 Latitudes® Composite Decking FAQsClick here to request a quote - we offer VERY competitive pricing! FAQs What are Latitudes Composite Decking and Natural Railing made of? It is made of wood and plastic that is extruded for strength. Is there a compatible hidden fastener system?
What is the benefit of using Latitudes Slotted Decking over standard composite decking? Latitudes Slotted Decking comes with a pre-machined groove along the sides of the board to accommodate the Equator Hidden Fastener. The Equator Hidden Fasteners are designed to properly space the boards at ¼”. The screws provided with the Equator Hidden Fastener have black painted heads to greatly reduce the potential glare caused by the sun, keeping the fasteners truly hidden. What colors and styles do Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing come in? Latitudes Decking is available in gray, cedar, redwood and walnut. Latitudes Natural Railing is made of all high-strength composites and is available in gray, cedar, redwood and walnut. Choose from a 6-foot moulded rail boxed kit or a 6-foot 2x4 rail boxed kit. What colors and styles does Latitudes Slotted Decking come in? Latitudes Slotted Decking is available in gray, cedar, redwood and walnut. The decking comes with the sides pre-slotted for use with our Equator Hidden Fastener. What sizes and lengths do Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing come in? Latitudes Decking is available in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths. Additional components include a 1/2" x 8" fascia board, 4" x 4" - 42" post sleeve, handrail, baluster, post cap and color-coordinating hardware kits with color-matched screws. How long will the texture last? Foot traffic, traffic patterns, objects like furniture dragged on the surface, weather exposure, cleaning products used, frequency of cleaning especially with commercial pressure washers (not recommended), will all affect the factory surface finish of Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing.
Yes, Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing will lighten slightly over time to a beautiful weathered tone. This color tone shift is dependent upon exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors. The weathering process begins upon installation and is generally complete within 60 to 90 days. Why is my gray Latitudes deck turning tan? All wood composite decking materials fade when exposed to UV light from the sun. Latitudes can experience some color shifting as it goes through this mellowing process. Tan or greenish gray hues from the natural wood fiber contained in the product are often noticeable as this fading process progresses. Depending on the exposure conditions where a particular deck is built, this acclimation is usually complete within 60 - 90 days from when the Latitudes deck boards were installed. At the end of the fading process the deck appears gray and the tan and/or greenish gray hues are rarely noticeable. Should I purchase all of my decking material at one time? Yes, purchasing all required decking material at one time is recommended as manufacturing runs can produce slightly different colors. Like most composites, individual Latitudes deck boards will have slight color variations from piece to piece. This is due to the natural variations in wood fibers and polymers. Color variation is not covered by warranty. We recommend purchasing extra material in case boards need to be repaired or replaced in the future. Will Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing rot, splinter or decay like wood? No. Latitudes has been tested under accelerated weather conditions and is weather resistant. Does Latitudes Decking provide good traction in wet or dry conditions? Yes, the various finishes of Latitudes Decking provide slip resistance. Will chlorine or other chemicals from a swimming pool damage Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing? While no formal testing has been done, we have not seen or heard of any ill effects from standard pool chemicals. How do varying weather cycles affect Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing during installation? Latitudes performs well in varying weather conditions. During installation, it will contract only slightly in cold weather. In hot weather it expands. We recommend that the material is on the job site 48 hours prior to installation to acclimate. Follow the installation instructions spacing guidelines to ensure proper room for expansion and contraction. How should Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing be stored and handled? You can store it the same way you would store any wood product. What are the main differences between Latitudes Decking and Railing and other composite decking products? Latitudes is a versatile composite decking and railing product line. Latitudes Decking is available in four colors (Cedar, Gray, Redwood and Walnut). Latitudes Natural Railing is available in several styles to suit virtually any decking project. Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing offer long-lasting beauty, low maintenance and easy installation. What are the main differences between Latitudes Slotted Decking and other composite decking products? Latitudes is a versatile composite decking and railing product line. Our Equator Hidden Fastener allows for the expansion and contraction on the length and width that naturally occurs on composites. Latitudes Slotted Decking and Natural Railing is available in four colors (Cedar, Gray, Redwood and Walnut), a reversible finish deck board and several railing styles to suit virtually any decking project. Latitudes Slotted Decking and Natural Railing offers long-lasting beauty, low-maintenance and easy installation. What is the difference between Latitudes Slotted Composite Decking and wood? Latitudes Slotted Decking combines the look of wood with the durability of plastic. Unlike wood decks which require continuous maintenance, there is no need to apply weather protectants or water seal products to Latitudes Slotted Decking. Latitudes Slotted Decking will not splinter like wood and installs with our Equator Hidden Fastener to provide a barefoot-friendly surface. What is the benefit of using solid composite decking over hollow composite decking? It is easier to work with a solid product because it frames like wood and feels more substantial on the deck. What is the difference between Latitudes Composite Decking and Natural Railing and wood? Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing combine the look of wood with the durability of plastic. Unlike wood decks which require continuous maintenance, there is no need to apply weather protectants or water seal products to Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing. Why is composite decking more expensive than treated wood? Composite decking is more expensive to manufacture. However, over time, the maintenance, repair and or replacement costs associated with wood outweigh the initial investment in a Latitudes deck. Do Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing come with a warranty? Yes. We have a 15-year limited warranty against splintering, corrosion, or becoming structurally unfit due to rot, split, warp, cupping, checks, or damage caused by termites or fungal decay. Why do the deck boards need to be installed facing the same direction? The appearance of this product changes when viewed from different ends. To achieve the most consistent color, install all of the boards in the same direction using the product end tags as a point of reference or install all of the boards with the arrows on the product stickers pointing in the same direction. Installing boards in opposing directions will create contrasting light and dark shades of the deck board color and is not covered under warranty. Do I need special tools to install Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing? Conventional tools can be used with Latitudes for cutting, drilling, and fastening. For your safety remember to wear protective clothing and safety glasses. What do I use to cut Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing? The same tools used to cut pressure-treated wood can be used to cut Latitudes. We recommend using a sharp, carbide-tipped saw blade. Do you recommend pre-drilling and countersinking when fastening Latitudes Decking? Yes, we recommend pre-drilling and countersinking. It is not required; however, the best results for ease of fastening and appearance of the finished project are achieved by pre-drilling and countersinking prior to driving screws. Wood decking is not as dense as Latitudes. Screws driven into wood decking crush the wood fiber and self countersink. Screws driven into Latitudes displace the material causing it to mushroom around the screw head. Most consumers do not like the resulting appearance using this installation method. Installers feel that extra time and labor is a cost to them. Many of the pros who have worked with Latitudes felt the same but they have found how pleased the homeowner was with the job by following the recommended fastener application. Major fastener manufacturers produce screws made specifically for composite lumber. Use of these screws will reduce the amount of pre-drilling and countersinking required. Do you recommend pre-drilling and countersinking when fastening Latitudes Slotted Decking? The Equator Hidden Fastener eliminates the need to pre-drill and countersink the majority of the deck. The deck perimeter will be secured with screws and we do recommend pre-drilling and countersinking in this instance. It is not required; however, the best results for ease of fastening and appearance of the finished project are achieved by pre-drilling and countersinking prior to driving screws. Wood decking is not as dense as Latitudes Slotted Decking. Screws driven into wood decking crush the wood fiber and self countersink. Screws driven into Latitudes displace the material causing it to mushroom around the screw head. Most consumers do not like the resulting appearance using this installation method. Installers feel that extra time and labor is a cost to them. Many of the pros who have worked with Latitudes felt the same; but, they have found how pleased the homeowner was with the job by following the recommended fastener application. Major fastener manufacturers produce screws made specifically for composite lumber. Use of these screws will reduce the amount of pre-drilling and countersinking required. What type of fasteners and nails are recommended with Latitudes Decking and Railing? For ease of installation, we recommend using 2-1/2” corrosion-resistant, composite wood deck screws (i.e. TrapEase™ by OMG, SplitStop™ by Titan Metal Werks). These screws help prevent the common "mushroom" effect that sometimes occurs when using standard fasteners. It can also reduce the amount of pre-drilling and countersinking. If using ordinary coarse-thread deck screws, the best results are achieved by pre-drilling a pilot hole and countersinking prior to driving screws. What type of fasteners and nails are recommended with Latitudes Slotted Decking? The Equator hidden