Do Cellular Pvc Floor Boards Expand And Contract
Far from being the durable low maintenance product many homeowners hope that it will be pvc trim can lead to several aesthetic and structural problems over time.
Do cellular pvc floor boards expand and contract. On long runs i cut 15 degree or 30 degree scarf joints. Both are resistant to insects and aren t prone to mold or rot. This article covers why the material type and the fastener used need to be considered. I also apply construction adhesive between the subfascia and the pvc in the area of the joint.
Wood moves due to moisture but plastic products will expand and contract with changes in temperature says steve booz vice president of new product development and product management at royal building products. Finally i glue the butt joints. Astm d2241 poly vinyl chloride pvc pressure rated pipe sdr series dimensions dimensions of pvc pipe sdr series. Assembly of shrink fits heating temperatures of shrink fits.
Pvc also called plastic decking can run between 9 38 and 12 40 per square foot while trex composite decking can cost between 11 to 15 per square foot. Deck board spacing is crucial for the looks and health of a deck it s not one size fits all. If it s between 60 and 80 degrees leave a 1 16 in. Builders like cellular pvc trim for a lot of reasons.
There isn t much difference in price between pvc and composite decking either. You don t have to paint it. Astm d2665 standard specification for poly vinyl. Pvc trim boards will expand and contract with wide variations in temperature.
It s lightweight durable and waterproof. Pvc trim is made from a honeycomb cellular structure of polyvinyl chloride. Temperature expansion thermal expansion of pipes and tubes stainless steel carbon steel copper plastics and more. For centuries decks have been constructed using traditional lumber with little regard for proper deck board spacing.
For cellular pvc trim as well as most exterior building products the focus is on linear movement since movement along the product s length is what needs to be controlled especially where there are long runs of trim if your cellular pvc trim is going to move it will be most noticeable in the fascia frieze or rake boards on a house. Below 60 degrees leave a 1 8 in. But it holds paint well. If you re installing trim in temps higher than 80 degrees f cut pieces to fit tightly.
After installation cover the gap with acrylic or. That s not to say pvc trim stays entirely stationary.