composite wood?-- timbertech

richfriend · Post by **richfriend** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:43 am

Has anyone experimented with these products for use in boats? I am contemplating its use as the framing material for my cabin interior. The manufacturer of timmbertech does not recomend gluing but indicates that contractors have found polyurethane based sealants to adhere well. I would guess that 5200 would work as an adhesive.

There are some advantages to the product (no rot, works like wood) that would seem to make it attractive.

If no one has played with this stuff perhaps I will do some crude destructive testing to see how a bond will hold up.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:55 am

Is this stuff plastic or really wood?

5200 and the like are flexible. If you can live with flexible, then go ahead. How are its expansion properties with temp change?

richfriend · Post by **richfriend** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:07 pm

It appears to be a composite of wood and polyethelene but I am not certain. I picked up a sample from Lowes and will try a variety of glues/adhesives on it. Its strength charactaristics seem to be similar to wood but it does not rot or decay.

Mark.Wilme · Post by **Mark.Wilme** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:31 pm

I tried something similar from Home Depot 5 years ago on my Venture 22 (don't laugh) - it was heavy and would only fasten with mechanical fasteners - not glue. Also it wouldn't hold a finish (varnish)

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:42 pm

When you use the term "framing" what do you mean? Stringers and floors?

Post by **Tim** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:09 pm

That plastic composite stuff is heavy for its size and usually bows under its own weight in longer spans. If the manufacturer doesn't recommend glueing, then I certainly wouldn't rush into using it in a glued-in application.

5200 is a good adhesive, but it moves and flexes under normal use, and isn't great for a truly solid connection. I could see a lot of issues arising from a plastic wood framework "glued" to the hull or other components with the flexible 5200.

There are so many good and inexpensive choices for real wooden interior framing, such as mahogany, fir, oak, etc.--even PT or KD dimensional lumber in some situations--that it's hard to make a case for some other product that may have significant pitfalls and no real advantage. Wood works extremely well, and is also easy to protect against rotting with a modicum of planning and some basic maintenance. Rot is not a certainty; you see it so often mostly because of neglect, or because of careless construction in the first place.

And I wouldn't even consider using the composite material for any truly structural framing, but I don't think that's what you're asking about anyway. Still, it must be said.