Balau Deck

[Winchester]

Installing some hardwood from Southeast Asia.

Glue and screw from underneath with the deckster brackets.

This is a re-skin and working here with a deck that isn't exactly square. (It was out nearly an inch)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FtEzCIBIMBo/Tdy8Ppzv-oI/AAAAAAAAB_I/FNGpbYUh2xY/s640/image02.jpg

Tear off time

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zCakwSjfUlg/Tdy8Pgn0gyI/AAAAAAAAB_M/7M082B38nL0/image01.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-twBg9Xb68A4/Tdy8QmY1THI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/VsPSJnIHCGE/image05.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AD9YC2CBzfA/Tdy8PkwSZvI/AAAAAAAAB_E/NSbcYdmcsCQ/image03.jpg

There is NO walking on this guy's lawn...

[Winchester]

Joist spacing was completely random...

Also redid two parts

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J9D8dmBi4YE/Tdy9bASzwTI/AAAAAAAAB_c/ohyE6nS34IU/image06-b.jpg

working under a tarp because it was raining for a few days.

here's a pic of my helper. good help is hard to find these days. (Just kidding he is a hard worker.)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_AR9rW42zw0/Teu8ocZiW-I/AAAAAAAACB8/HkeflZlYMSc/s912/IMG_20110604_094208.jpg

[Leo G]

This wood gotta name?

Looks like good progress.

[Winchester]

This wood gotta name?

Looks like good progress.
It is Balau (http://www.horizon-custom-homes.com/Balau.html). A type of Shorea hardwood (a.k.a. Meranti, I think?)

Many economically important timber trees belong to Shorea. They are sold under various trade names including "Meranti", "Lauan" (or "Luan"), "Lawaan", "Seraya", "Balau", and "Bangkirai".

The alluringly-named "Philippine Mahogany" sold in North America is not a mahogany at all, but actually a mixture of woods from the genus Shorea. More properly, the name 'Philippine Mahogany' is applied to Toona calantas and not to wood from the genus Shorea.

Image sequence is deceiving. I've been there over a week, though I'll be done tomorrow (knock on Balau). I've got more photos but waiting for responses and interest in the thread before posting.

[Leo G]

Grazi/Chinkuya.......

[Dusty]

Since when do you care about our interest and responses before posting anything?

POST 'EM UP!

[WarriorWithWood]

Lookin Good Ryan. Are you rounding over all the cut edges?

[Blue]

Why can't you walk on the lawn?

[afkama]

We are just finishing up a deck out of this same material.

http://www.austinwholesaledecking.com/red_balau/red_balau_lg.jpg

I really like this stuff. I'm the only contractor here that I know of that uses it.
It looks a lot better than IPE which is what everyone else uses. Balau is half the price.

It will easily span 24" centers with a 1x6. Put a clear sealer on it and it has a mahogany like appearance.

We used the Kreg deck fastening system for the first time which was also pretty slick.

I highly recommend using anchor seal on the end cuts to avoid checking.

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

[Winchester]

Why can't you walk on the lawn?

because he was very adamant about that... no walking on the lawn or through the bushes to get under the deck.

sprinklers come on every day at around 12:30p.m. too, to water the landscaping. gotta be careful not to get wet! :rolleyes3:

[Winchester]

Lookin Good Ryan. Are you rounding over all the cut edges?
yep. 1/8" roundover bit to match the rest

[Winchester]

We are just finishing up a deck out of this same material.

http://www.austinwholesaledecking.com/red_balau/red_balau_lg.jpg

I really like this stuff. I'm the only contractor here that I know of that uses it.
It looks a lot better than IPE which is what everyone else uses. Balau is half the price.

It will easily span 24" centers with a 1x6. Put a clear sealer on it and it has a mahogany like appearance.

We used the Kreg deck fastening system for the first time which was also pretty slick.

I highly recommend using anchor seal on the end cuts to avoid checking.

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

I'm really liking it as well! Can't say the same about the deckster brackets though.

[Winchester]

Since when do you care about our interest and responses before posting anything?

POST 'EM UP!Don't like threads full of posts only by me!

Anyway, here's some more until I get some nice ones tomorrow.

Started at the house (opposite of what most guys do, I guess.)

Full first board.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A37JoQfQpKE/Teu835UfzoI/AAAAAAAACCE/Wvo7K_JhkCc/s640/IMG_20110604_094147.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CiL2UB6Jfyk/Teu9APzNBSI/AAAAAAAACCM/miERo0BoJyc/s640/IMG_20110604_094200.jpg

and this is how I get a full end board and also compensate the decking to make up for the 1" out-of-square framing with the house on the outside edge.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lfEdutfWVCA/Teu8eNkW0LI/AAAAAAAACB4/1aIUMlaG4xs/s912/IMG_20110605_102509.jpg

Space it all out with shims so the gaps appear even. Then I screw down the middle boards and do half at a time.

[Winchester]

Grazi/Chinkuya.......

