A Plastic Decking Experiment

What is your latest project?
User avatar
FBGR
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 171
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:17 pm
Location: South Hampshire

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by FBGR » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:27 am

I don’t think that long term loss of flexibility of the material is going to be an issue. The use on house facias shows that once in place, it will remain for 20, 30 or more years without deterioration. It may well become brittle over an extended period, but even then damage is only likely to occur from sudden impact events.

J0hn
The world's going to end very soon --- so I'd better try to get something finished by then

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4246
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by FWLR » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:54 am

Glad to hear that John, only saying because there are some issues with PVC, carry on doing a brilliant job on your line. :thumbright:

User avatar
IrishPeter
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1400
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:24 am
Location: 'Boro, VA

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by IrishPeter » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:47 pm

Compared to what we usually get out of soft wood in the open air, 20-30 without significant deterioration for uPVC sounds like a major step forwards in terms of durability. My previous outdoor efforts have been at ground level because soft woods were ant and termite bait where we used to live, but I am getting to the age where the floor is seeming further away than it used to do, so the next outdoor line will be at least partly raised, which is why this experiment with uPVC extrusions is so interesting.

Peter in Va
Traffic Pattern? What pattern? Spuds out; grain in, but cattle, sheep and passengers are a lot less predictable.

User avatar
FBGR
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 171
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:17 pm
Location: South Hampshire

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by FBGR » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:51 pm

Decking completed today.
DSCF4640 reduced.jpg
DSCF4640 reduced.jpg (317.16 KiB) Viewed 6644 times
DSCF4641 reduced.jpg
DSCF4641 reduced.jpg (300.46 KiB) Viewed 6644 times
Also I was able to sort out the supports for the bridge.
DSCF4639 reduced.jpg
DSCF4639 reduced.jpg (268.67 KiB) Viewed 6644 times
Just levelling bolts through some hacked about bits of left over plastic fixed to the underside of the bridge deck – you can’t see the captive nut.

The original drop-in bridge was quite heavy, and took up quite a bit of space in the little (plastic) shed. This has been stripped back to just the plywood deck with the (ballasted) tracks (including a point) on. I have in mind to fix a few bits to tidy this basic deck (and strengthen if thought necessary). Otherwise I will manufacture some drop-in (plastic) stoneware arches and parapets for it.

A bit of tidying up to do, then its track re-laying.

J0hn
The world's going to end very soon --- so I'd better try to get something finished by then

User avatar
LNR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1533
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:26 am
Location: Australia

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by LNR » Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:05 pm

That is one very well thought out project, beautifully assembled with such a clean finished result. Short of sub-terranian upheaval I imagine it should be there for a very long time.
Grant.

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by tom_tom_go » Sat Jan 20, 2018 11:08 am

I agree, this has been brilliantly executed.

User avatar
FBGR
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 171
Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:17 pm
Location: South Hampshire

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by FBGR » Sun Feb 04, 2018 12:18 pm

Well that just about finishes the decking, and time for a little reflection.

Apart from loads of bits of off-cuts, this is all that was left.
DSCF4645 resized.jpg
DSCF4645 resized.jpg (373.98 KiB) Viewed 6540 times
There was no 400mm wide board, just under a metre of 450mm wide board, just under 2 metres of 30cm deep fascia, and just over 2 metres of 10cm deep facia. As we started with 15 metres of 30cm deep and 30 metres of 10cm deep, I think this was quite close. We didn’t run out of the 1000 plasterboard screws, but there is about 50 left.

You could say that we ordered just enough, but it was close. We have still got some part lengths of material that we had obtained before when we were experimenting, but we didn’t have to resort to cobbling together bits to finish the job.

Using brackets or cleats (short lengths of the 10cm deep fascia) to connect the various sections worked well, but you had to consider the order of construction to be sure that you can avoid congestion around some joints, and of course you have got to be able to get a screwdriver in to be able to do up the screws.

