Community Chat

[Mom2Dogs]

@SilleeMee Years ago the walkway was wood, so we went to a concrete sidewalk...in hindsight we should have done something different.

Bees and wasps were an issue with the wood decking...and the upkeep.

[SilleeMee]

@Mom2Dogs 

I understand about the wasps! I had a real big nest under my deck last year. Now I'm keeping an eye out under there to make sure they don't start a new nest. I'll knock it down before it gets as big a the basketball-size nest I killed last year! UGH!

[haddon9]

My brother has a Trex deck and it is beautiful!  He didn't install it since it came with the house that he purchased last year.

We have a brick paver patio in the backyard and the back door had brick styled steps going out to the back.  At times they could be precarious when carrying items outside so we decided to replace them before someone got injured.  

We decided to put a small Trex deck which measures 4' x 5' (it's large enough for a large outdoor storage box at one end) with wide steps going down onto the patio.

I think it's a great product!  It can be very expensive but it will hold up very well and still look like new for years...plus you don't have to worry about splinters if you have wood instead.

[Lucky Charm]

The only problem I see is that it would be a raised walkway.  You can't really lay it down flat on the ground without fastening it somehow to stay in place.

We have Trex for our front stairs and landing and a 16 x 20 deck out back.  It holds up to all weather and salt air beautifully.

Have you thought of using huge slates (18" to 36") and making a walkway?  Lots of people have that leading from their front yards to the back yards along the sides of the house so they aren't going over their impervious ground allowance.  I have a couple for a seating area (9'x9') and I think their beatiful.

[YanksFan]

I have a TREX deck that is approximately 15 years old and it still looks new.  It is durable and easy to clean.  I don't regret the extra cost at all.  It is great.

[SilleeMee]

I was tired of spending money paying someone to keep restaining my old deck. I used to do that every other year and the cost kept going up. Finally after a bad hailstorm wrecked that old deck, I decided it was time for TREX and I never looked back. Got the entire old deck torn down and a brand new one built from the ground up. 

[snipsnapsnur]

How long is the walkway?  My husband is a deck builder and he said price-wise, depending on how long the sidewalk is, you'd spend less putting in a new concrete sidewalk.  Putting down TREX, involves using 2 x 4's along the sides, putting rebar into the 2 x 4's to secure to the ground, then a moisture barrier, then the TREX secured into the 2 x 4's.  And you'd have to dig out the walkway in order to do this if you want it level with the existing ground.

***I think I remembered all the steps he said.

[FlyersGirl]

@Mom2Dogs 

Last year we had the front porch replaced with TREX. I love it as it looks beautiful, is easy to keep clean and will last a long time.

That said, please know that TREX can be very slippery when wet. While my front porch is coverd, depending on the direction of wind/rain it gets wet. I purchased a rug for under the 2 rockers and table that are on the porch and a non slip runner that I secure with welcome mats at either end that I placed at the entryway. I was concerned about USPS/FedX etc mail and deliveries that are placed by my front door. I don't want the delivery person slipping if it is wet. I also don't want to slip going in and out the front door. 

[SilleeMee]

@FlyersGirl 

I've never experienced my TREX deck getting slippery when wet. Mine has texture like deep woodgrain and that makes it not slippery.

[Mom2Dogs]

@snipsnapsnur    Well darn, sounds like TREX will be out of bounds for us.  I really did not want to tear out the existing sidewalk and the product sounds really expensive...

Can you ask your hubby if it is possible to do a stamped concrete over top our existing concrete sidewalk....I have even thought about a finish over top....something 'similar' to what is put down over the concrete floor in a garage.