Gesundheit!

[RCP]

Beautiful! How do you finish it?

[Winchester]

Beautiful! How do you finish it?

http://www.messmers.com/can_uh.gif

[afkama]

I'm really liking it as well! Can't say the same about the deckster brackets though.

The Kreg system works as advertised:

iTBG29lzKys

[Winchester]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vmqNO43Ro1I/Te2BAuftUmI/AAAAAAAACC4/7CxOChDca-Y/s800/IMG_20110606_153422.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-31KacT3dl8s/Te2LISciCfI/AAAAAAAACC8/on5HEcr5siw/s800/IMG_20110606_153415.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NnlSnHSNCMc/Te2LiAEMjOI/AAAAAAAACDU/4yPZWww_-tQ/s800/IMG_20110606_153348.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o1XISv8iZc8/Te2MbXxcxbI/AAAAAAAACDk/y8PZ2MyDHSM/s800/IMG_20110606_153447.jpg

[Winchester]

stair tread upsell :)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-04P6y7lkQ7A/TaYoYHTC2HI/AAAAAAAAB2w/bZ4xWZkrzIE/s640/IMG_20110402_134746.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QMit6T28I64/Te2LwVoY77I/AAAAAAAACDc/Iufs9_-OWjc/s800/IMG_20110606_153326.jpg

[Winchester]

The Kreg system works as advertised:

iTBG29lzKys

Do you see the screws? When I looked at it previously I remember thinking that you'd see the screws in the side of the decking

[DavidC]

Nice work Ryan. Beautiful wood to boot.

Good Luck
Dave

[Leo G]

Why do you put a space between the miters? That makes it look odd to me.

[Winchester]

Why do you put a space between the miters? That makes it look odd to me.

because over time they generally open up on the inside at the heels and look like sh*t so I just gap them

[Absolute Basements]

Great job.
Good for you for working within this guys constraints.

[Greg from K/W]

That looks great Ryan. Nice work buddy.

[afkama]

Do you see the screws? When I looked at it previously I remember thinking that you'd see the screws in the side of the decking

You can see them if you are really looking for them, but the casual observer wouldn't notice. They are inserted below the eased edge of the decking.
I've yet to see a 'hidden' fastener that was really hidden that wasn't also a labor nightmare.

I'm scheduled for a meeting out there on Thurs so I'll get some pictures then.

[deckman]

We are just finishing up a deck out of this same material.

http://www.austinwholesaledecking.com/red_balau/red_balau_lg.jpg

I really like this stuff. I'm the only contractor here that I know of that uses it.
It looks a lot better than IPE which is what everyone else uses. Balau is half the price.

It will easily span 24" centers with a 1x6. Put a clear sealer on it and it has a mahogany like appearance.

We used the Kreg deck fastening system for the first time which was also pretty slick.

I highly recommend using anchor seal on the end cuts to avoid checking.

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

Beautiful deck Winchester.

I'll agree it's nice looking wood, at least when it's new. I wouldn't say it looks a lot better than ipe tho.

[RCP]

Scott just wrote a blog about IPE/Hardwoods you be interested in. (http://topcoatreview.com/2011/06/09/tis-the-season-for-ipe-finishing/)

[Winchester]

Beautiful deck Winchester.

I'll agree it's nice looking wood, at least when it's new. I wouldn't say it looks a lot better than ipe tho.

but for less money and with the appearance comparison being debatable it is a viable choice for your deck material....

[Winchester]

Finished.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-doHtj0AwJz4/TgKuZj6ekoI/AAAAAAAACIs/5k3zrFiD69U/002.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DbgUakJ-fVo/TgKubEwDkYI/AAAAAAAACI0/eshqWfQqYUw/004.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fvkmKJpQlf0/TgKud8_wyzI/AAAAAAAACI8/5-iM8Cw3ZEs/pan-01.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8xf64EBZslc/TgKueBXMXhI/AAAAAAAACJA/HitMtATO-ac/006.jpg

[Winchester]

More...

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QEBh199OGrk/TgKueKPOEwI/AAAAAAAACJE/mr2yEKkH3eI/pan-02.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7SNwk12Vb-o/TgKufa5c9cI/AAAAAAAACJI/mxuQKr2a-cM/pan-03.jpg

[WarriorWithWood]

I like the treads, are they metal stringers? All that money on decking and nothing on the rails huh?

VERY nice work.

[RCP]

Beautiful! The pictures turned out very nice as well, with the landscape, it really evokes a "feel".

[Winchester]

I like the treads, are they metal stringers? All that money on decking and nothing on the rails huh?

VERY nice work.

Yup, steel stringers. I used resawn cedar for the treads

[IamIronman]

I like the treads, are they metal stringers? All that money on decking and nothing on the rails huh?

VERY nice work.

I was thinking the same thing.

Ryan that deck is beautiful!

They need some rails to match. (Not too mention they're not to code.)
I know a guy...:laugh3:

[Winchester]

I was thinking the same thing.