fastener was designed for use with Latitudes Slotted Decking and simply sets into the pre-grooved slot in the side of the board. Where screws are needed, we recommend using 2-1/2” corrosion-resistant, composite wood deck screws (i.e. TrapEase™ by OMG, SplitStop™ by Titan Metal Werks) for ease of installation. These screws help prevent the common "mushroom" effect that sometimes occurs when using standard fasteners. It can also reduce the amount of pre-drilling and countersinking. If using ordinary coarse thread deck screws, the best results are achieved by pre-drilling a pilot hole and countersinking prior to driving screws. Can I use a nail gun to install Latitudes Composite Decking? We do not recommend using nails or a nailer when installing Latitudes Composite Decking. The material is very dense and getting nails to penetrate to a proper depth without bending can be a challenge. A bigger issue concerns the fastening on the end of the boards. We recommend that all holes be pre-drilled to help reduce mushrooming. Also, it is necessary to pre-drill the end of the boards to avoid splitting. When using nails or a nailer the concern is that the ends would not be pre-drilled and possibly lead to cracking and splitting. Can I rout Latitudes composite deck boards? Yes. Latitudes deck boards are easier to rout than wood and provide a sharp, clean edge. What glue works well with Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing? Glue is a supplemental adhesive and should never replace a fastener, especially in structural applications. Heavy-duty construction adhesive can be used, but we recommend testing on a small portion of your deck before using the adhesive throughout your whole application. What joist spans should I use for my deck when using Latitudes Decking? In residential applications, Latitudes Decking should be installed on joists spaced 16" on-center when the deck is running perpendicular to the support joists. Decks running on a diagonal pattern should be installed on joists spaced 12" on-center. Can I hide the Slotted deck board groove at the edge of the deck? Several methods may be used to conceal the grooved board edges. This is easiest achieved by raising the fascia to cover the board edge. Another way is to “picture frame” the entire deck. The best appearance will be achieved by miter-cutting the deck corners. Install the outside deck boards allowing them to overhang the deck framing. Snap a chalk line flush with or up to 1-1/2” from the deck framing and trim with a circular saw. Rout the edges for a smooth rounded edge if desired. Does Latitudes Decking require gapping between boards? Yes. Latitudes Decking must be gapped at the ends to allow for expansion and contraction and gapped between boards for water runoff. At the ends of the deck boards, allow a minimum of 1/16” gap for every 20 degrees F° of difference between the installation temperature and the hottest temperature expected. Allow a 1/4” gap between the deck boards and between all decking and any permanent structure or post for water runoff. How much space is recommended for proper ventilation underneath a deck? A clear 2" space between the bottom edge of the joists and grade is recommended to allow proper ventilation. Can I put Latitudes Decking over a concrete patio? Yes, you can install Latitudes Decking over a concrete patio. We recommend that you use 2x6s standing vertical on edge as support joists over the concrete. Next, fasten the decking to the support joists. Be sure to allow a 1/4" gap between the long edges of the deck boards. Drainage and ventilation are necessary for best product performance; therefore, we recommend shims to level the deck that allow a clear 2" space between the bottom edge of the joists and the concrete. Does Latitudes Composite Decking and Natural Railing meet building code requirements? Latitudes Composite Decking, manufactured by UFP Ventures II, Inc., has been evaluated by ICC-ES to be code compliant with details listed under the ESR-1573 Evaluation report. Latitudes Natural composite railing has been evaluated by engineers at an independent third party test laboratory. The results demonstrate Latitudes Natural railing, when installed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, complies with ICC-ES AC174-06, section 5.1 for use as a guardrail system. Can Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing be used for structural applications? No. While Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing provide superior surface integrity and strength, they are not suitable for structural applications. Can Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing be used for building a dock? Latitudes Decking can be used as dock planking, but it cannot be used for any structural support members. Latitudes deck boards should be installed on joists spaced 16" o.c. Some docks are built with supports 24" on-center or greater. This would need to be adjusted when using Latitudes. Latitudes decking can be used provided that it is not continually submerged in water. Can Latitudes Decking be used as planters or edging? Latitudes Decking is not recommended for ground contact applications. It is designed to be used as a deck surface only. Can Latitudes Slotted Decking be used for building a dock? Latitudes Slotted Decking can be used as dock planking, but it cannot be used for any structural support members. Latitudes Slotted deck boards should be installed on joists spaced 16" o.c. and each board should be fastened with 2 screws through the face of the deck board at each end. Some docks are built with