You can use decking clips for the installation, so you don't have to fasten through the surface. This system also allows for improved expansion and contraction tolerance of the decking surface, because an 8-foot piece may expand or contract ¹/₄ inch over a 50 degree F temperature change. If the deck material is installed at 50 degrees F and the temperature increases to 100 degrees F, the material will expand ¹/₄ inch. Because of ReSource's minimal shrinkage, you can build a deck without the usual gaps between the boards.

The T&G boards aren't 100 percent watertight, so water will either run through or run off. Any water left on the surface is really beneficial since the product actually provides better traction when it's wet than when it's coated with dry dust. If safety is a concern, check out their anti-skid surface, applied at the factory or in the field.

Re-Source products aren't designed for use as supporting members or joists. If you use them in a railing system, place blocks under the bottom rails and between the posts (not more than 3 feet apart) to prevent sagging during hot weather. Install the ³/₄ x 5¹/₂-inch decking material on a joist system that's 12 inches on center. Bridge the joists with blocking material to tightly secure the entire framing system.

The company has introduced a 20-gauge galvanized joist system for their decking. There are two main profiles that make up the system – the "U" that measures 2¹/₂ x 6 inches and the "C" that measures 2 x 6¹/₁₆ inches. The ledger board and rim joist use the "C" channel, while the joist uses the "U" channel. I've never used a "U" channel for a joist, but I see the potential for standing water inside the channel. I've been told that this isn't generally a problem. If standing water does become an issue, you can drill small weep holes into the "U" channel on the underside. The manufacturer recommends spacing joists no more than 12 inches on center and a distance of not more than 8 feet between beams. Use a friction blade to cut the galvanized steel profile, then apply galvanized steel primer to all cuts.

You can construct beams using both profiles. Fit the "U" channel on the inside of the "C" profile and fasten them together through the top and bottom face of the "C" and into the two flanges of the "U" with #8 self-tapping screws.

This product may attractively coordinate with a mobile home or a home with vinyl siding. It comes in weathered redwood, light oak, cedar, gray, and white, allowing your customers to create color accents that enhance their home. When fastening through the surface, use their color-coordinated screws.

The manufacturer recommends white for the railing system (with matching screws) but not for the decking surface. White will show dirt very quickly, requiring regular washing with soap and water. White decks also have a greater tendency to reflect light than darker decking material. Of course, this depends on the location of the deck with relation to the sun. Don't rule white out entirely. In some cases, it just may be what the surrounding area needs, and white is much cooler to walk on barefoot. The vital questions are: "What's important to your customer?" and "What's right for the situation?"

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