME GUIDELINES.
THANKS, BILL.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN
NEXT TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO BE
INSTALLING HARDWOOD FLOORS,
PUTTING IN
THE FRONT DOOR
AS WELL AS SOME
INTERIOR DOORS.
TILL THEN,
I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
|
 | Carpentry, Construction & Materials
• Georgia-Pacific - DensArmor fiberglass faced sheetrock
• Lohr Construction - General Contractor
Decks, Fencing & Outdoor Living
• WEATHERBEST® - Premium Decking and Crystal White Railing
Real Estate
• Housing Assistance Corporation - Delivering safe and stable housing in Cape Cod communities.
Tools & Workshop
• Altim, Inc. - The Accu-Chute Pouring Wheelbarrow
| | > View All Product Resources |
|  |
|
 Related Tips |
|  Related Videos |
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