supports 24" o.c. or greater, this would need to be adjusted when using Latitudes. Latitudes decking can be used provided that it is not continually submerged in water. Care and Cleaning How do I clean and maintain Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing? Periodic washing with soap and water is necessary to remove surface dirt and chalk, which accumulate on the surface. This will also prevent the build-up of pollen and debris that can cause mold and mildew growth. Pressure washers should be used for wetting and rinsing only. Pressure washers should not be used to “blast-off” soiling agents; attempting to do so can drive the dirt deeper into the material. Test on an inconspicuous area before washing the entire deck. Basic Deck Cleaning Agents: Deck wash/cleaners usually contain sodium percarbonate and a detergent, which is effective on normal dirt and grime and bleaches out mold and mildew stains. Oxalic acid cleaners are effective on rust stains from metal furniture. Commercial degreasers contain propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, and various detergents for removing grease and oil stains. Spot removers/thinners can be used sparingly on particularly stubborn grease or oil stains but should be washed off quickly with water, as it will attack the grain pattern. They normally include petroleum distillates, xylene, methanol, acetone, or other organic solvents. What do I do if I get stains on Latitudes Decking or Natural Railing? Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing resists accidental staining better than regular wood decking because it is a plastic and wood composite. Many stains can be removed with household cleaners and degreasers. Best results are achieved if you act quickly after staining occurs. Don’t allow stains to penetrate the deck’s surface or bake on under direct sunlight. If you use a barbecue grill on your deck, keep a splatter guard underneath it, as grills are a major source of grease stains and burns. To prevent water from pooling in the surface of the deck and staining it, make sure the deck boards have gaps between them to allow the standing water to drain. How do I repair Latitudes Decking or Natural Railing if they get scratched? Just as wood decking materials can get marred or gouged, the surface of Latitudes can also be scratched. We recommend allowing normal wear marks to fade as they will blend in with the weathered color. If the brushed side of the deck board gets scratched, you can use a wire brush and brush in the same direction as the original grain. In doing so you will expose the non-weathered decking and so will experience a color difference. Replace severely damaged pieces. How do I replace a damaged Slotted deck board? In the event of a damaged board, take out the screws from the board ends. There should be enough space in between the boards to loosen the screws holding the Equator Hidden Fasteners in place. Loosen all of the fasteners on both sides of the length of the board and slide out. Slide the new board in place and tighten down the Equator hidden fasteners. Fasten the new board with two screws at each end through the rim joist. Can Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing be painted or stained? While not recommended, Latitudes can be stained after three months of exposure to various weather conditions. When staining Latitudes, ensure that the stain is intended for use on composite wood products. By choosing to stain Latitudes, a relatively low-maintenance product changes to one that will require more upkeep. Always test a small hidden portion of the deck before staining the entire deck. Painting Latitudes is not recommended as most paints will not adhere to the surface well and will rapidly begin to peel. Composite wood products do not accept paint or stain as well as wood therefore, it will not have the same appearance as painted or stained wood. If I apply stain to my Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing, how long will the stain last? Durability of stain products varies by manufacturer. Exposure to ultraviolet light and surface traffic will also affect the stain's performance. Most manufacturer's literature indicates re-staining about every two years. Do Latitudes Decking and Natural Railing require water sealing? No. Latitudes requires only periodic cleaning with soap and water. Deck sealants are not recommended or required. Can I use ice melt products on Latitudes Decking? We are not aware of any adverse effects from the temporary use of ice melting products on Latitudes decking; however, we recommend using an ice melt product that does not have as harsh of an effect to the surface. These types of ice melt products may indicate "will not harm concrete" or "will not kill grass." Ensure that after the ice and snow melts that you brush off any residual ice melt product. Latitudes Composite Decking | Photo Gallery | Fasteners | FAQs | General Info Click here to request a quote - we offer VERY competitive pricing! Austin Wholesale Decking
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Our Latitudes Slotted Decking features the Equator® Hidden
Fastener which eliminates pre-drilling and automatically spaces the deck boards with the proper gap, making installation quick
and easy. If solid decking is preferred, a biscuit joiner saw can be used to create the slots required for the Equator fastener
to fit into. There are several other brands of hidden fastener systems available that work well with Latitudes. Check with the
fastener manufacturer to ensure suitability for your application.
