Architectural Details Direct - 903-356-2158

AZEK - BEADBOARD - WATERPROOF
For areas with frequent direct water contact, such as inside a tub or shower stall, we ONLY recommend AZEK PVC. This MIRACLE material will never rot, cup, split, twist, or warp. It is impervious to moisture, salt, and insects.

For the surface to be truly waterproof, you will need to waterproof the seam between each board by running a continuous thin bead of waterproof caulk into each groove immediately before installation.

AZEK - CLEANING
AZEK can be cleaned using liquid soaps such as dish or car wash. For "spot cleaning", you might try using Barkeeper's Friend, found in most grocery stores, similar to Comet. Rinse with water.

Avoid abrasive cleaners. Cleaners containing abrasives can permanently dull the surface.

AZEK - DECKING - RUBBER MAT DISCOLORATION
AZEK Customer Help recommends using a heat gun for this type of discoloration. They recommend the heat gun be on low setting and keep heat 3" from surface using a constant back and forth motion.

Let us know how this works! We're eager to help in any way we can.

AZEK - NAIL HOLES
Filling nail holes is not necessary for the performance of AZEK Trimboards; especially if using a high quality fastener such as stainless steel or hot dipped galvanized.

A good way to aesthetically cover nail holes is to fill them as listed below and to then give the project a coat of paint. The painting is for cosmetic reasons only. If you do not wish to paint, you should be aware that "white" does not always mean the same "white" and you might want to color test a smear of the caulk and let it dry before applying it to your Trim.

AZEK, our PVC manufacturer, recommends using any polyurethane or acrylic based caulk or exterior spackle to fill nail holes, gaps and joints. If painting, bondo will work for filling nail holes.

Silicone based caulks are not recommended as they do not adhere well to AZEK PVC.

AZEK - PAINTING
AZEK products do not require paint for protection, but accept and hold paint very well. AZEK may be painted to achieve a custom color using a 100% acrylic latex paint with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of 55 or higher. For darker colors (LRV of 54 or lower), paints specifically designed for such applications must be used, such as Sherwin-Williams VinylSafe coatings.

Follow the paint manufacturers recommendations to apply. No special surface preparations are required prior to painting just ensure the AZEK surfaces are clean and dry.

Moisture cycling is a main reason for paint failure on wood. Since AZEK absorbs no moisture, paint last longer on AZEK than on wood. However, paint may also take longer to cure on AZEK. Generally, paint will be dry to the touch quickly and hard to scrap off in a few days, but may take up to 30 days to fully cure, depending on the humidity and temperature.

AZEK - PORCH BOARD INSTALLATION
Low-maintenance surface resists stains, moisture, mold, mildew, scuffs, scratching, and fading. AZEK Porch is by far your best choice in porch flooring. Over the life of the product it is also your least expensive choice!

Since all installations are unique, it is the sole responsibility of the installer to determine specific requirements in regards to each porch application. Best practice is to have all porch designs reviewed by a licensed architect, engineer or local building official before installation.

Typical Installation Guidelines: Most porch flooring is laid perpendicular to the wall of the house, (or to the longest wall if it is enclosed on one or both ends) and with the ends of the Porch Boards facing out. Some porches are laid parallel to the house and some are laid at an angle. Which ever pattern you choose, the Porch Boards will have to lay across the joists.

If Porch Planks will be installed across joists at a 90° angle, joists should be spaced at a maximum of 16" center to center. If installing Planks at a 45° angle to the joists, they should be spaced on 12 centers. Joists should provide a proper slope away from the house to facilitate drainage. A 1/4 drop per foot is recommended. Adequate structural support must be used under Porch Boards wherever load bearing Posts and Columns are being used.

If using AZEK Porch Boards on an existing porch, remove existing flooring and make sure joists are structurally sound, free of nails and with proper spacing and slope. Items related to stair construction, structural framing or any other general construction questions should be reviewed with the local code authority, engineer, or architect.

More Porch Board Installation Details.

View and order AZEK Porch Boards (Samples too!)

AZEK - Trimboards
AZEK Trimboards is the only brand of trim to hold a building code report (ESR-1074). It is used for all non-load bearing exterior trim applications, such as soffits, fascia, window and door trim and beadboard ceilings. Low-maintenance and easily worked with regular woodworking tools, AZEK Trimboards resist moisture and insects and will not rot, warp or decay.

EXTERIOR - RECOMMENDATIONS
AZEK Brand Cellular PVC (synthetic "wood") is our first choice for exterior use, and most of our products are available in this MIRACLE material. It will never rot, cup, split, twist, or warp. It is impervious to moisture, salt and insects. AZEK Cellular PVC has most of the good qualities of real wood but none of wood's maintenance requirements. And, unless you tell, no one will know it's not real wood! Read more and order Samples.

Our second material choice for exterior use is Cypress. The U.S. Forest Service ranks Cypress among the top woods for ease of keeping well painted and for resistance to cupping and checking (weathering issues). It accepts and holds stain or paint very well, and is very weather resistant. Read more.

Cedar and Redwood are also good exterior woods. Our Western Red Cedar has a smooth surface and only a few small, tight knots. Please do not confuse our premium Cedar with the rough, knotty Cedar available at most lumber yards and home centers. Western Red Cedar holds paint well and is very weather resistant. However, it is relatively brittle when used for thinner scrollwork items. Therefore, we do not offer our scrollwork items in 3/4" thick Cedar.

Redwood also holds paint well and is very weather resistant. However, Redwood's more open grain can produce a slightly rougher edge cut when used for scrollwork. Like Cedar, Redwood is relatively soft and is somewhat brittle. Also, the Redwood now available includes both red and blonde wood within the same board. Previously All Heart grade (heartwood) boards were available and were almost entirely red. More recently the trees necessary to produce All Heart grade are simply not available to the saw mills.

The U. S. Forest Service ranks Poplar, a hardwood, as stronger and denser than Pine. It is a good all around wood but lacks the special decay-resistant qualities of Cedar, Cypress, or Redwood and will require more frequent painting than the choices.