Ryan that deck is beautiful!

They need some rails to match. (Not too mention they're not to code.)
I know a guy...:laugh3:

Good luck convincing the owner. :laugh4:

[WarriorWithWood]

Ryan, do you think that wood will hold a coat of paint? I need some 1 pc treads that will last outside. The original tread was made from either redwood or cedar and it didn't last, 15 yrs and it's done. I was thinking ipe but I dont think paint will grab that too well.

[Leo G]

15 years and it should be replaced anyway..

[afkama]

Ryan, do you think that wood will hold a coat of paint? I need some 1 pc treads that will last outside. The original tread was made from either redwood or cedar and it didn't last, 15 yrs and it's done. I was thinking ipe but I dont think paint will grab that too well.

We sealed the deck we just did with a water based sealer.

The mfr suggests letting the wood weather for a week or two before sealing. I'm assuming this is because the wood contains a lot of resins so they want to let those leech out of the surface. This wood is in the same family as Teak.

You might want to wipe it with alcohol before you paint it.

Even unsealed the mfr we purchased the product from warranted the decking against rot for 30 years.

[IamIronman]

Good luck convincing the owner. :laugh4:

I'd ask for their number so I could try. :laugh3:

But since US/Canadian realtions are on such tenuous terms over the...boat incident...right now, I'll let it slide this time.;)

Seriously, though, I really like your work.:2thumbsup:

[Bodger]

I know a contractor who puts Pennefin or whatever sealer he's using on all four sides of the Balau or Ipe boards prior to installation. Says it reduces possibility of cupping. Any thoughts on this?

(Other than the boards are a slippery mess when you're working with them this way)

[afkama]

We offer it as an option for our clients, but I'm ambivalent about it. Sealing the deck becomes a maintenance issue. I haven't found one yet that can get through an entire season in our climate without needing a recoat.

The last deck we did we used a sealer that guaranties the deck will retain it's color for 2 years. We'll see. I'm skeptical.

If there is good airflow under the deck, leaving it as bare wood should be fine. It will grey out within a few years though. That is the route most of my clients go.

Balau is very rot and mold resistant so that isn't an issue.

[Bodger]

I figured as much.
Besides, whatever you put on the bottom side is going to oxidize out in a year or less anyway.

[Winchester]

Sorry I missed your post Dennis...

No idea how paint would fare.

I've had no problems painting cedar. However, the only experience I have had with painted treads is ripping them out.

[Winchester]

I know a contractor who puts Pennefin or whatever sealer he's using on all four sides of the Balau or Ipe boards prior to installation. Says it reduces possibility of cupping. Any thoughts on this?
I think it would help since it would force the boards to dry more evenly.

If the top is treated and the bottom isn't, then I would think the bottom can dry out faster than the top and therefore cause the boards to cup.

The stain I usually use is breathable and so reduces the issue.

Honestly if your decking is face-screwed and well ventilated I don't think you'd have any noticeable issues either way and coating all sides would be overkill

[WarriorWithWood]

Sorry I missed your post Dennis...

No idea how paint would fare.

I've had no problems painting cedar. However, the only experience I have had with painted treads is ripping them out.

No problen. I'm going with a proven material. Mahogany.

[Bodger]

Have you ever.....

Left a bunch of gear on a freshly installed but not oiled Balau deck, and then realized the sun has faded the decking slightly everywhere except where your gear was? It leaves the most fascinating shapes from the tool boxes, and where the extension cords were there are serpentine imprints.

Luckily, the panic is short-lived because the Pennefin covers the whole thing and evens it out, but it's a bad few minutes until you find that out.

And have you ever:

Applied the Pennefin, and then walked on very finely finished cement pavers with your oily boots and left horrendous footprints and smears? And then begged the housekeeper for Comet cleanser and a brush?

Alas, as of today, I can say I have.

[Leo G]

Same thing with Cherry. It gets a sunburn. If you leave something on it, it will leave the shadow there. I am always worried about bringing Cherry pcs over to their final destination while the sun is blaring. Just waiting for that horizon stripe to show.

But even if it did, it would fade with a little time.

[Bodger]

I was shitting myself when I moved the gear. I had just experienced the euphoria of driving the last screw into the last deck tread, and decided to move my gear and step back and see the beauty of my fine craftsmanship.

Absolute horror. Looked like someone spilled spaghetti where my cords had been.

[Leo G]

It gets lighter when it is sunstruck?

Cherry gets darker, but the same effect.

[Winchester]

It gets lighter when it is sunstruck?I noticed it gets a little more "golden" from the sun

[Bodger]

It gets lighter when it is sunstruck?

Cherry gets darker, but the same effect.

You're right, I worded it incorrectly. The areas where the gear was were lighter, the areas that had been hit by the sun were darker. Markedly so, I thought I would have to wait to put the oil on because it has a UV inhibitor.

But, as soon as that oil hit it, everything evened out.