tendura porch boards

[s.kelly]

A neighbor had a porch collapse near the door, and came by one evening in a huff as he had started demo, but was not suire what to do.
Long story short, I got involved and fixed the structure the jackleg before me had done. Now we need flooring. It has what I believe is called tendura on it now. Tounge and groove, pressed particle material. Not the same dimensions as wood or plastics currently available. And it seems there were lawsuits for this tedura stuff and I can't find it. Any suggestions?
He would rather not redeck the whole thing. Probably only 4' across and 10' long, but with no source, we are sunk.

[rodpaine]

I have a Tendura porch floor and have information about who bought them out and other reports about Tendura failures. Go here and scroll down the page a bit to the Tendura info.
Hope this helps,
-Rod

[s.kelly]

excellent,thanks for the info.

[rodpaine]

excellent,thanks for the info.

You're welcome. While I or Mr. Wine have not seen any of these failed Tendura installations in person, we do suspect, having seen several other failed porch floor installations, it's most likely due to faulty installation and/or weak framing. Our framing was done with 2x8s on 10-inch centers, as were the other Tendura installations Mr. Wine did in the area. Also, because of our porch floor height above ground, it gets excellent ventilation, versus some I've seen practically sitting on the ground. Here's our before and during new framing... no longer has a trampoline feel, when you walk across it.
Good luck with your project.
-Rod

[S Melissa]

rodpaine - really great project - the porch turned out very nice - the brick walkway makes all the difference!

I have a Tendura porch - covered facing the west (prevailing wind). It's been on for about 6-7 yrs now and has been literally perfect. I love it. My front porch - also covered - is rotting away - not to mention the fun things the paint is doing! I'm hoping I can get the front replaced in a year or two with Tendura - I will have to read the complaints that Rod Paine mentioned - but I have NO COMPLAINTS for my experience. It does get plenty of ventilation - if that's an issue.

For a period of time - there were a few contributors here that used Ipe - I had to learn about this - but apparently it is wood - from Ironwood trees or something like that - and it is allegedly just indestructible. Now - more costly - for sure - but in the long run it will outlast fir/cedar etc by far. It might be worth the look!

[s.kelly]

This one I am helping with had no decking problems, the framing was done by an idiot best I can tell. Good ventilation etc,so no worries if I can help him find a source. I can see with too much moisture this stuff would not be an ideal candidate. Thin and particlewood

[Sombreuil_Mongrel]

We did a job that involved taking out a failed Tendura floor and replacing it with mahogany. The floor had only failed around the perimeter, like the first 2-3 feet, but it was a three-sided screened porch, so it was 100% ruined. It had swelled up and the end "grain" had begun to disintegrate. The stuff is also ungodly heavy, and IIRC, it has a minimum joist spacing less than other woods, because, not having a grain structure, it does not have the same strength of wood to begin with (like trex and other substitute, synthetic products).
As long as we still have access to woods like mahogany and Ipe, I see no reason to use this stuff. Perhaps in time the chemists in charge will improve the formula so it won't swell up and fall apart.
Casey

[rodpaine]

Snip... We did a job that involved taking out a failed Tendura floor and replacing it with mahogany. The floor had only failed around the perimeter, like the first 2-3 feet, but it was a three-sided screened porch, so it was 100% ruined. It had swelled up and the end "grain" had begun to disintegrate. Casey

Casey,
How long had the Tendura been in place? Was the porch properly pitched to insure good water drainage, or did it lay around the perimeter? Any ideas as to what might have contributed to the Tendura failure, in addition to its material composition?
-Rod

[dpsours]

We had Tendura installed on our porches 5 years ago. The East side has held up fine, but the West side very quickly developed a sag in one area, probably because it gets the afternoon sun. Water collects in that spot, which is probably going to accelerate its decline. Can't say I'm wild about it.

[khwils]

Where can you get Ipe and how much does it cost per linear foot? Is it twice as much as treated lumber - more??

Thanks,

Kurt