This was fine on the square joints but the non-square ones needed specially fabricated cleats. Initially this was no problem apart from having to wait for the glue/solvent to go off before being able to use them. But we also found that even having carefully constructed the bracket to the measured angle, when we came to fix the joint, the angle was different. So, while the screws would pull the plastic bits together to fit the bracket, this would distort the adjacent piece, meaning trying to fix the adjacent non-square bracket was even further out of shape. Some of the non-square brackets had to be remade, and this could delay the flow of work. Rejected / not used non-square brackets/cleats.
DSCF4644 reduced.jpg
DSCF4644 reduced.jpg (367.32 KiB) Viewed 6540 times
The remaining bit of 240mm wide decking was used to complete the decking behind the engine shed. This decking had been in timber, which was removed to be able to fix the back edge member of the new decking. It needed some packing to prevent twisting, but why would I want to go back to timber. Now I can re-fixed the last section of the fence building retaining wall and the end of the Carbide factory.
DSCF4651 resized.jpg
DSCF4651 resized.jpg (394.86 KiB) Viewed 6540 times
Now we have been able to relay the first section of track.
DSCF4656 resized.jpg
DSCF4656 resized.jpg (314.84 KiB) Viewed 6540 times
The packing under the track is left over bits of the plastic boards – I had allowed for this. With plastic, there’s no chance of nailing the track down, it has to be brass screws in pilot holes. At least this means that it can be unscrewed for inserting levelling packing (if required), or even moving it a bit.

Two things to follow. First is to finish the track-work, ballast, paint all the outsides black (or very dark brown), make and fit bridge/bridges cladding and abutments and fill all spaces in between with scenery. Second is to wait a few years to see how it all lasts.

I will save the reflection for later, may be a couple of weeks when the track is all connected up...

J0hn
The world's going to end very soon --- so I'd better try to get something finished by then

bazzer42
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1215
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:37 pm
Location: Forest of Dean

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by bazzer42 » Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:13 am

That is such a tidy job it will look good painted. Paint doesn't cover up bad workmanship (How do I know that ?). Personally I would go dark brown.

User avatar
FWLR
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4246
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:45 am
Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by FWLR » Thu Mar 01, 2018 8:22 am

Really impressed with the plastic John, it looks like it will be down for years. :thumbright:

The left over lengths you have could they not be used for some building of some sort, a shelter maybe. :thumbright:

User avatar
IanC
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 798
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:15 am
Location: Nr. Warrington, Cheshire

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by IanC » Sat Apr 14, 2018 12:01 am

Very informative and useful. I am undecided about what to use when I get round to making a start on my garden railway.

I may very well use this material and methods for part of my line, which will have to be built on different types of ground.

I think a trip to my local DIY store to see what's available is on the cards.

Ian
Ian

User avatar
pandsrowe
Trainee Fireman
Trainee Fireman
Posts: 246
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:15 pm
Location: West Norfolk, UK

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by pandsrowe » Sat Apr 14, 2018 9:11 am

Ian, I think that you might be sadly disappointed with anything that you find in the diy store nowadays. In recent times the big players have been steadily depleting their stocks of true diy materials, it would seem that the general population are no longer wanting to carry out diy projects like they used to, they want the instant gratification of buying completed items off the shelf and the stores have responded accordingly, think how B&Q (Kingfisher) profits have plummeted recently and Homebase have been steadily closing their stores.
However, all is not lost just do an on line search for plastic building materials and you will be amazed at what is available and don't forget more specialised materials like Filcris (usual disclaimer ).
Phil

User avatar
IanC
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 798
Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:15 am
Location: Nr. Warrington, Cheshire

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by IanC » Sat Apr 14, 2018 10:18 am

Thanks Phil.

My local DIY store (Been and Queued) is almost on my doorstep so was going to be my first fact find mission. I suppose I've got to plan the railway first and undertake a survey of the terrain (garden).

I've got several builders merchants and small independents to check out too.

I will also go on line. As my garden has a mixture of surfaces I don't envisage a universal solution to engineering a line.

Regards,

Ian
Ian

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5217
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: A Plastic Decking Experiment

Post by Peter Butler » Sat Apr 14, 2018 10:52 am

Here in smalltown Carmarthen, where city-folk think we have nothing to offer, we are blessed with a plastics specialist outlet, an industrial unit concentrating exclusively on building plastic extrusions of all shapes and sizes, fascias, strips, quadrants and angles etc..... (white and brown!)
Look in your local directory for similar or even double glazing manufacturers, you will surely find something.
Also, far cheaper than the big stores can offer.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests